Mashable

LGs 52-inch Ultragear evo G9 curved gaming monitor drops below $1,500 at Amazon — save over $250

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:27:30 +0000

SAVE OVER $250: As of Sept. 16, the LG 52-inch Ultragear evo G9 curved gaming monitor is on sale for $1,446.99 at Amazon. That's $253 off its full price of $1,699.99.

Credit: LG

LG 52-inch Ultragear evo G9 5K2K Curved Gaming Monitor

$1,446.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $253

The next Prime Day sale event, Prime Big Deal Days, has officially been announced for Oct. 6-7. While that's still a few weeks away, Amazon isn't waiting until then to drop deals. There are already plenty of excellent savings available at the retailer, including a big price cut on the LG 52-inch Ultragear evo G9 curved gaming monitor.

If your PC setup needs a monitor upgrade, this discount is well worth a look. As of Sept. 16, this monitor has dropped from its list price of $1,699.99 to $1,446.99, making for $253 in savings. It won't be available for long, though, as it's marked as a "limited time deal." So now is the time to make a move if this massive 52-inch 5K2K display has got your attention.

With its large 52-inch size and 1,000R curve, this LG monitor offers plenty of screen space for your favorite games. They'll look great thanks to the WUHD (5120×2160) display with VESA DisplayHDR 600, which brings out sharp details, bright colors, and high contrast in on-screen images.

It also boasts a 240Hz refresh rate, so the action stays fluid and smooth on screen, alongside a 1ms (GtG) response time that helps reduce ghosting. On top of that, it comes with AMD FreeSync Premium, which helps prevent screen tearing and stutter from throwing you off.

If it's caught your eye, don't let it pass you by. Act fast to save on the LG 52-inch Ultragear evo G9 curved gaming monitor at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 16, 2026

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Binding.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TYING

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A slight smile.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SMIRK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

__ Cent.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

FIFTY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Found at a playground.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLIDE

Final Hurdle hint

Surprised.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ABACK

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Want time off for GTA 6? Heres how to ask your boss.

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:33:36 +0000

Taking leave from work for significant video game releases is a time-honoured tradition. Unsurprisingly, the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) has fans eagerly planning to request time off to play from the moment it launches on Nov. 19.

It's tempting to drop everything and immediately dive in when you've looked forward to a game for years. However, GTA 6 is big enough that taking leave around this date is likely to raise some eyebrows. If you're going to do so, it's important to think carefully about how to go about it, so as to maximise your chances of success.

Your boss probably knows why you're asking for leave

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on a Thursday, just two days before the weekend. As such, many people are planning to take both Nov. 19 and 20 off, giving them four free days to commit crimes in the fictional state of Leonida. Others are extending their time off, setting aside a week or more to play the game. With the Thanksgiving public holiday on Nov. 26, taking five days of leave from Nov. 19 to 25 can give you eight days of uninterrupted GTA 6 time.

However, whether these leave requests will be approved is a different story.

GTA 6 is one of the most eagerly anticipated video games to come out in recent years. The first new Grand Theft Auto title in 13 years, it continues a video game series that has had massive cultural impact since it first launched in 1997. It even won The Game Awards' Most Anticipated Game award two years running.

As such, there is a good chance that your boss has heard of GTA 6, and knows exactly what a Nov. 19 leave request means. What's more, with so many people looking forward to GTA 6, it's likely that others in your workplace are either considering or have already done so. Fan website GTA 6 Calculator even built a leave agreement generator, which creates a joke document outlining terms allowing workers "to fully immerse himself/herself in playing the game, while maintaining minimum professional obligations."

In a recent Reddit post to Australian corporate subreddit r/auscorp, user u/instanityxsl claimed that their boss had gone so far as to warn employees about requesting leave around GTA 6's launch date.

"In our last team meeting the team leader was saying 'just so you know any leave around Nov 19th may require further explanation for approval, we’ve seen a large number of leave applied for this date and we’re understaffed. HR knows why this is happening. It’s that GT game,'" u/instanityxsl stated. "I was planning on taking 19th to 27th off, but a lot of people from other teams have applied [for] annual leave on these days and it’s flagged as unusual."

While Australians generally receive four weeks of paid annual leave per year, workers in the U.S. aren't legally guaranteed any paid leave at all. As such, taking time off to play a video game may be an even trickier proposition stateside.

You don't have to give a reason, but don't lie

Leave policies vary significantly among employers in the U.S., as there are few statutory requirements. While you need to tell your boss why you're requesting time off when taking family or medical leave, the handling of other leave requests is largely left up to your employer's discretion. This includes how much time you're permitted to take off, whether you need to provide an explanation, and how much notice is required.

Your best bet is to consider your individual circumstances, and how a leave request may be received depending upon your workplace culture and policies, current workload, and relationship with your boss. This includes talking with your boss early on. As always, giving them as much notice of your leave as possible enables them to plan around your absence, which can help achieve the outcome you want.

Whether to disclose the reason for your request is up to your judgement. There is no legal obligation to tell your employer what you plan to do during your time off. However, if they already suspect that GTA 6 is the reason behind your Nov. 19 leave request and directly ask you, attempting to skirt the question is unlikely to do you any favours. It's best to be honest, and let the chips fall as they may. A few days of gaming isn't worth jeopardising your work relationships.

Such a confession won't necessarily destroy your application's chances, either. While some employers will no doubt be unsympathetic to fans' excitement, a few people on social media have reported explicitly GTA 6-related leave requests being approved. Redditor u/ddc431 even claimed that they will be closing their 18-person company for launch day, after several people requested the day off.

"if some of them are already spending an actual vacation day on this, and let's be real the rest of us are gonna be useless that day anyway, why am i making everyone pretend to work," u/ddc431 wrote. "so i just said screw it, we're closing. everyone. paid day, and it does NOT count as holiday. nobody loses a vacation day over it."

Other employers have identified GTA 6's release as a motivational tool. Last month, several U.S. Army combat engineers in Georgia were offered a four days of leave to play Grand Theft Auto VI as an incentive for reenlisting. Those who chose to reenlist between Aug. 1 and Nov. 14 would be eligible for the pass, which was "specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI." At least 44 of the 130 eligible soldiers have reportedly taken up the offer.

Meanwhile, Redditor u/Perfect-Pension545 said they may turn launch day into a relaxing day of gaming in the office.

"I’ve also considered having a 'work day' that is anything but that — projector, GTA, drinks and good food," u/Perfect-Pension545 wrote. "Staff can either come in and socialise and play the game or take the day off."

An understanding employer is the best-case scenario. Unfortunately, even if you craft the most reasonable and considered request for leave on GTA 6's launch day, there's no guarantee that it will be approved. In such cases, being willing to delay your leave slightly may help you get the next best thing. Perhaps your boss expects your office to be particularly busy on Nov. 19 (which may be the case if others have already asked for some GTA 6-filled time off). You could instead proposed delaying your leave until Nov. 23, allowing you to dive into GTA 6 over the weekend and keep playing through Monday.

Though it may be disappointing not to spend launch day playing, waiting a day or two could ultimately offer you a better experience.

Should you just wait until the weekend?

Many people are keen to jump on GTA 6 as soon as it drops. However, there are some benefits to waiting until the weekend.

GTA 6 is unlikely to suffer from the same server issues that Grand Theft Auto Online did in 2013. The multiplayer game was plagued with issues at launch, with players struggling to connect to its overloaded servers. In contrast, GTA 6 is a single-player game, so fans needn't fear that similar server issues will lock them out on launch day. GTA 6 is also available for preload, so you won't even have to endure downloading huge files at sluggish speeds on Nov. 19, provided you plan ahead.

Even so, it's likely that GTA 6 will likely still require some updates on launch day. Day-one patches are the norm in video games, allowing developers to update a game after it has been certified for consoles. With millions of players expected to boot up GTA 6 on launch day, any patch may take a while to download. Waiting until after the rush could save you some strife, while also giving GTA 6 developer Rockstar Games a little extra time to patch any issues that pop up on day one.

Of course, this isn't a reason not to request leave for Grand Theft Auto VI if that's what you'd prefer. For those diving into big games on launch day, the energy and excitement of experiencing it alongside other fans for the first time can be akin to watching live sports rather than catching a replay. Just consider what you'd like to prioritise for your first GTA 6 session, and what will make this long-awaited launch feel most thrilling to you.

Fortunately, there's no reason to fret even if you can't get the time off. The fact that GTA 6 is a single-player game means that you won't miss anything if you can't boot it up right at midnight. Whether it takes you a day, a week, a month, or even a year to get to it (knock on wood), GTA 6 will still be there waiting for you.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 16, 2026

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 16 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 16 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 16 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Valve Steam Frame Has Arrived: It’s Trying to Be Everything on My Face

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:24:19 +0000

Part Steam Deck, part VR headset and, yes, it plays Half-Life Alyx. Here’s everything I’ve discovered so far.

Timecode chapters
00:00 Valve Steam frame
00:33 A portable Steam Deck for your face
00:57 Design
01:17 Ergonomic pack
01:47 A challenge for glasses wearers
02:19 Viewing experience
03:09 Foveated streaming
03:41 Standalone features
04:11 VR and processor
05:11 Half-Life: Alyx
05:54 Controller covered in sensors
06:43 Pass-through cameras
07:28 Modular design
08:00 Linux and customizability
08:18 Not all games will work
08:50 How is it as a Steam Deck
10:13 Early products and valve
11:00 Expect more later
11:26 The future of VR, headsets and the Steam Frame

Video credits
Host: Scott Stein
Scripted by: Scott Stein
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Numi Prasarn
Video editor: Mitch Chang
Thumbnail designer: Cole Kan

NHL 27 has launched — everything you need to know about Connected Franchise, arena atmospheres, and playbooks

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:29:02 +0000

TL;DR: EA Sports NHL 27 is out now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The newest entry brings 32 rebuilt arena atmospheres, real-world data playbooks, a fresh broadcast duo featuring John Buccigross and Darren Pang, and the long-awaited return of the 32-team online Connected Franchise.

Credit: EA Sports

NHL 27 (PS5)

$69 at Amazon

Credit: EA Sports

NHL 27 (Xbox)

$69.99 at Amazon

If you've been waiting for a reason to jump back into virtual hockey, EA Sports just dropped NHL 27 worldwide on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game is available in two editions: a $69.99 Standard Edition for the base game, and a $99.99 Deluxe Edition that adds 4,600 NHL Points, HUT Packs, and day-one digital bonuses.

Whether you're a casual player looking to throw hits on the weekend or a strategist eager to run a 32-team online league with your friends, this year’s entry comes with serious upgrades.

Who’s on the mic?

Out with the old, in with the new. ESPN’s John Buccigross takes over play-by-play duties alongside former NHL goalie and TNT analyst Darren Pang. That means every big save or missed open-netter comes with Pang's signature color analysis and high-energy breakdowns in crisp digital surround sound.

Real-world NHL EDGE data powers every team's AI behavior. That means every squad executes its real-life tactics — from high-speed rush plays to aggressive forechecking — instead of sharing generic strategies. You can even grab real-world NHL coaches in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) to boost your squad’s chemistry based on authentic coaching systems.

The big upgrades on and off the ice

EA completely overhauled all 32 home venues from the ice up. Expect authentic goal songs, unique crowd chants, team-specific jumbotrons, and dynamic arena lighting that matches real-world game-night energy. Upgraded broadcast graphics, sharper camera angles, and dynamic crowd reactions give every matchup a cleaner, modern feel from puck drop to the final horn.

Beyond the visual overhaul, the most requested feature in community history is finally back. Connected Franchise lets you build an online league with up to 31 of your friends, complete with 32 human-controlled teams, full-season schedules, custom trade rules, flexible roster management, and deep commissioner tools.

If you're an EA Play member, you can also test the waters with a 10-hour free trial before buying. Subscriptions knock 10% off digital orders, bringing the Deluxe price down to $89.99, and toss in 3,000 bonus Chel Coins with Season Pass XP multipliers.

Ready to take your couch rivalry online? Pick up NHL 27 today and start building your 32-team franchise.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 15, 2026

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:10:38 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Speeds.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ZOOMS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Diameter.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GIRTH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Stranger.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

ODDER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Problem.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ISSUE

Final Hurdle hint

Another sense.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SIXTH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 14, 2026

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A lost cat.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

STRAY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

They sound the same.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RHYME

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Cutting.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

AXING

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A great lake.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

EERIE

Final Hurdle hint

Fatty.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PIGGY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 14, 2026

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:55:42 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 14 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 14 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 14 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 0-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 13, 2026

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Rounded.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CURVY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A collection.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GROUP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A large animal found in Alaska.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

MOOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Simpson patriarch.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HOMER

Final Hurdle hint

To look into.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PROBE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 12, 2026

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:11:40 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 12 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 12 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 12 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 12, 2026

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Each one.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

EVERY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A safe.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

VAULT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Moving images.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

VIDEO

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Taking legal action.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SUING

Final Hurdle hint

Rumbled.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SHOOK

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Minecraft Dungeons II is coming soon: How to score bonus items, preorder deals

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:33:37 +0000

TL;DR: Minecraft Dungeons II releases on Sept. 29, for PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. Pre-ordering either the $29.99 Standard Edition or the $49.99 Deluxe Edition before Sept. 28 unlocks the Twisted Cape, Twisted Chicken pet, and two hero skins.

Credit: Minecraft

Minecraft Dungeons II — Standard Edition

$29.99 at Minecraft

Credit: Minecraft

Minecraft Dungeons II — Deluxe Edition

$49.99 at Minecraft

Put down the diamond pickaxe and unsheathe your sword — Minecraft Dungeons II drops on Sept. 29, and digital pre-orders are officially open.

The sequel expands on the original in a ton of exciting ways. Mojang Studios and Double Eleven are sending players on a brand-new quest across the Overworld and beyond to stop a mysterious evil threatening two different worlds. You can tackle the campaign entirely solo or grab up to three buddies for local couch co-op or online cross-play.

Along the way, you'll clash with hordes of aggressive mobs, craft legendary builds using upgraded armor and weapons, and master deep combat mechanics designed to test your party.

If you are planning to jump into the action on day one, choosing the right version comes down to how much extra loot you want in your inventory.

Standard Edition: $29.99

The Standard Edition is the simple choice for gamers who just want the core campaign without any extra filler. At $29.99, it gets you full access to the base game on launch day alongside the Minecraft Launcher setup. Even with the base version, anyone who pre-orders before Sept. 28 scores a batch of launch-window cosmetics to customize their character.

Preorder bonuses for both editions include:

Twisted Cape
Twisted Chicken Pet
Two additional hero skins

Deluxe Edition: $49.99

If you know you are going to sink dozens of hours into grinding gear, the Deluxe Edition packs a massive punch for $49.99. For the extra twenty bucks, you get access to two future DLC expansion packs as soon as they drop down the line. On top of post-launch story content, it grants instant access to the Minecraft Launcher, the ethereal Soul Cape cosmetic, an aquatic Blub Pet companion, and four Deluxe hero skins.

Whichever version fits your budget, lock in your order before Sept. 28 so you don't miss out on that mutated chicken pet on day one.

This ASUS TUF Gaming monitor is down to its lowest-ever Amazon price for a limited time — save $60

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:09:26 +0000

TL;DR: The ASUS TUF Gaming 32-inch curved monitor (VG32VQM5AZ) is on sale for $189 at Amazon for a limited time, knocking $60 off its $249 price.

Credit: ASUS

The ASUS TUF Gaming 32-Inch 240Hz Curved Gaming Monitor

$189 at Amazon
$249 Save $60

A high-speed curved gaming monitor for under $200 is already a pretty sight for your gaming budget, but the fact that it’s a deal on a model from a top-tier brand like ASUS is even better.

As of Sept. 11, the 32-inch ASUS TUF Gaming monitor (VG32VQM5AZ SKU) is $189 at Amazon as a limited-time deal, knocking $60 off its $249 list price for a 24% discount. The new monitor is sold and shipped by Amazon, and free 30-day returns are included as well.

For what’s now this TUF Gaming monitor’s lowest price with the retailer (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel), you get a 31.5-inch Full HD panel with a 1500R curve — giving the display a more enveloping shape than ASUS' flatter TUF alternatives. The top spec here is its top overclocked speed of 240hz alongside a minimum 0.5ms GTG response time.

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That’ll not only keep your rounds of Fortnite or whatever single-player game you’re playing feel more fluid, but the added AMD FreeSync Premium for variable refresh rates — and ELMB Sync — will altogether reduce ghosting and tearing to make your display feel far less choppy.

To keep anything you play or watch extra eye-popping in terms of pure visuals, this monitor covers 120% of the sRGB color gamut and supports HDR, with Shadow Boost available to lift detail in darker parts of a scene or level.

To round out the package, the DisplayWidget Center even lets you tweak settings with a mouse instead of repeatedly digging through the monitor's physical controls.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 11, 2026

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Spiteful.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CATTY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To dawdle.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DILLY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To change.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

AMEND

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A composition.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ETUDE

Final Hurdle hint

A Christmas plant.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HOLLY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 11, 2026

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 11 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 11 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 11 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Will GTA 6 be on Xbox Game Pass at launch?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:53:55 +0000

GTA 6 is just a few months away, and if you haven't already dropped $80 on a pre-order, then what are you waiting for?

If you're hoping to play GTA 6 as part of your Xbox Game Pass subscription, then I have some bad news for you: Grand Theft Auto VI will not be included in Xbox Game Pass at launch. Unfortunately, the same goes for PC gamers. So, if you're a casual player who was hoping to avoid buying a $600 gaming console just to play GTA 6, Xbox Game Pass isn't the solution.

Will GTA 6 be added to the Xbox Game Pass library at a later date? Probably! In fact, previous GTA games have been included in the subscription. However, even if GTA 6 is eventually added to the Xbox Game Pass, it could be awhile. And don't forget that Xbox Game Pass is going to impose strict monthly limits on cloud gaming in November, the same month GTA 6 is released.

Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that provides gamers with online console multiplayer access along with a library of titles. Xbox Game Pass actually includes quite a selection of games, depending on your plan. For example, the $22.99 per month Game Pass Ultimate plan includes more than 500 titles, including a selection of launch-day games, and doesn't require an Xbox console.

Not all games are added to Xbox Game Pass. Many popular titles do eventually get added, but usually not from day one.

Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of GTA developer Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two, addressed the organization's view of game subscription services during a GamesIndustry.biz live event in 2022.

"We've supported various subscription services and we're happy to do so," Zelnick said at the time. "Our scepticism has been around making frontline console products available day and date with subscription. That doesn't make any sense to us, because economically speaking, we don't think consumers are prepared to pay for that. And we can't afford to turn our business upside down in a way that doesn't make sense economically. There always has to be an intersection between what the consumer wants and what the publisher is able to do. And you know, it doesn't make sense to do that for our properties."

Rockstar Games' GTA 6 predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, has been included in the Xbox Game Pass numerous times over the years. GTA 5 was available on Game Pass in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025, and usually stayed on the service for a few months before being removed.

GTA 5's most recent stint on Xbox Game Pass ended on April 15, 2026.

With that said, GTA 5 was released all the way back in 2013, and its first inclusion in Xbox Game Pass was more than six and a half years later.

So, will gamers have to wait nearly seven years for GTA 6 to be added to Xbox Game Pass or other cloud gaming subscriptions? We just don't know. But one thing is certain: if you want to play GTA 6 when it launches later this year, you're going to have to buy it outright and play on either an Xbox or PlayStation console.

Review: ‘Marvel’s Wolverine’ is gleefully bloody fun and will leave you emotionally bleeding too

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Warning: This story contains bloody video game images that some readers may find disturbing.

Developer Insomniac Games found massive success with Marvel’s Spider-Man, as well as its Miles Morales spin-off and direct sequel. Now, the PlayStation studio has taken another stab at another Marvel hero, the angry and animalistic Wolverine.

Insomniac Games attempts to inject Marvel’s Wolverine with what made its web-slinging previous adventures so resonant with audiences, namely its powerful storytelling, to resounding results. While the combat initially starts off one-dimensional, it eventually opens up with more options and sinks its claws into you.

Team X vs X-Men

Credit: Marvel / Insomniac Games

Marvel’s Wolverine follows the titular character’s journey with Team X as they fight for a better future where mutants can live without being feared or discriminated against. What the story and setup do well is feel familiar yet distinct from other Wolverine-related media.

Team X consists of some lesser-known characters, such as Wolverine’s mentor figure, Nathaniel Essex (Mister Sinister), and the brilliant scientist Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch). They feel like stand-ins for Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Hank McCoy (Beast), who are often used for those equivalent roles. This approach to cast selection for Team X gives Marvel’s Wolverine its own unique sense of identity since audiences have become so accustomed to seeing X-Men.

Of course, there are also recognizable names, including Jean Grey, Mystique, Sabretooth, and Bolivar Trask. They’re more or less similar to their comic book counterparts, which helps fans, whether hardcore or casual, get acquainted with them more easily. My main exposure to Marvel is through the MCU. Even though I don’t read comics at all, I knew enough about Marvel lore and its characters to stay absorbed with Insomniac’s world here.

Credit: Insomniac Games / Screenshot by George Yang

The story in Marvel’s Wolverine is rather poignant as well. It deals with heavy themes such as genocide, betrayal, and trauma, which are the ingredients of any competent X-Men story. Each of our heroes has their own personal demons to deal with, and the story allows us to authentically and emotionally connect with their inner turmoil.

It’s all couched in a cinematic globetrotting journey. Unlike Spider-Man and New York, Wolverine isn’t tied down to any specific city. As a result, Team X’s expedition takes them to places like Canada, Japan, and the fictional Southeast Asian country Madripoor. The art design and environments shine, delivering a fresh change of scenery every few hours.

'Wolverine' lets you go feral

Credit: Insomniac Games / Screenshot by George Yang

The combat in Marvel’s Wolverine is straightforward and fast-paced. It’s heavily melee-focused with Wolverine gauging his claws into every orifice of his enemies. When I say it’s bloody, it’s bloody. The amount of red liquid that comes spewing out and the flying dismembered limbs really gives the moment-to-moment gameplay a real visceral and satisfying feeling.

You’ll often be fighting multiple enemies at once, balancing between parrying and unleashing relentless assaults on them. You have to rein in your own bloodthirstiness and know when to momentarily take a breather to fend off an incoming attack from the side. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get overwhelmed when you’re surrounded. This prevents you from endlessly spamming attacks.

Wolverine also has a Rage meter that builds up by playing aggressively. Starting at Rage Tier 2, he can come back from death once by depleting the remaining meter. And at Rage Tier 3, Wolverine’s attacks deal significantly more damage. The combat might come off as button-mashy, but the Rage meter provides structure, flow, and a goal to aim for when trying to clear a room full of enemies.

Credit: Insomniac Games / Screenshot by George Yang

At first, the combat feels a bit too simplistic and repetitive. But that’s alleviated by the excellent progression systems. As Wolverine levels up, he can learn a variety of skills such as counters, jump attacks, and tackles. Furthermore, the collectibles scattered throughout the stages are vital. Material Chests let you unlock more suits from Wolverine’s extensive media history, which in turn increases his maximum HP. Finding Whisky Bottles and completing timed trials in Nightmare Doors expand his Adaptations, which grant him passive abilities, like automatic health regeneration at a certain threshold or extending the timing window of parries. So even though Marvel’s Wolverine isn’t an open-world game like Marvel’s Spider-Man, it’s always worth exploring every nook and cranny on each stage.

However, the biggest oversight is the poorly implemented stealth mechanics. Like many other action-adventure games, Wolverine can sneak around in grass and if he gets close enough, kill them in one strike without alerting nearby enemies. Unfortunately, his range is very limited, and the targeting feels off. Larger stages leave more wiggle room for him to pounce around, but in smaller arenas, it’s just a nonstarter. It feels like many of the stages just aren’t built adequately for stealth. It’s really only helpful for picking off a few enemies before you inevitably get spotted. At the start of every encounter, you might as well just jump in guns blazing…or claws out.

Again, again, again!

Credit: Insomniac Games / Screenshot by George Yang

After completing the story, the game allows you to replay levels to pick up any collectibles you may have missed the first time around. Additionally, New Game Plus increases Wolverine’s level cap to make him stronger and unlocks new Adaptations. While a linear action-adventure game like Marvel’s Wolverine doesn’t have as much replayability as an open-world game would, there’s enough warranted here for repeated playthroughs, especially on higher difficulties.

As with many other PlayStation first-party games, Marvel’s Wolverine boasts a large suite of accessibility options. These include motion sensitivity sliders, colorblind options, and audio cues. Also, if the gore proves too much, you can toggle the dismemberment and blood off in the gameplay settings. They’re boons for all sorts of players, even if you don’t have any disabilities. For example, the High Contrast Background setting makes your surroundings grey while keeping interactable objects bright. This makes it easier to hunt down collectibles.

My final verdict: I didn't want to put this game down, and it's a bloody good time.

Marvel's Wolverine

$69 at Amazon

The ultra-wide version of the Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor gets a huge Amazon deal — save $120

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:19:22 +0000

TL;DR: The Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 ultra-wide gaming monitor is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon, down from its $399.99 list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5

$279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120

If you want more room for games without setting up two separate monitors, Samsung’s 34-inch take on the Odyssey G5 is back under $300 at Amazon. The ultra-wide variant gives you a much broader 21:9 display than a regular gaming monitor, along with a deep curve and a refresh rate that still reaches well beyond 144Hz.

As of Sept. 10, this specific 34-inch model of the Samsung Odyssey G5 (G55T) is $279.99 at Amazon, down by $120 from its $399.99 list price as part of a limited-time deal. That comes to a 30% saving, with Amazon selling and shipping the monitor directly — free 30-day returns also being included.

The extra width is probably the main reason to pick this version over the smaller Odyssey G5 models like the 27-inch G5.

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The 34-inch VA panel with a 3440x1440 Ultra-WQHD resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio grants you more horizontal space for racing games like Forza Horizon 5, RPGs in the realm of Baldurs Gate 3, or just having other windows open alongside whatever you’re playing.

Samsung also uses a 1,000R curve for this particular version, which bends the screen much further around your viewing position than a flatter display. Despite the larger size, the G5 still offers a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms MPRT response time, so fast-moving games shouldn’t feel sluggish.

A favorite usual feature of ours that we’ve seen more among Samsung monitors, too — AMD FreeSync Premium is supported for reducing tearing and stutter, with low frame-rate compensation also included. That’s along with HDR10 adding a little more range to brighter and darker areas of the picture, while HDMI and DisplayPort cover all the main connections you’re likely to need.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TCL just launched two ultra-slim art TVs at IFA — and they are officially chasing Samsung’s crown

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:46:16 +0000

TL;DR: At IFA 2026, TCL expanded its lineup with two flush-mounted Designer Series TV lines running Google TV: the A300L 4K QLED and the A400U 4K QD-Mini LED (both starting at $799.99). Both models sit just 1.1 inches off the wall and include a flush wall mount in the box, and double as digital art galleries.

Credit: TCL

TCL A300L 4K QLED Designer Series

Starting from $799.99

Credit: TCL

TCL A400U 4K QD-Mini LED Designer Series

Starting from $799.99

TCL is aiming straight at Samsung's home decor dominance with a fresh double-barrel expansion to its flush-mounted lineup. Running Google TV, the new A300L 4K QLED and A400U 4K QD-Mini LED both sit flat against your drywall at just 1.1 inches deep.

They feature an ultra-matte, anti-glare screen engineered to minimize reflections, so that displayed digital art resembles printed canvas. The TVs include a dedicated flush wall mount right in the box, alongside a curated Art Library, AI art generation, and personal photo modes to keep your living room looking sharp when you're not streaming.

Built for viewers who want a display that handles gaming and fast motion just as well as decor, the A300L 4K QLED delivers a native 144Hz refresh rate, Motion Rate 480 processing, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and four HDMI ports with eARC.

Audio is powered by a built-in 20W Onkyo system supporting Dolby Atmos. It comes out of the box with an off-white bezel plus a light-wood magnetic frame that snaps on in seconds to match your furniture.

It is available in 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch sizes, with the 85-inch option landing soon.

For those who refuse to compromise on picture depth, the A400U 4K QD-Mini LED steps up to TCL's Halo Control System and Local Dimming Pro+. It combines a high-contrast HVA panel with a 23-bit backlight controller to eliminate haloing around bright objects.

Besides its ultra-thin art profile and reflection-cutting matte finish, you get a 144Hz native panel, Game Accelerator 288 for low-lag gaming, and dedicated 4K/144Hz inputs on HDMI 1 and 2. Audio also gains DTS:X passthrough alongside Dolby Atmos, making it a true flagship display disguised as living room decor.

It is available in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch configurations.

Head over to TCL or Amazon to check out the new A300L and A400U Designer Series as they land at US retailers.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 10, 2026

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To glorify.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

EXALT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To cut.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHEAR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To mess up.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

BOTCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A gorge.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GULCH

Final Hurdle hint

Madness.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

CRAZE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 9, 2026

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 9 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (13): Everything in this space must add up to 13. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

White House takes down anti-immigrant Tetris knockoff

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:27:49 +0000

Last week, the White House unveiled a new government website called Arcade.gov, which hosted five web-based games that promoted President Trump's agenda. Following accusations of racism and veiled threats of potential legal action, only four of those games are now visible on Arcade.gov.

"Build the Wall," a Tetris clone that promoted an anti-immigrant ideology and challenged players to "protect the border from the coming horde" is no longer on the Arcade.gov website.

The White House launched the arcade website last Thursday through a series of social media videos spoofing classic game console opening screens from companies like Nintendo and Sega. The five playable games on the site were all knockoffs of titles like Flappy Bird.

However, the website's Tetris clone, "Build the Wall," received the most attention for its virulently anti-immigrant messaging.

Just one day later, the team behind Tetris issued an official statement distancing itself from the game and floating potential legal action.

"At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them," Tetris said in a statement posted to its official social media accounts. "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community."

"P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall'," the statement continued. "P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously."

It's unclear if The Tetris Company officially took action against the White House's knockoff puzzle game. However, it does seem that the threat spooked the Trump administration enough to have the game removed.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a Legend of Zelda makeover

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:29:45 +0000

Zelda is turning 40 this year, and Nintendo is showing up for the celebration. In a video presentation, Nintendo just announced a handful of special edition hardware options to go alongside the new Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While the game launches on Nov. 5, fans can snag the Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition system on Oct. 29.

The Zelda makeover of the Nintendo Switch 2 pays homage to Link's classic colors of gold, black, and green. In addition to the console itself, Nintendo is also dropping a matching display stand and carrying case with a screen protector. Of course, all of them showcase the iconic Triforce design. There's also a truly stunning Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller coming with a Zelda makeover.

Immediately added to Christmas wish list: the new Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Credit: Nintendo

These launches are all part of Nintendo's 40th anniversary celebration of Zelda, which will feature plenty of merch drops and live events that'll continue on into 2027.

Updated on Sept. 11: Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 'The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition' consoles sold out immediately. You can check these links to see if any new inventory has become available, and we're also monitoring these retailers for restocks.

Shop Nintendo Switch 2 Consoles:

Shop Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99

Shop Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99

Shop Walmart

Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition

$519

Shop GameStop

Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99

Shop Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99

The 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 QHD gaming monitor is nearly back to its lowest-ever Amazon price

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:46 +0000

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $169.99, down from its $279.99 list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) Series QHD Gaming Monitor

$169.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $110

Getting into 180Hz gaming doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend OLED-levels of money, especially when one of Samsung's most affordable Odyssey monitors has gotten a huge price cut once again.

As of Sept. 8, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F model) is available on Amazon for $169.99 as part of a limited-time deal. That's $110 below its $279.99 list price, which equals a 39 percent savings on the QHD gaming monitor.

Amazon is handling both the sale and shipping itself, with free delivery showing for Sept. 9 at the time of writing; this new deal is only 99 cents off its lowest-ever price, which Mashable confirmed when checking the price tracker camelcamelcamel.

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Rather than stretching 1440p across a larger panel, this G50F fits its 2560x1440 resolution into a 27-inch Fast IPS screen. Samsung rates QHD at 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD, while the panel's 178-degree viewing angle is designed to maintain clear colors across a wider viewing angle.

With that, you’ll be comfortable no matter what when catching up on single-player games like Crimson Desert or multiplayer hits like Roblox.

What’s more, with the pairing of a 180Hz refresh rate with a 1ms GtG response time, you’ll even be equipped for the most fast-paced games like Fortnite and League of Legends. NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync are included as well, syncing compatible graphics hardware with the display to reduce tearing and choppy-looking frames.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 8, 2026

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 8 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 8 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 8 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

This Samsung OLED G5 gaming monitor gets a $150 Labor Day price cut on Amazon

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:14:14 +0000

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 (G50SF) gaming monitor is on sale for $349.54 at Amazon, down from its $499.99 list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey QD-OLED G5 Gaming Monitor (G50SF)

$349.54 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150.45

OLED gaming monitors are gradually becoming less of a drag on one's upgrade budget, with Amazon’s new Labor Day price drops making it possible to get one of Samsung’s newer Odyssey displays for under $350.

As of Sept. 7, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 (G50SF SKU) gaming monitor has dropped to $349.54 on Amazon, shaving $150.45 off its $499.99 list price for a 30% discount. In addition to Amazon selling and shipping the monitor directly, you’ll also get the retailer’s standard free 30-day refund or replacement window.

For that price, Samsung is packing in a 27-inch 2560 x 1440 QHD screen built around QD-OLED technology, giving darker scenes the richer blacks and stronger contrast you’d expect from an OLED panel. HDR10 is also supported, and the Pantone Validated display is rated to reproduce more than 2,100 colors.

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The G5 isn’t just improving rounds of Fortnite or sessions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered through boosts to image quality, either. The 180Hz refresh rate over DisplayPort is paired with a 0.03ms GtG response time. At the same time, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility and AMD FreeSync help smooth out frame-rate mismatches in fast-paced games, including Counter-Strike 2.

Samsung has also fitted the monitor with its Glare Free coating, which the company says is 54% less glossy than conventional anti-reflection film. What’s more, the OLED Safeguard adds extra measures, including thermal modulation, logo and taskbar detection, and a screen saver to help reduce the risk of burn-in.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 7, 2026

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Ripening.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

AGING

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Got up.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STOOD

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To broaden.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

WIDEN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Office worker.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLERK

Final Hurdle hint

Sum.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

TOTAL

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 7, 2026

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 7 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 7 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 7 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed 5-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this orange space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 6, 2026

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A Bostonian hockey player.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRUIN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To cause.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BEGET

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To swindle.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GRIFT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Come together.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

UNITE

Final Hurdle hint

Allocate.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ALLOT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 6, 2026

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 03:50:04 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 6 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 6 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 6 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 5, 2026

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:17:08 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 5 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizonally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 5 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 5 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 5, 2026

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

An ice cream measurement.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SCOOP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The place.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WHERE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Finely chop.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

MINCE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Small path.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BYWAY

Final Hurdle hint

Affordable.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

CHEAP

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Tetris hits back at Trump over knockoff game, warns White House about copyright infringement

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 20:46:04 +0000

UPDATE: Sep. 8, 2026, 5:38 p.m. EDT The White House has removed the Tetris clone game from its website.

Read more here. The original report continues below.

The team behind Tetris, the classic 1984 puzzle video game, has responded to the White House over a knockoff game that the Trump administration released this week.

The statement from Tetris hits back against Trump's White House over its recently released Tetris clone, "Build the Wall." In its response, Tetris strongly hints that the company will "take copyright infringement very seriously."

"At Tetris, we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them," Tetris said in a statement posted to its official accounts on Instagram and X. "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community."

The Tetris spoof was one of five games released by the White House on Thursday on a new government website address Arcade.gov. The playable web games are all clones of classic titles overlaid with different themes that promote Trump's policies. For example, "Build the Wall" pushes an anti-immigration agenda, urging players to "protect the border from the coming horde."

The Tetris team amended their statement graphic with a few postscripts as well.

"P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall'," they said. "P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously."

Tetris isn't the first to push back against an association with Trump and float potential legal action. Countless musical artists have issued DMCA takedowns or cease-and-desists to Trump over the years for the use of their songs at his rallies or in campaign media.

Just last year, Pokémon Company International issued a statement distancing itself from a video posted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that used its intellectual property to promote the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

"Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property," the Pokémon Company said at the time.

Trump games: White House unveils anti-immigrant, Pro-Trump retro arcade

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:56:35 +0000

UPDATE: Sep. 8, 2026, 5:37 p.m. EDT The White House has removed the Tetris clone game from its website.

Read more here.

UPDATE: Sep. 4, 2026, 4:57 p.m. EDT The Tetris Company has issued a statement regarding the White House's knockoff of its game.

Read the response from Tetris here. The original report continues below.

With gas prices soaring, dozens of food recalls, a war in Iran, and a litany of other pressing issues, one might be thinking to themself, "I wish the U.S. government would release a series of low-quality, potentially vibe-coded video games."

Well, you are in luck!

On Thursday, Trump's White House announced a new website, Arcade.gov, which hosts five brand new 8-bit style video games, which harken back to the days of Newgrounds and the now-discontinued Adobe Flash.

The official White House account on Elon Musk's X announced the launch of the new government website via a series of videos, which spoof the opening screens of Sega, Nintendo, and Xbox game consoles.

The Sega spoof turns the company's iconic logo into a MAGA promotion.

The most innocuous game is the site's Flappy Bird clone, called Flappy Bill, where a user guides an eagle down the National Mall.

Supply Line, which spoofs the game Tapper, challenges users to sort cafeteria food to promote the administration's Make America Healthy Again campaign.

In Trump Savings Tycoon, players have to collect money for their kids' Trump Accounts, which promotes the administration's agenda to provide $1,000 to children born during the president's term in office.

A screenshot of 'Rio Run.' Credit: Arcade.gov

A screenshot of 'Build the Wall.' Credit: Arcade.gov

The two most controversial games promote Trump's border policies. Rio Run is a Snake clone that challenges the user to patrol the border along the Rio Grande, catching immigrants crossing the border. Once a user "catches" an immigrant, they re-appear in an orange jumpsuit. Finally, Build the Wall, a Tetris game with a zombie theme, encourages users to “protect the border from the coming horde."

In the replies to the White House's announcement, many users criticized the games. Some encourage Nintendo and Xbox to sue the administration for copyright infringement. Others made references to the lack of games covering other issues, such as the Epstein Files.

The Arcade.gov website claims more games are on the way.

"Coming soon," reads a blank box next to the other games in the library, with a tagline that reads, "A new adventure awaits."

Palms, neon, and Vice City vibes: How to preorder the limited-edition GTA 6 PS5 controllers

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:30:13 +0000

Sony has officially unveiled two limited-edition DualSense controllers for Grand Theft Auto VI, giving the PS5 gamepads matching Vice City-inspired makeovers ahead of Rockstar's long-awaited sequel.

Both the black and white limited-edition GTA 6 controllers are priced at $84.99 and are set for release on Nov. 19 — the same day as GTA VI.

Both controllers borrow heavily from Vice City's unmistakable aesthetic in different eye-catching ways. Both shells pack shimmering, color-shifting finishes that mix sunset hues with neon blues, plus custom palm tree details molded directly into the plastic and official Grand Theft Auto VI branding. If you’re a longtime GTA fan, the oversized ‘VI’ that’s taking over the touchpad will make this a must-buy.

Credit: Sony

The white model is taking cues from Vice City's beaches, pastel skies, and sunny day-glamor.

Meanwhile, the black edition is all about channeling the gaming city's nightlife. It's still got the same Florida-style palm trees, but in a more classically chic PlayStation black.

Credit: Sony

The announcement on the PlayStation Blog does state that both will be available at "participating retailers," but for now, the only way to preorder the GTA VI DualSense controllers is through PlayStation Direct — starting on Sept. 10 at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. Eligible orders placed directly through PlayStation will also get free launch-day delivery.

Stock will be available in limited quantities and will sell out fast. We’d advise bookmarking this article as a reminder and quickly jumping to the link above.

Beyond their new looks, they're still standard DualSense controllers, so they include haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. You'll get what you need as you play through Jason and Lucia’s story, but you won’t have any added features beyond the new, stylish aesthetics.

Keep in mind that although both GTA 6 controllers officially launch on Nov. 19, exact availability will vary by country and region.

Alienware’s latest OLED monitors are built for gorgeous visuals and stupid-fast gameplay

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:18:40 +0000

TL;DR: Alienware is launching two new OLED gaming monitors. The Alienware 32 4K OLED brings four-stack RGB stripe tandem OLED tech down from its 39-inch flagship into a 32-inch 4K panel. The Alienware 25 560Hz QD-OLED, co-developed with Team Liquid, is Alienware's fastest monitor ever — 560Hz, 0.03ms response time, DP2.1 with no DSC — arriving early Q1 2027 with pricing TBA.

Alienware isn't picking a lane this fall — it's building two roads that go in opposite directions, and both are paved with OLED.

Unveiled at IFA in Berlin, the Alienware 32 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3226Q) and the Alienware 25 560Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2527HX) split the difference between the two things gamers argue about at 2 a.m. on Discord: do you want the best-looking screen on your desk, or do you want to see the guy peeking the corner before he sees you? Alienware's answer is "why not both, just not on the same panel."

Alienware 32 4K OLED

Credit: Alienware

Alienware's 32-inch 4K OLED isn't a new idea for the brand — it's a trickle-down idea.

RGB Stripe Tandem OLED, minus the fringing

Most OLED monitors use a four-subpixel layout, with an extra white subpixel added for brightness. Alienware ditched the white subpixel for a true RGB stripe arrangement instead, which means richer color volume since nothing's getting diluted, cleaner fringe-free text, and a polarizing layer that keeps blacks deep even with the lights on. Stack four emissive layers behind all that, and brightness climbs to 1,000 nits peak with an infinite (1.5 million:1) contrast ratio.

Flat, traditional design

The design leans traditional on purpose — flat panel, 16:9, four-sided narrow bezels, wrapped in Alienware's Nova Black colorway as part of its "AW30" design language. If you're running a multi-monitor setup or just don't prefer curved screens, this design is built for you.

Specs

You get ultra-vivid 99% DCI-P3 color with factory calibration precise enough to skip tweaking the settings, paired with a blazing-fast 4K 165Hz display and a 0.03ms response time for buttery-smooth action. Universal adaptive sync support keeps screen tearing at bay, no matter your graphics card, while dual HDMI 2.1 ports ensure current-gen consoles hit full resolution and frame rates, alongside DisplayPort and USB hub options.

Alienware 25 560Hz QD-OLED

Credit: Alienware

If the 32-inch is Alienware's answer to "make it beautiful," the 25-inch is Alienware's answer to "make it disappear." This is a monitor for people who consider 1080p a feature, not a limitation — because at 560Hz, resolution isn't the bottleneck, your reaction time is.

That 560Hz number is Alienware's fastest ever, paired with QD-OLED's 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time and a DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR13.5) connection running at full bandwidth with zero DSC — nothing standing between your click and the pixel changing color.

Alienware calls it a generational leap over the TN panels that have dominated esports desks for years, backed by zero backlight bleed and 1,500-nit peak brightness.

Built with Team Liquid, not just for them

Pro players from Team Liquid had direct input throughout development, and it shows in details that read like a wishlist from people who've actually LAN'd for a living.

The telescopic stand gets a 155mm adjustment range — with height and rotation markers so players can replicate their exact setup at any venue or LAN party. The base is small and rotatable, freeing up desk space for a keyboard angled diagonally underneath instead of squared off.

There's a dedicated esports button to instantly swap between 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratios mid-session, plus a rear-flip headset hanger to keep peripherals off the desk entirely. Even the tilt range got the competitive treatment, with a generous 45-degree rear tilt for whatever posture gets you locked in.

Designed to survive the long haul

Speed and image quality don't mean much if the panel degrades one season in, so burn-in protection gets the same longevity treatment as its sibling monitor. A graphite sheet disperses heat across the panel, an AI algorithm mitigates burn-in pixel-by-pixel, and pixel shift plus pixel refresh round out the defenses — all backed by the same 3-year warranty with OLED burn-in coverage.

Specs

The Alienware 25 560Hz boasts an insanely fast 560Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time, paired with DisplayPort 2.1 to drive full uncompressed bandwidth without needing Display Stream Compression. The matte anti-glare coating keeps reflections at bay under harsh tournament lights, while the OLED panel delivers standard-setting visual punch with infinite contrast.

Both monitors are VESA-certified for deep, true blacks and striking HDR contrast: the 25-inch 560Hz QD-OLED hits DisplayHDR True Black 600 for punchier peak highlights, while the 32-inch 4K model pairs DisplayHDR True Black 400 with Dolby Vision for dynamic, scene-by-scene precision.

Pricing and availability

The Alienware 32 4K OLED arrives first, priced at $699.99, with global availability this fall. The Alienware 25 560Hz QD-OLED follows in early Q1 2027, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

Two monitors, two totally different bets — one on eye candy, one on nanoseconds. Alienware's making the case that you shouldn't have to choose an OLED that's either gorgeous or fast. Just maybe not on the same desk.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 4, 2026

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Hard to get out of a shirt.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

STAIN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To capture.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CATCH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Related to a raccoon.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

COATI

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Found in the deep sea.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DIVER

Final Hurdle hint

To wow.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

AMAZE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 4, 2026

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:07:59 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 4 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 4 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 4 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6 placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Every Product Acer Announced at IFA 2026 in 14 Minutes

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:19:35 +0000

Acer came to IFA 2026 with a stacked product lineup, including the much talked about Project Dualplay Mini, a handheld gaming device with a rotatable screen. See what else Acer showed in our highlight reel of the keynote.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 3, 2026

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Jeans.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DENIM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Transparent.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CLEAR

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound an angry dog makes.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GROWL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Legitimate.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LEGAL

Final Hurdle hint

Cheesy.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

CORNY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 3, 2026

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 02:43:36 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 6-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this red space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 3 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this red space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 2, 2026

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Upper room.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ATTIC

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A kitchen utensil.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

WHISK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Popular in Cuba.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CIGAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To extend.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

REACH

Final Hurdle hint

Where a book might be.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SHELF

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2026

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 2 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this orange space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 2 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 2 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 6-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for September 1, 2026

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:08:52 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Leg bone.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TIBIA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To inform.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TEACH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To cling to.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

LATCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Influence.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLOUT

Final Hurdle hint

To say hello.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

GREET

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Roku just announced two new OLED TVs that ditch the premium price tag of OLED

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:29:16 +0000

Some of us are trying to spend less time staring at screens. We're Bricking our phones to work on jigsaw puzzles, spend time outside, or read. But there's nothing wrong with sitting down in front of the TV for a movie night with family. Or consider the educational gains that come from watching a Sir David Attenborough documentary. A TV can still fit into a digital detox lifestyle, and for those who want an OLED model with excellent contrast, there's good news.

Roku just announced two new budget TVs and both come with an OELD display, and prices start at $999.99. Here's everything to know about the new Roku TV models.

Credit: Roku

55-inch Roku Pro Series OLED TV

$999.99 at Amazon

Credit: Roku

65-inch Roku Pro Series OLED TV

$1,199.99 at Amazon

Roku Pro Series OLED

Already available at Amazon, the Roku Pro Series OLED comes in at $999.99 for a 55-inch display and $1,199.99 for a 65-inch display. Chris Larson, Vice President for Retail Strategy at Roku, is quoted in a press release as saying, "OLED technology has been locked behind premium price tags, forcing many customers to choose between the display they want or a price that works for them." Roku's new OLED models aim to remove the cost-prohibitive element of owning an OLED.

The Pro Series brings an ultra-wide viewing experience and a modern design with an ultra-thin metal bezel. Roku had the customer in mind when they designed the included stand since it requires zero tools for assembly.

Slim and sleek for a modern design. Credit: Roku

Bluetooth pairing to headphones is perfect for nights when the household is asleep but you simply must watch one more episode before bed. The remote control with backlit buttons is also a major plus when watching TV into the dark hours.

The Roku Pro Series OLED TV has a native refresh rate of 120Hz and 4K resolution.

Roku Pro Series LX OLED TV

Launching in the beginning of October 2026, the Roku Pro Series LX OLED will be the brand's most advanced model. Roku says it will have a brighter display with an even wider range of colors compared to the Roku Pro Series OLED, and a more advanced polarizer to help reduce reflections. In addition, it has a 144Hz refresh rate, making this an ideal model for gaming.

Roku hasn't announced sizes of this model, but we know it will come with a list price of $1,299 once it launches.

How to buy the Roku Pro Series OLED TV

You can already purchase the base Roku Pro Series OLED at Amazon. The 55-inch model has a price of $999.99 and the larger 65-inch comes in at $1,199.99. We'll keep this page updated once we have sizing information and a launch date for the Roku Pro Series LX OLED TV.

Crumbl Cookies just announced a Minecraft menu, complete with exclusive mystery spoons

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:32:35 +0000

TL;DR: Crumbl is teaming up with Minecraft on a limited-time menu featuring six square, Minecraft-inspired treats topped with fan-favorite mobs. You'll also have the chance to score a special limited-edition mystery spoon.

If you have a Gen Alpha kid in your life, you probably know more than you'd like to admit about Minecraft (and honestly, Crumbl cookies). Now, the two brands are banding together to give your teens and tweens the collab they've always wanted.

On Aug. 30, Crumbl dropped a limited-edition menu featuring six different Minecraft-inspired treats. Every single cookie and cake on the menu is square (obvs) and comes with a mob topper.

The menu, which runs through Sept. 5, includes a Lemon Poppyseed Cookie (Bee topper), Cookies & Cream Sandwich (Enderman topper), Creeper Key Lime Sandwich (Creeper topper — and undoubtedly the one my nephew asks for), a Grass Block Cake, Cherry Blossom Cookie (Pig topper), and a Cookie Butter Cookie (Chicken topper).

If you're one of the first 200 people to buy a Minecraft 6-Pack on launch day, you'll get a Launch Day Exclusive spoon (limited to one per person). Credit: Crumbl

If you want to go all out, Crumbl is also releasing special-edition Crumbl x Minecraft Mystery Spoons. If you're one of the first 200 people to buy a Minecraft 6-Pack on launch day, you'll get a Launch Day Exclusive spoon (limited to one per person).

NYT Pips hints, answers for September 1, 2026

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:11:11 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for September 1 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-3 placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for September 1 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for September 1 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Valve suffers massive 12TB leak, revealing a decade of Steam game files

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:30:24 +0000

Valve has reportedly suffered a massive leak, with over 12 terabytes of the game developer's internal data now available online. This not only includes data from its own games such as Portal 2 and the cancelled Half-Life 2: Episode 3, but also other developers' games such as Grand Theft Auto V and Dragon Age: Origins. It could be one of the largest video game leaks ever.

The Steam2 Content Server Dump first came to light on Saturday, and quickly spread on social media. Steam2 was Valve's previous content distribution system, which was phased out after the introduction of SteamPipe in 2013. Valve used Steam2 to deliver game updates through its digital storefront Steam, which was launched in 2003. This leak purportedly contains data from a Steam2 content server, and spans the decade between 2003 to 2013.

It's unclear exactly who is responsible for the leak. However, Valve content creator Scolcer claimed that the data wasn't hacked, but found publicly available on an unprotected website (via Google Translate). This was corroborated by another Valve-focused content creator Gabe Follower.

"No hacking involved, just verified that everything in Steam2 Teraleak was obtained via a publicly accessable [sic] endpoint. It's Valve's fault…" Gabe Follower posted to X. "That's why it's only before 2013, after that they switched to the new storage system."

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

While fans are still combing through the massive archive of data, they've already uncovered a lot of interesting information. Valve released some of its most iconic games during the period covered by the leak, including Half-Life 2, Portal, Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead, and Dota 2. As such, gamers have found files related to several of these titles, and are sharing screenshots and videos of their discoveries on social media.

So far, finds include a beta build of Left 4 Dead 2, files that seem linked to cancelled game Half-Life 2: Episode Three, content cut from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, data concerning cancelled Portal prequel F-Stop, and unreleased but playable versions of Portal 2, including dialogue, plotlines, and other features that didn't make it into the final game.

Mashable has reached out to Valve for comment.

Significantly, Valve isn't the only game developer that appears to have been swept up in the Steam2 Content Server Dump. Steam hosts both Valve's own games and those made by other developers, having become one of the most popular digital distribution platforms for PC games. As such, other developers' games which launched on Steam before 2013 have reportedly been included in the leak as well.

Fans have reportedly identified files or even early versions of games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, Mafia II, Spec Ops: The Line, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II. Basically, if a game was on Steam in 2013 or earlier, it was likely included in the leak. According to SteamDB, Steam hosted 2122 games by 2013.

Much more information will undoubtedly be uncovered as people continue to trawl through the data. Even so, it will likely take some time. In 2024, approximately 1 terabyte of data was leaked from Nintendo's servers in an incident dubbed the "Teraleak," followed by a second release a year later. Though the Teraleak was significantly smaller than Valve's breach, fans have continued to glean new information from it even up until last month.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 31, 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A short era.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PHASE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Where a cow ejects milk.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UDDER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A military sword.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SABRE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A type of drum.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SNARE

Final Hurdle hint

A row of bushes.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HEDGE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 31, 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 31 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 30, 2026

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A lack of judgment.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FOLLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A small wind instrument.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

KAZOO

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A thick chocolate.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

FUDGE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

More unique.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

RARER

Final Hurdle hint

A jacket flap.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

LAPEL

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 30, 2026

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 30 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 30 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 30 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 29, 2026

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A natural clay pigment.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

OCHRE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A group.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BUNCH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A courtesy.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

FAVOR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A spicy alcoholic drink.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TODDY

Final Hurdle hint

Unhealthy.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

FATTY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 29, 2026

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 29 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 29 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 29 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Samsung just announced a 1,100Hz gaming monitor (yes, Im serious)

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:28:18 +0000

TL;DR: Samsung just announced its 2027 Odyssey monitor lineup at Gamescom. The collection includes four new models.

I didn't even know human eyes could process 1,100 frames per second, but Samsung is betting they can. At Gamescom this week, the brand announced its 2027 gaming monitor lineup, and the specs are out of control.

According to the official press release, these next-gen monitors were designed for players who want total flexibility in speed and resolution. So, if you're used to blaming your refresh rate for your stats, Samsung's about to eliminate your favorite excuse.

Guess what Apple will release in September in our Big Guessing Game: Apple edition. Enter now for a chance to win an Apple Watch!

“With new form factors, higher refresh rates, and advanced display technologies, the 2027 Odyssey lineup gives players more choice across competitive play, cinematic games, and multi-purpose setups," Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics, said in a statement.

The 27-inch Odyssey G6 is the world's first monitor to reach a 1,100Hz refresh rate. Credit: Samsung

Here's everything we know so far:

Odyssey G6 (27-inch): Samsung says the Odyssey G6 is the "world's first 1,100Hz gaming monitor." It uses a fast IPS panel with a 1ms response time and lets you toggle between HD at up to 1,100Hz and QHD at up to 600Hz through its Dual Mode.
Odyssey OLED G9 (49-inch): If you want a wider field of view, the OLED G9 has a 49-inch Dual QHD monitor, a 360Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time. If you need more speed, you can use the Dual Mode to drop the resolution to Dual HD and push the refresh rate to 720Hz.
Odyssey OLED G8 (32-inch): This 4K OLED monitor features Triple Mode, so you can swap between UHD at 360Hz, QHD at 520Hz, or FHD at 680Hz depending on what game you're playing.
Odyssey OLED G7 (42-inch): Samsung claims this is the "world's first 42-inch 16:9 curved OLED gaming monitor." It features a 1000R curve to bring the edges closer to your natural sightline, 4K picture quality, and a 165Hz refresh rate.

Samsung hasn't announced pricing or release dates for the OLED models just yet, though the 1,100Hz G6 is set to launch globally in the second half of 2026.

Alienware has launched the worlds first 39-inch 5K RGB Stripe tandem OLED monitor — where to buy

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:36:42 +0000

TL;DR: Alienware has launched what it's calling "the world's first 39-inch 5K RGB Stripe tandem OLED monitor." The Alienware 39 5K OLED gaming monitor is now available to buy for $1,099.99 at Dell.

Credit: Alienware

Alienware 39 5K OLED Gaming Monitor

$1,099.99 at Dell

If you're looking for a new gaming monitor that will seriously impress, Alienware's latest release is definitely worth checking out. The new Alienware 39 5K OLED gaming monitor is finally available at Dell, following its announcement at Computex earlier this year. Right now, you can pick up this game-changing monitor for $1,099.99.

This new gaming monitor has a 39-inch ultrawide display with a 5120 x 2160 5K resolution and RGB Stripe tandem OLED panel. It has a 165Hz refresh rate at its native resolution, with an esports mode that increases this to 330Hz, plus a 0.03ms response time across all modes.

For more immersive gameplay, it has a 1,500R curve, an ultrathin profile, and narrow bezels on all four sides. Alienware also uses a personalized pixel algorithm to help extend the OLED panel's lifespan. On top of this, you'll get a three-year warranty that covers OLED burn-in.

Connectivity-wise, it has a DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR20), HDMI 2.1 FRL with eARC, USB-C with up to 90W power delivery, a built-in KVM switch, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also supports NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and VESA AdaptiveSync.

Score the world's first 39-inch 5K RGB Stripe tandem OLED monitor at Dell now.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 28, 2026

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To frighten.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SCARE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A celebration.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PARTY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Additional.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

OTHER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A dwelling.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HOUSE

Final Hurdle hint

Audibly.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ALOUD

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 28, 2026

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 28 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 28 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 4-6, palced horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 28 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

GTA 6 Netflix extended look: Everything that was revealed

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:44:17 +0000

Finally, a real, authorized look at the most anticipated game of the year, Grand Theft Auto VI!

After more than a decade since its predecessor was released, years of wild speculation, postponed release dates, and a leaker posting over a dozen leaked clips, Rockstar Games teamed up with Netflix to provide fans with an official "extended look" at GTA 6.

Despite the extremely high expectations, most fans agree that the extended look delivered.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X

$79.99 at Amazon

Grand Theft Auto VI: The characters

Rockstar Games provided the most detailed peek into the GTA 6 storyline yet, which follows the playable criminal duo Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Dazed magazine published an exclusive feature on the game yesterday, which described Duval as "an ex-military drug runner" and Lucia as "a fighter fresh out of prison." So, we know the game will have a "“a Bonnie and Clyde-type narrative," with gamers switching back and forth between the two characters.

The footage shown on Netflix gave us some insight into these characters. Jason seems like a man of few words. At one point, he says he's more comfortable using a gun than using his words. Lucia is shown to be a capable fighter and criminal herself.

Grand Theft Auto VI: The plot

Credit: Rockstar Games

Mashable has a deep dive into every plot detail that was revealed, if you don't mind spoilers. But the extended look showed what looks like an early mission, as Jason and Lucia are thrust into the world of crime in Vice City.

We follow them on a botched pickup in an apartment tower, where the pair interacts with several characters in a drug den. Trouble begins when the police show up, and a shootout ensues, which Jason and Lucia escape. Presumably, that's just the beginning of the couple's story as they fall deeper into Vice City's criminal enterprises.

Toward the end of the extended look, we also saw Jason and Lucia on another mission, where they acted as the security detail for a wealthy client, who is eventually ambushed by armed kidnappers during a fancy party.

The whole presentation, including the actual gameplay, is very cinematic, which really lends itself to a focus on the game's plot.

Again, we don't want to go too deep into the plot reveals here, so check out our piece specifically laying out the story we know thus far in detail.

The graphics look incredible

The quality of the graphics in this game looks truly elite. The level of fine detail in character clothing, facial expressions, and even NPCs' hair is almost hard to believe, as is the overall environment. This isn't a surprise, exactly, and fans certainly have high expectations for this game. But the Mashable chat was unanimous: the graphics here are deeply impressive.

GTA 6 music

Credit: Rockstar Games

What's a Grand Theft Auto game without a killer soundtrack, right?

Cruising around Vice City in your car while scanning the radio dial is as big a part of the game as doing crime. So, what tunes do we have to look forward to hearing in the game?

Previous GTA 6 trailers included Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road" and The Pointer Sisters' "Hot Together." Netflix's extended look showed us a soundtrack that extends from Kodak Black to Def Leppard to Phil Collins.

Other artists heard in the Netflix preview include Depeche Mode, Birdman featuring Lil Wayne, Captain & Tennille, Cliff Richard, Prefab Sprout, B one El Productor De Oro, Chimbala, and Omega, Aluna & Jayda G, Elderbrook & Bob Moses, and The Bellamy Brothers.

For a complete list of every song in Netflix's GTA 6 extended look (and songs that have previously been associated with the game), check out Mashable's coverage specifically on the music of GTA 6.

GTA 6 gameplay

There has already been so much content released by the anonymous leaker known as Cyberleek, yet Rockstar Games was still able to deliver huge elements of gameplay that were previously completely unknown.

For example, Mashable reported earlier today on the suspicious lack of any gameplay footage involving Lucia as a playable character. Well, the Netflix exclusive look delivered what Cyberleeks couldn't (or wouldn't for some reason). We saw plenty of gameplay footage with Lucia.

Cyberleek did post footage of gameplay that included a little demon head icon in the corner of the screen, and we now know a little more about that. It appears this is a game mechanic that monitors the morality or honor your character shows (or the lack thereof). It's not clear exactly what it means for the character, or how the game changes with it, but we do know it's there.

Social media also seems to play a role in GTA 6. The extended look showed Lucia stealing a car, only to find someone in the trunk doing "the trunk challenge." Later, we see the same character riding in the trunk and livestreaming as Lucia evades the police and chat messages appear on the screen. So, just like it exists in the real world, social media exists in the game, too. It's unclear if this is related to the honor system or not, but it's clear that social media plays a larger role throughout the game.

Slow-motion aiming mode

In the mission where Jason and Lucia act as security and fight an armed kidnapping crew, we noticed something interesting. While both Jason and Lucia were seen firing weapons with fairly typical aiming mechanics, at one point, the game entered a slow-motion aiming mode. At that point, enemy weak points glowed red.

NPC interactions similar to Red Dead Redemption 2

Credit: Rockstar Games

There also seems to be a new NPC interaction system, which provides players with the ability to perform certain actions with non-playable characters. For example, you can pet a dog.

It appears GTA 6 will have a similar NPC interaction system as Red Dead Redemption II, another popular game from Rockstar.

Racing seems to be a big element

The game showed Jason and Lucia racing in a variety of environments. Based on the Netflix extended look, there's even a dedicated race track in the game. We also got to see Lucia participate in a dirt bike race on a dirt track. Finally, another clip showed drag racing on city streets. For gamers who love racing and car customization, it seems there will be a lot to love in GTA 6.

You can scuba dive and base jump

One of the coolest clips in the extended look featured Lucia base jumping off a skyscraper, pulling her parachute, and gliding over Vice City. In another scene, we learned that players can even go scuba diving.

Eating and drinking are part of the game

From Dazed magazine, we learned that eating and drinking are part of the game, and that Jason and Lucia can gain or lose weight based on their diet and exercise. In the extended look, we see Jason eating food as a heart meter appears on the screen, and we see Lucia lifting weights.

The extended look also showed character actions such as opening a refrigerator and drinking beer, as well as interactive cigar smoking.

Of course, there are just the biggest elements we noticed. The extended look will be available on YouTube starting at 9 p.m. ET, and the game itself comes out Nov. 19.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' Ultimate Edition: PS5 or Xbox

$99.99 at PlayStation Store

TCL’s 75-inch Mini-LED 4K TV drops to $849.99 at Amazon — act fast to save over $100

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:00:00 +0000

SAVE $150: The 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, down from the list price of $999.99. That's a 15% discount.

Credit: TCL

75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV

$849.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $150

For plenty of rooms, a 65-inch TV is perfect. But if you have a larger living room or a big bedroom, a 75-inch might be better. The problem with a larger TV is that the price tends to jump significantly between 65 and 75 inches. For that reason, it's worth checking out this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 27, the 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, marked down from the list price of $999.99. That's a 15% discount that saves $150 off the price and gives you extra funds to spend on streaming services.

Ideal for watching games during daylight hours, the TCL's QLED display features 3840x2160 4K resolution. It contains up to 500 local dimming zones, ensuring there's less color bloom and deep blacks. Plus, this is the first TCL model that comes with Alexa+.

If you love gaming on a giant TV, TCL's 144Hz refresh rate and 288 VRR will work well together for a lag-free experience. In addition to these specs, it's worth mentioning that Mashable rates TCL as one of the best TV brands, making budget models that don't cut down on quality.

Instead of dropping big money on a 75-inch TV, upgrade to the 75-inch TCL QM64L QLED TV while it's on sale at Amazon for under $850. It'll be a great companion for fall shows and staying cozy indoors come winter.

GTA 6 leaks: 7 things we haven’t seen in Cyberleek footage yet

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:49:54 +0000

The Grand Theft Auto VI leaker known as Cyberleek has been dropping near-daily footage showcasing gameplay from the upcoming game.

On Wednesday, Cyberleek ventured into new territory, which crossed the line for some gamers: The leaker posted four and a half minutes of footage spoiling part of the GTA 6 storyline for the first time. The clip covers the game's prologue and features one of the two playable characters, Lucia Caminos.

However, lots of gamers are talking about what Cyberleek hasn't leaked yet, as well as speculation as to why. It seems that the leaker isn't just leaking stolen footage but is actively clipping the material themself, which leads fans to believe that Cyberleek has a playable build of the game. But, the footage that's been posted by Cyberleek so far suggests that they may have a restricted build of the game.

Looking over what's missing from Cyberleek's leaks, you'll find that there's also quite a few trademark elements of a GTA game that they haven't been seen yet. Here's what we found — or should we say, here's what we haven't found — in the leaked footage so far:

No Lucia gameplay

GTA 6 will feature a playable Bonnie and Clyde-esque duo named Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, as Dazed magazine revealed this week. Yet, all the leaks that Cyberleek has posted so far feature Jason as the playable character.

Cyberleek just posted the prologue that features Lucia, but still hasn't posted any Lucia gameplay, despite teasing more Lucia-focused content.

No first-person view footage

Over on Reddit, gamers have been sharing concerns over the lack of any first-person POV footage in the leaks. GTA 6 is primarily played in third-person view, and all of the footage is from that viewpoint.

However, GTA 6 is an extremely complex game, and many elements may be best experienced in the first-person view. For example, customization options of vehicles are extremely detailed, and a first-person view is often required to truly appreciate the little details.

First-person view is very likely in GTA 6; we just haven't seen Cyberleek leak footage of it yet.

Limited exploration of the map

Cyberleek started by leaking the map of the world of GTA 6, which is set in a Florida and Miami-inspired fictional state called Leonida. In fact, GTA fans who are part of a community mapping project confirmed that it's very likely legitimate, as it lines up with their own findings.

However, knowing what exists on the map in GTA has also shed light on how little the leaker has shown us. In the leaked gameplay footage, there is very little exploration of the massive interactive world.

No clothing or car customization

Speaking of customization, there are two major customizable features we haven't seen yet in the leaked footage: Clothing and car customization.

The leakers have yet to post anything showcasing what will likely be a massive array of detailed customization options for your character's style and rides.

No heists

Cyberleek has leaked plenty of footage of GTA 6 robberies and carjackings, featuring free-roaming stick-ups and holding up gas stations for cash.

But GTA is known for more than basic robbery. There are also complex, multi-part heists and criminal missions. Yet, we haven't seen any missions like that from Cyberleeks yet. The lack of this footage is odd, as one would think this would be among the most visually appealing for viewers.

No use of items aside from weapons

GTA is more than just guns. Yet, when it comes to the game's other items, Cyberleek hasn't shown them yet. We haven't even seen the use of the in-game mobile phone, which has been a major element of previous GTA games. An early Cyberleek clip showed Jason shooting a basketball, but that's it.

In fact, we haven't seen the leaker utilize the Items tab in the menu at all during gameplay footage.

Will Cyberleek drop more footage that includes any of these missing GTA elements? Or maybe Netflix's upcoming exclusive look at the game will show us what we've been missing so far.

Need a TV upgrade? The 65-inch Samsung Class S90H OLED 4K TV has never been cheaper.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:31:10 +0000

SAVE $1,100: The 65-inch Samsung Class S90H OLED TV is on sale for $1,597.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $2,697.99. That's a 41% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Credit: Samsung

65-inch Samsung Class S90H OLED TV

$1,597.99 at Amazon
$2,697.99 Save $1,100.00

We're in the last week of NFL preseason, which means sports weekends are about to get more exciting. MLB games are heating up, too. If you're not a sports fan, we have tons of fall TV to look forward to, like a fresh season of The Great British Bake Off to serve as our emotional support show, and Slow Horses returns to Apple TV with a new season. If you're pumped for fall viewing but your TV is lagging, check out this excellent TV that's on a major discount.

As of Aug. 27, the 65-inch Samsung Class S90H OLED TV is on sale for $1,597.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $2,697.99. That works out to a 41% discount that takes $1,100 off the price. It's the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon by about $400.

For most of us, the TV is a big source of entertainment. From putting on a jazzy playlist in the morning to watching our favorite Netflix shows in the evening, the TV is on pretty often. For those looking for top-tier quality in a 65-inch TV, it's hard to deny the specs on the Samsung Class S90H OLED TV.

The 65-inch size of the OLED display will work great in most rooms, and Samsung added glare-free technology and 4K upscaling for clarity. When it comes to watching sports, Samsung has us covered with AI motion enhancer pro, smoothing out even the quickest movement for non-blurred viewing.

If you like gaming on your TV, the Samsung is ready to deliver thanks to VRR gaming speeds that can reach 165Hz.

Since we've never seen a price this low at Amazon for the 65-inch Samsung Class S90H OLED TV, consider this your sign to make the move. You'll be in great viewing shape for fall TV, movies, and sports.

Rare Alienware deal: Get $60 off the Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED curved monitor

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:07:05 +0000

SAVE $60: As of Aug. 27, get the Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW) for $289.99, down from its usual price of $349.99. That's a 17% discount on list price.

Credit: Amazon

Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Monitor

$289.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $60

PC gaming can be a pricey hobby. Grabbing a new peripheral or accessory for your setup can be an expensive affair, so it's good to grab things during a sale when you can. If you need to upgrade your build for an upcoming game or just want some new equipment, now's the time to lock in a new monitor purchase with this sale.

As of Aug. 27, get the Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW) for $289.99, down from its usual price of $349.99. That's $60 off, a 17% discount.

This ultrawide curved gaming monitor boasts a 1,400p resolution, a smooth 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.03ms response time. It features a height-adjustable stand that lets you position it perfectly, with tilt and swivel options to get a great angle as well.

That makes it the perfect candidate for adding to your setup, no matter what genre of game you enjoy. Its curved screen can help you feel like you're right in the middle of the action, so you get the impression you've been dropped into a firefight, or you're seeing your favorite game world surrounding you.

If you're ready to add a little oomph to your gaming battlestation, this monitor is the perfect way to do so, especially if you like to feel as though you're actually living your favorite games. It's especially nice at this price, so be sure to grab it while it's still in stock.

How to preorder Microsofts translucent green anniversary Xbox console and controller

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Microsoft has finally opened preorders for the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection it unveiled back in June. The bundle includes a special-edition Xbox console and controller with matching translucent "OG Green" designs inspired by the original Xbox Launch Team Edition system from 2001.

The Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection costs $899.99 and is set for release on Nov. 13. Shoppers can also purchase the controller separately for $79.99; it arrives Oct. 20.

Credit: Microsoft

Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console

$899.99 at Amazon

Includes a free download of "Halo: Campaign Evolved."

Credit: Microsoft

Xbox X25 Special Edition Wireless Controller

$79.99 at Best Buy

"This collection is our way of celebrating the community that has made Xbox what it is today," said Jason Ronald, VP of Next Generation at Xbox, in a blog post Wednesday. "Thank you for being part of this journey."

The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition console has a power button that glows green and an Xbox 25th Anniversary logo on its facade. Its see-through housing offers a peek at its internal components. Each one is engraved with its unique production number.

At $899.99, the Series X25 is $100 more expensive than a regular Series X. (The flagship console has faced three separate price hikes since last May; the latest one went into effect Aug. 1.) At least Microsoft throws in a free download of Halo: Campaign Evolved, this summer's new remake of the very first Halo game.

Credit: Microsoft

Series X25 preorders began Wednesday via email invitation for "some of Xbox’s most dedicated fans," according to Ronald's post. Everyone else can preorder it starting today (Aug. 27) at 10 a.m. ET. It's available on the Xbox website and at participating retailers "while supplies last," Ronald said. That includes Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.

The X25 Special Edition Wireless Controller has ABXY buttons and bumpers that match those on "the Duke," Microsoft's inaugural gamepad. Its power button also lights up in green. It's $15 more expensive than a standard Xbox controller.

Credit: Microsoft

Preorders for the X25 Special Edition controller started Wednesday and went fast. It was only in stock at Best Buy and Walmart at the time of writing, having already sold out at the Microsoft Store, Amazon, Target, and GameStop.

Microsoft has partnered up with IKEA and Razer for other limited-edition collections in honor of its silver jubilee.

The new Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection includes redesigned Razer accessories: Where to preorder

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:53:02 +0000

Razer range from the Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection:

Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed

$119.99

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K

$179.99

Razer BlackWidow V4 75%

$209.99

Xbox is turning 25, and it's celebrating with new gear. The Designed for Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection is now up for preorder, pulling the console's original translucent green look into a lineup of mice, keyboards, earbuds, controllers, and bags — including the ever-popular Razer range.

Here's everything in the collection from Razer:

Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed — Wireless gaming earbuds running on Razer's HyperSpeed Wireless and Bluetooth 5.3, delivering low-latency audio across phones, tablets, and PCs. Battery life totals up to 35 hours between the earbuds (10 hours) and the pocketable charging case (25 hours), with USB-C passthrough to top up on the go.
Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K — A wireless ergonomic gaming mouse running Razer's Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2, the company's most precise sensor to date, paired with a reworked 4-way scroll wheel for deeper customization and up to 140 hours of battery life.
Razer BlackWidow V4 75% — A compact, hot-swappable mechanical keyboard with Chroma RGB lighting you can fully customize down to the switches. The anniversary edition adds one exclusive perk: a dedicated Xbox key that instantly pulls up the Game Bar.

Twenty-five years of gaming history, distilled into gear you can actually use — pick your favorite before preorders wrap up.

First look: Secretlab’s new Spider-Man and Venom gaming chairs are slinging onto shelves

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:31:57 +0000

TL;DR: Secretlab and Marvel just launched the Titan Evo Marvel Spider-Man Edition, a red-and-black gaming chair featuring a web-patterned back and Venom-inspired tendril details. This limited-edition chair is now available in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.

Secretlab just teamed up with Marvel for the first time, and the result is a gaming chair built entirely around Spider-Man. The Secretlab Titan Evo Marvel Spider-Man Edition features a red-and-black color scheme, riding the wave of Spider-Man: Brand New Day hype. It's available now in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.

If you're in the market for Spider-Man merch that doubles as functional furniture, this chair checks that box. The red-and-black palette is meant to channel the character's classic look, and there's a Spider-Man emblem stitched into the backrest.

Credit: Marvel / Secretlab

The back is upholstered in Secretlab's SoftWeave Plus fabric, woven into a web-like pattern of thin lines, made possible through what Secretlab describes as an advanced knitting process. As a nod to Venom, dark tendril patterns creep along the side wings and seat base, too.

Underneath the Spider-Man theming, this is still a Titan Evo, so it comes with the same comfort features as the standard chair. That includes cold-cure foam designed for long sitting sessions, a sculpted "pebble" seat base to distribute pressure more evenly (and leave room for sitting cross-legged), and four-way L-ADAPT lumbar support that adjusts to the curve of your lower back as you shift positions.

This is easily one of Secretlab's best collabs yet, Spider-Man fan or not.

The Samsung Internal SSD 990 has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $30

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:21:24 +0000

SAVE $30: As of Aug. 27, the Samsung Internal SSD 990 1TB is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung Internal SSD 990 1TB

$199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30

If your PC needs a storage overhaul, now could be a good time to upgrade — Samsung's 990 1TB SSD has dropped in price on Amazon. As of Aug. 27, this SSD is down from $229.99 to $199.99, saving you $30. Not only that, but according to camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest-ever price for this popular model from Samsung.

This SSD is an ideal choice if you need a fast, responsive performance from your PC. It has sequential read/write speeds of up to 7,150/6,450 MB/s and random read/write speeds of up to 700K/1,100K IOPS, so you can do everything from loading games to downloading large files.

And if improving your gaming setup is your intention, you'll be pleased to know it is designed to handle large games, as well as other demanding creative projects. And it only uses up to 38% less power per unit of performance than the 990 PRO.

There are both 1TB and 2TB options (2TB is $339 down from $529), so you have plenty of room for games, personal files, and long-term storage.

Head to Amazon now to get this deal.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 27, 2026

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A popular car rental company.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

HERTZ

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An organ in the head.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRAIN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To lodge in.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

EMBED

Hurdle Word 4 hint

An old song or movie.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

OLDIE

Final Hurdle hint

It started.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

BEGUN

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 27, 2026

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 27 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 27 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 27 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Lenovos latest gaming tablet is now under $700 — save big on the Legion Tab Gen 5

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:00:00 +0000

SAVE $160: As of Aug. 26, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 (8.8-inch, Snapdragon) is down to $689.99. That's an 18% discount.

Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5

$689.99 at Lenovo
$849.99 Save $160

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 just dropped to $689.99 at Lenovo, down from $849.99 — an 18% discount that knocks $160 off Lenovo's gaming-focused tablet. The Legion Tab Gen 5 packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 12GB of memory, and 256GB of storage, wrapped in a 3K display that hits 800 nits of brightness.

It runs Android 16 and lasts over 12 hours on a charge, which is a lot for a tablet built to handle gaming. Mashable recently tested this one, giving it a 4.5 out of 5 and a Mashable Choice Award. Reviewer Samantha Mangino was impressed by its processing power, noting its Geekbench 6 scores put it "into the leagues of a MacBook."

At 8.8 inches, it's smaller and more portable than the standard 11-inch iPad, which makes a difference for handheld gaming sessions. Mangino also called out its two USB-C ports as a standout feature, letting gamers plug in a controller or headphones while the tablet charges, something most tablets don't offer.

Battery life held up too, lasting over 12 hours in testing, and it handled livestreaming without any stuttering or slowdown, even during a WNBA game. Overall, Mangino called the tablet worth it for anyone who wants a gaming-specific tablet.

Snag the Legion Tab Gen 5 before the memory crisis pushes the price right back up.

Upgrade your PC gaming setup with the Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED curved monitor, now $150 off

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:31:35 +0000

SAVE $150: The Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW) is on sale for $649.99 on Amazon and Dell's website. That's 19% off its regular retail price of $799.99.

Credit: Dell

Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW)

$649.99 at Amazon and Dell
$799.99 Save $150

It's been a rough few years for cash-strapped PC gamers: After dealing with the GPU shortage of the early 2020s, we're now in the thick of a global memory crisis. If you're in the unfortunate position of needing to upgrade your existing setup or build a new one, it's never been smarter to wait for sales before buying new hardware or peripherals.

Here's a solid monitor deal that the Mashable Shopping team spotted this week: Alienware's 34 240Hz QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW) is currently marked down to $649.99 on Amazon and Dell's website. It typically retails for $799.99, so you wind up saving a cool $150. This is its lowest price outside of a short period in June when it fell to $615.

The AW3425DW is an immersive 34-inch ultrawide curved gaming monitor with a 1400p resolution, a 0.03ms response time, a silky-smooth 240Hz refresh rate, and a height-adjustable stand that can tilt and swivel. Dell's gaming brand released it last spring.

You may recall that even cheaper 240Hz QD-OLED Alienware gaming monitor debuted this April. However, it's not curved, not as wide, and dimmer than the AW3425DW, which hits 1,000 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. The pricier AW3425DW also adds a built-in USB hub and Nvidia G-SYNC compatibility.

Best Buy had the AW3425DW on sale at the time of writing, but it was only $50 off there.

IKEA and Xbox have collaborated on a gaming furniture collection: Launch date, price, lineup

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:01:50 +0000

TL;DR: IKEA and Xbox teamed up on Yxstaby, a nine-piece gaming furniture collection featuring a rolling TV stand, a toolbox that doubles as a laptop stand, a side table for controllers, a monitor stand, and a stool modeled after an Xbox thumbstick. It launches in IKEA stores and online Oct. 1.

Gaming doesn't happen in one dedicated room anymore — it happens at the kitchen table, on the couch, and everywhere in between. IKEA and Xbox built an entire furniture collection around that reality, and it's arriving this fall.

The collection, called Yxstaby, is the result of a collaboration between designers from both companies, who spent time visiting gamers' homes to figure out what a gaming setup needs to do. The idea: furniture that makes room for play when it's happening, and disappears back into everyday life when it's not.

"How people play at home has shifted, and it is as much about relaxing and connecting with others as it is about performing, which changes what the space has to do," said Philip Dilé, product design developer at IKEA of Sweden, in a statement.

Credit: IKEA / Xbox

Nine pieces built around real gaming habits

The nine-piece lineup leans on small, practical fixes for common gaming annoyances:

A rolling TV stand — the first of its kind for IKEA, it rolls to wherever the game is happening and comes with storage for gear on the back, then rolls away when you're done
A toolbox — keeps controllers, cables, and hardware organized, with a lid that doubles as a laptop stand, so a dining table can become a gaming station and then just go back to being a dining table
A side table — rolls to wherever you're sitting, giving controllers a spot besides the arm of the couch, plus space to charge behind sliding doors
A monitor stand — raises one or two screens to a comfortable height, with storage underneath and holders for a phone, headphones, and a controller

Beyond the functional pieces, the collection also leans into Xbox's controller design for its look:

A D-pad cushion and platter — a soft cushion and a matching stainless steel platter, both shaped like the Xbox controller's D-pad
A mirrored display box — shows off a controller (or other collectibles) from every angle
A thumbstick stool — built from Xbox's actual 3D design files, it's shaped like a giant thumbstick and even tilts the way a real one does when you sit on it

Credit: IKEA / Xbox

The whole collection sticks to a muted white, black, and beige palette with pops of green marking storage spots for gear, so the pieces are designed to blend into a room you already have rather than look like a gaming setup bolted on.

Yxstaby was unveiled at Gamescom this month and launches in IKEA stores and online from Oct. 1. Availability may vary by market.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 26, 2026

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (28): Everything in this space must add up to 28. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 26 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 26, 2026

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Hurled.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

THREW

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Doomed

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GONER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Belief.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

FAITH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Member of the Catholic Church.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FRIAR

Final Hurdle hint

A tooth.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOLAR

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Nintendo announces two new Switch 2 bundles, set to arrive after price hike

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:47:55 +0000

Nintendo is releasing a pair of new Switch 2 bundles later this fall, the company announced Tuesday. Both bundles will include a three-month Nintendo Switch Online Individual membership and a download code for a game.

The timing of this announcement is notable: The Switch 2 is getting $50 more expensive on Sept. 1, jumping from $449.99 to $499.99. These new bundles will be two ways of saving a little money on the popular console following its price hike.

Credit: Nintendo

The first bundle features Mario Kart World and launches sometime in "late September," according to a company press release. It will retail for $549.99, which works out to a $37.98 savings versus buying the system, the game, and the Switch Online membership separately.

The second bundle comes with a copy of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, the latest entry in Nintendo's sports simulation series. It arrives on Oct. 22 — the same day as the game itself — and has a sticker price of $529.99, saving shoppers $27.98. Preorders for the bundle will open "soon," the company said.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo used to sell three Switch 2 game bundles (sans memberships) for $499.99, including one with Mario Kart World, but they were out of stock everywhere at the time of writing.

The gaming giant announced its $50 Switch 2 price hike this May "[in] light of changes in market conditions." As Mashable previously reported, that's almost certainly a reference to the global memory shortage stemming from the AI boom, aka "RAMageddon." In recent months, tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and Sony have increased their own hardware prices due to the same circumstances.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The ultimate retro flex for your phone: Backbone unveils blind-box 25th Anniversary Xbox controllers

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:05:00 +0000

TL;DR: Backbone is celebrating Xbox's 25th anniversary with a limited-edition Backbone Pro controller, available in three heritage-inspired colorways — crystal clear, iconic blue, and bold orange — sold as a blind box, so buyers won't know which color they're getting until they open it. It ships Oct. 20 for $159.99 and is available for preorder through Backbone and Best Buy.

Credit: Backbone

Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition

$159.99 at Backbone

Backbone's marking Xbox's 25th birthday with a controller that comes down to pure luck — you won't know which color you're getting until you open the box. The Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition is a limited-run mobile controller built around Xbox's design history.

The anniversary edition comes in three heritage-inspired colorways: crystal clear, iconic blue, and bold orange, each referencing the early era of Xbox hardware, back when consoles and controllers felt like things worth collecting and showing off. You can't choose your colorway in advance, and it's only available while supplies last.

Credit: Backbone

The controller's built to work well beyond your console. It supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, so you can stream games from anywhere, and it comes with one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for eligible new subscribers, unlocking access to hundreds of titles right out of the box. If you'd rather stick to your existing console library, Xbox Remote Play lets you stream your own games directly from your Xbox instead. Either way, you're set up to play games like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 6, and Minecraft from day one.

Underneath the nostalgic packaging, this is still a Backbone Pro controller, so you're getting the same premium build the line's known for. That includes full-size ALPS joysticks, re-mappable rear buttons, and laser-etched grips built for comfort and precision. You can connect via USB-C for low-latency, wired play, or go wireless over Bluetooth to use it with tablets, laptops, VR headsets, or smart TVs, with up to 40 hours of battery life on a charge.

The Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition starts shipping Oct. 20 for $159.99. It'll be sold in limited quantities through preorders from Backbone and Best Buy, with availability limited to the regions Backbone normally ships to.

Asus standalone ROG Xbox Ally X20 finally gets a price tag: How to preorder it

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Asus revealed pricing for the standalone version of its ROG Xbox Ally X20 today at Gamescom, Europe's biggest video game expo. The special-edition OLED gaming handheld will cost $1,299.99, or $300 more than last year's original Xbox Ally X.

Shoppers can also purchase the Xbox Ally X20 as part of a $2,499.99 AR glasses bundle. Asus was initially only planning on selling the Xbox Ally X20 in this bundle form, but changed its mind over the summer.

Preorders for the standalone and bundled Xbox Ally X20 are now live at Best Buy and on Asus' website, with a launch date for both set for Oct. 15.

Credit: Asus

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20

$1,299.99 at Best Buy

Credit: Asus

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Bundle

$2,499.99 at Best Buy

Xbox Ally X20 specs: What's new and improved

Asus took the wraps off of the Xbox Ally X20 in June in honor of the 20th anniversary of ROG ("Republic of Gamers"), its PC gaming brand. It upgrades the $999.99 Xbox Ally X handheld with a slightly bigger, much brighter 7.4-inch OLED screen and a see-through black chassis that shows off some gold internal hardware.

Pair the ROG Xbox Ally X20 with AR glasses for a massive playing screen. Credit: Asus

Asus has reworked the Xbox Ally X20's thermal system to support that new screen. As the company noted in its June announcement, "OLED panels are more sensitive to heat than traditional LCD displays."

Additionally, the Xbox Ally X20 has flatter face buttons, rubberized handgrips, premium TMR (tunneling magnetoresistance) joysticks, and a "transforming" D-pad that can switch between four- and eight-way controls.

Left: The front of the ROG Xbox Ally X20. Credit: Asus

Right: The back of the ROG Xbox Ally X20. Credit: Asus

The new handheld runs on the same chip as the standard Ally X version, and it's equipped with the same amount of memory and SSD storage (24GB and 1TB, respectively). Like its predecessor, it also supports Windows 11's Auto Super Resolution AI upscaling tech. The feature is currently available in preview to members of the Xbox Insider Program, which is free to join.

What comes in the Xbox Ally X20 bundle?

Buy the ROG Xbox Ally X20 on its own or bundle it with accessories. Credit: Asus

The splurgy Xbox Ally X20 bundle includes a pair of Asus' impressive ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses, which produce a colorful 240Hz virtual screen. (They retail for $849 on their own.) They plug right into the handheld via USB-C port. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth got to try them at CES earlier this year and said they "made me feel like I'm living in the future."

Asus also throws in an adapter and two matching custom cases for the Xbox Ally X20. One is a dbrand Killswitch case with a build-in kickstand; the other is a rugged Pelican Protector Case that can hold the handheld and any accessories you might use with it.

Viture Beast XR deal: Grab these gaming-friendly XR/AR glasses for the record-low price on Amazon

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12:20:30 +0000

SAVE $140: As of Aug. 25, the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses are down to $548.98 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount off their $689 list price.

Credit: Viture

Viture Beast XR glasses

$548.98 at Amazon
$689 Save $140.02

The Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses are down to their best-ever price of $548.98 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount off their $689 list price, saving you $140.02.

The glasses pack a 174-inch virtual display powered by Sony Micro-OLED panels, 1200p resolution, 1250-nit peak brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate, all wrapped into a pair of AR/XR glasses you can plug into your iPhone, Android, Mac, or PC.

Everything is built into the hardware, and you can pin the screen in place, resize it, or spread it out into an ultra-wide setup. A sensor keeps the image locked in place even if you move your head, so it doesn't drift. There's also a dimming feature with nine levels, so you can go from a fully see-through look to a total blackout for movie-watching, and it'll auto-adjust based on how bright the room is.

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Werth recommends these glasses to gamers: "I've tested a lot of smart glasses, and the Beast Viture are easily the best ones for gaming. They have the best touch controls of all of the glasses I've tested, and they let you disappear into a game no matter where you are. If you like to game on the go with a handheld, these glasses can drastically improve the experience by giving you a huge display, which is also great for watching movies on planes."

Mashable's Tech Editor Timothy Werth repping the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses. Credit: Viture

Sound comes from Harman, so you're getting real bass and clarity instead of the thin, hollow audio a lot of glasses like this get stuck with. And there's also a feature that converts regular 2D video and games into 3D on the fly.

Grab the Viture Beast XR/AR Glasses for their best-ever price at Amazon.

The Luna Wireless Controller has hit its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $20

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000

SAVE $20: As of Aug. 25, the Luna Wireless Controller is on sale for $49.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

Credit: Luna

Luna Wireless Controller

$49.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.00

If you're looking for a new controller for cloud gaming, the Luna Wireless Controller is on sale for a limited time.

It's designed specifically for Amazon Luna, with a familiar console-style layout and wireless connectivity for a more classic gaming experience. And as of Aug. 25, you can find it on sale for $20 less than usual, at $49.99. And according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest it has ever been priced.

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This wireless controller is designed specifically for Amazon Luna, Amazon's cloud gaming service. It works across a wide range of devices, including Windows, Mac, Fire TV, Fire tablet, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, and Android.

Luna gaming lets you jump between different devices. For example, you can pause a game on one screen and pick it up right where you left off on another, and you can use the controller across them all. For low-latency gameplay, the controller can connect directly to Amazon's custom game servers over WiFi using Cloud Direct technology. It can also connect via Bluetooth to compatible devices or via USB for Windows or Mac.

For gaming, it has all the classic controller features you'd expect, like offset thumbsticks, easy-access bumpers, precise triggers, responsive action buttons, and a four-way directional pad.

Find this limited-time deal at Amazon now.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor is over $600 off and comes with a free $120 Amazon credit

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:45:08 +0000

SAVE $650: As of Aug. 25, the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 is on sale for $1,499.99 at Amazon. That's a 31% discount on the list price.

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 57-Inch Odyssey Neo G9

$1,499.99 at Amazon
$2,299.99 Save $800.00

If you've been thinking about upgrading your gaming setup, now is a great time to do so. The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 is down to $1,449.99 at Amazon. That works out to a $650 saving on the list price.

And that's not all. There's currently an Amazon promotion that gives you an extra $120 in free credit with your purchase. The promotional credit will be added to your Amazon account within 30 days of your order shipping, and Amazon will email you when the credit is awarded. Once added, the $120 credit expires after 120 days. The promotion is limited to one per customer and account, and the maximum promotional credit available through the offer is $120.

It's not an all-time low price (that's $1,399.99), but the free credit effectively makes this the best-ever deal on this monitor.

This Samsung gaming monitor is a dual-UHD option with a 57-inch UHD display, providing the screen space of two UHD monitors in one. It has a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and DisplayPort 2.1 support, with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for smoother play.

It features Quantum Matrix Technology with Quantum Mini LEDs and 2,392 local dimming zones, delivering controlled brightness and contrast. It also benefits from VESA DisplayHDR 1000, which provides up to 1,000 nits peak brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Find this gaming monitor deal at Amazon now.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 25, 2026

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 25 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 25 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 25 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 25, 2026

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Shy.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TIMID

Hurdle Word 2 hint

By oneself.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ALONE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The start.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

BIRTH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Ceasefire.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TRUCE

Final Hurdle hint

Pelvic area.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

GROIN

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

GTA 6 makers subpoena X, Google in hunt for Cyberleek

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:12:10 +0000

Take-Two Interactive Software, the parent company of Grand Theft Auto-maker Rockstar Games, is stepping up its efforts to unmask the anonymous leaker known as Cyberleek, who is still actively sharing GTA 6 leaks online.

On Aug. 21, Take-Two asked the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York to sign subpoenas against Google and X Corp to compel them "to produce the identity of entities or persons believed to be infringing on the copyright of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc."

One of the subpoenas includes a copy of a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request sent to X, which seemingly confirms the leaked gameplay videos posted by Cyberleek are legitimate. While an earlier subpoena filed by Take-Two referenced "stolen content," the latest filing contains even more details.

Take-Two requested that X Corp remove "Images and videos extracted from an unreleased copyrighted work GTA VI," as the takedown request states. In addition, Take-Two also wrote, "The reported post contains unauthorized, leaked gameplay footage from the unreleased game Grand Theft Auto VI. This material reproduces our Client's copyrighted, unreleased game assets and was published and distributed without any authorization from the copyright holder. The content is presented as genuine leaked Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay from Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and its distribution constitutes unauthorized reproduction and public disclosure of our Client's copyrighted work." (Emphasis added by Mashable.)

A DMCA takedown request sent to Google includes screenshots of Cyberleek videos posted to YouTube. Credit: U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York

YouTube indicated that it complied with the takedown request in an email included with a recent subpeona. Credit: U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York

The action against Google and X Corp follows two similar subpoena requests filed against Microsoft and Discord, as Mashable reported on Friday. It's all part of Take-Two's ongoing efforts to scrub Cyberleek's videos from the web, while also identifying the leaker's digital footprints.

"The DMCA Subpoena is directed to X Corp., the service provider of an account with the username @cyberleek_ar_io. Infringing content was posted via the @cyberleek_ar_io account," the filing states. "This content infringes copyrights held by Take-Two for GRAND THEFT AUTO VI, proprietary software owned by Take-Two. The copyrighted material includes but is not limited to audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements."

Likewise, the subpoena directed to Google states, "This infringing content is believed to be associated with the following online personas: CyberLeeks, Surfer24k, CyberLeek_ar_io."

Cyberleek seems undaunted by Take-Two's investigation, and they recently released more alleged gameplay footage showing a nudist colony, a gas station carjacking, and glimpses of a cutscene.

In fact, Cyberleek has been very busy over the past week, posting new Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay videos, polls, and map images on a daily basis. Scheduled for release on Nov. 19, the game has been in development for over a decade and has been subject to repeated delays, making it one of the most highly anticipated video games of all time. Before the GTA 6 leaks started, Rockstar announced it would finally debut an "extended look" at the game on Netflix on Aug. 27, but Cyberleek has disrupted those promotional plans.

Even as YouTube, X, and Discord remove infringing content, the GTA 6 leaks are still easy to find, and they're spreading widely on social media.

Meanwhile, the subpoenas provide a glimpse into Take-Two and Rockstar's efforts to unmask the leaker.

In the original Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown requests filed on Aug. 21, Take-Two demanded that Microsoft remove infringing material posted on a specific Github repository associated with Cyberleek. That repository was still online Friday, but the URL now produces a 404 error. In its filing against Discord, Take-Two requested information related to specific Discord users and servers.

Take-Two is seeking a wide range of data from Google, X Corp, Microsoft, and Discord. For the accounts associated with Cyberleek, the company is demanding the account ID, server metadata, telemetry records, original message logs, IP access logs, email addresses, phone numbers, connected accounts, registration timestamps, and any device identifiers.

If caught, Cyberleek will almost certainly face criminal charges, though that depends on how they obtained the leaked material and where the leaker is located.

So far, Rockstar Games and Take-Two haven't said anything about the alleged leaks outside of the subpoena requests. Mashable has contacted both companies repeatedly with questions, and we'll update this story if we receive a response.

GTA 6 Cyberleek: Fans float leak conspiracy theories about marketing, possible in-game character

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:52:06 +0000

Are the Grand Theft Auto VI leaks an inside job?

As the anonymous online group known as Cyberleek continues to drop new GTA 6 footage on a near-daily basis, some gamers are starting to speculate that these leaks were orchestrated by Rockstar Games itself.

On social media platforms like Reddit, fans have begun to concoct various theories suggesting that Cyberleek could be part of an elaborate marketing campaign by the GTA developer. Could they be right?

GTA 6 leak conspiracy theories

To be fair, the conspiracy theorists have done a good job of explaining themselves. Fans have pointed out that Cyberleek appears to be following a marketing campaign-esque style schedule by releasing one or two videos per day. They have also noted that the leaked footage consistently focuses on game mechanics and never seems to reveal much about the GTA 6 story, which could genuinely spoil the game’s November launch.

Based on Cyberleek’s footage, it appears that the group may have access to a playable build of the game. If so, the leakers could theoretically produce almost any footage they wanted, provided the content was included in whichever version of the game they possess.

As some have pointed out, even the gameplay footage that Cyberleeks has released doesn't reveal too much. Whoever is playing the game doesn't seem to explore the world as the character passes things by, instead passing potentially interesting locations without investigating them. The footage has also largely avoided action. No car crashes, no widespread destruction, no explosions — none of the things that make GTA, well, GTA.

Another interesting theory posed by gamers is that Cyberleek may be an actual character from the game. The group has used an animated Cyberleek mascot to watermark some of the footage and screenshots it has shared. Some fans believe that the Cyberleek name and art style feel like something Rockstar Games would create for an in-game GTA 6 persona. Could there be a leaker or hacker group named Cyberleek within the world of the game?

While some of these theories are surprisingly well thought out, the available evidence strongly suggests that Rockstar Games is not behind the GTA 6 leaks.

Why the fan theories fall apart

There are two major reasons the marketing-stunt theory doesn’t hold up.

First, there’s the memecoin factor. Throughout the daily leaks, Cyberleek has consistently promoted a cryptocurrency bearing the same name. When the group publishes polls asking viewers what type of GTA 6 footage they want to see next, users are required to use Cyberleek’s memecoin to participate.

It seems very, very extremely unlikely that a major company — especially one as big as Rockstar Games — would promote a memecoin as part of a marketing campaign. Alternative cryptocurrencies are frequently associated with pump-and-dump schemes and other financial scams. The potential legal and reputational headaches would almost certainly outweigh any promotional benefit.

Then there’s the much bigger piece of evidence: Take-Two Interactive filed subpoenas in federal court last week over the GTA 6 leaks., and here's the big one that seemingly debunks the conspiracies, Rockstar Games filed subpoenas in federal court last week related to the GTA 6 leaks.

"The reported post contains unauthorized, leaked gameplay footage from the unreleased game Grand Theft Auto VI," reads a takedown request sent to Discord and included with the subpoena. "This material reproduces our Client’s copyrighted, unreleased game assets and was published and distributed without any authorization from the copyright holder. The content is presented as genuine leaked Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay from Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and its distribution constitutes unauthorized reproduction and public disclosure of our Client’s copyrighted work."

Again, this is a legal document filed in federal court in which Rockstar Games attests that at least one specific post is "unauthorized, leaked gameplay footage." Filing subpoenas to identify the people behind your supposedly orchestrated marketing campaign would be an extraordinarily risky stunt. The daily release schedule may feel suspiciously polished, but the legal filings — and all that memecoin promotion — make a Rockstar inside job extraordinarily unlikely.

The ASUS V16 gaming laptop is down to its best price yet

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:59:04 +0000

SAVE 8%: As of Aug. 24, you can get the 16-inch ASUS V16 gaming laptop (Intel Core 7240H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,464.49, down from $1,599.99, at Amazon. That's an 8% discount, or $135.50 in savings.

ASUS V16 gaming laptop (Intel Core 7 240H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,349.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $250

Finding a gaming laptop with a current-gen GPU under $1,500 is getting harder by the day. But if you're looking for strong mid-range performance without paying top-dollar, ASUS has a configuration on sale right now that hits the mark.

As of Aug. 24, you can get the 16-inch ASUS V16 gaming laptop (Intel Core 7 240H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $1,464.49, down from $1,599.99, at Amazon. That's an 8% discount, or $135.50 in savings. It's also the best price we've seen on this model to date.

Depending on your zip code, you might see a red warning message on the product page that says, "Sorry, this item cannot be shipped to your selected address due to local laws or Amazon policy. Please change the shipping address."

Don't worry! The laptop isn't banned in your state. It's just a location-based glitch. We tested the listing across our team, and only some of us saw the error message based on our default delivery locations. If your primary address gets flagged, try shipping it to your office or a friend's house in a neighboring zip code.

Shipping quirks aside, this laptop has some pretty impressive specs. It has an Intel Core 7 240H processor with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. Reviewers note that while the GPU's power is constrained a bit to keep the cost down and the thermals in check, it still handles demanding new titles well on high settings and outperforms similarly priced RTX 5060 models.

You'll also get a 16-inch WUXGA display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and a 1TB high-speed SSD so your game library loads quickly. Add in ASUS's dual-fan IceCool thermal tech to keep things from overheating, and a full-size keyboard with blue backlighting, and you have a practical gaming rig that's well worth the investment.

Go big with the 85-inch TCL X11L QLED 4K TV while its on sale for over $2,500 off

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:27:46 +0000

SAVE $2,502: The 85-inch TCL X11L QLED 4K TV is on sale for $5,497.99, down from the normal price of $7,999.99. That's a 31% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Credit: TCL

85-inch TCL X11L QLED 4K TV

$5,497.99 at Amazon
$7,999.99 Save $2,502

It might still feel like summer outside, but chilly weather is coming. Once we all move inside, we can look forward to NFL games, a fresh season of The Great British Bake Off, and Heated Rivalry on DVD. If you don't have a massive TV to enjoy this entertainment, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Aug. 24, the 85-inch TCL X11L QLED 4K TV is on sale for $5,497.99, down from the normal price of $7,999.99. That's a 31% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

The 2026 model of the TCL X11L puts you in great shape for keeping entertained through the winter. The display uses the TCL Deep Color System for advanced vivid colors while also coming equipped with Super QLED. TCL mentions this technology is the widest color range available today.

Reaching a maximum of 10,000 peak nits, the display is designed to give a brighter, deeper, and more realistic viewing experience. Translate this into gaming with the 144Hz refresh rate, and you're in a great position for playing your favorite titles on a giant 85-inch display.

Today's deal that takes 31% off the price also tosses in free delivery to the room of your choice, so you won't have to worry about hauling the giant box into the house.

Since this is the lowest price we've seen at Amazon and fall shows are coming up quickly, considering making the upgrade to the 85-inch TCL X11L QLED 4K TV. It comes with built-in Google TV so you won't need to add a streaming stick to this modern model.

GTA 6 map: Community mapping project resembles what CyberLeek revealed

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:53:07 +0000

The Grand Theft Auto VI leaks just keep coming — and now it appears we may even know what the game's full map looks like.

Actually, "may know" doesn't even seem to accurately cover it. It appears that we actually do know what the GTA 6 map looks like.

The online group known as Cyberleek has dropped GTA 6 gameplay footage again and again in what is now becoming a daily occurrence. Recently, one of those leaks included a full map screengrab of GTA 6's fictional state of Leonida, including the game's Miami-inspired Vice City.

Recent subpoenas filed by Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, referred to the leaks as "stolen content," seemingly confirming their authenticity. The map also seems like the real deal.

The leaked GTA 6 map closely resembles one assembled by GTA fans who've spent years analyzing footage leaks, screenshots, trailers, teasers, and other game media to put together a crowdsourced map detailing the world of GTA 6.

"The map leak is 100% real," said one member of the GTA 6 community mapping project in a Discord chat that has been screenshot and shared widely on social media platforms. "It's just a low render version that doesn't show buildings, small roads, bridges or runners. Everything is correct on the map. There are details everywhere so precise that aren't even on the community map but can still be confirmed from what we know. There is literally no way someone fabricated this."

Other members of the GTA 6 mapping project have also shared the same sentiment.

"The GTA 6 mapping community…has worked tirelessly over the years studying footage, screenshots and other data to build an accurate representation of what we may eventually see in-game," said the X account for online GTA resource iGrantTheftAuto.com. "After comparing their work with the newly leaked #GTAVI map, they believe it checks out. While some smaller details appear to be missing, the overall map leak seems to be genuine"

Rockstar Games has remained quiet about the leaks so far. With an official GTA 6 "extended look" airing on Netflix later this week, perhaps we'll get some confirmed footage and confirmation of the GTA 6 map.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Amazons game streaming bundle is under $65, and its a perfect starter pack for casual players

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 14:29:07 +0000

SAVE 46%: As of Aug. 24, you can get the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Luna Controller game streaming bundle for $64.98, down from $119.98, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount, or $55 in savings.

Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Luna Controller game streaming bundle

$89.98 at Amazon
$109.98 Save $20

If you like playing video games but aren't enough of a "gamer" to justify dropping $500+ on a console, cloud gaming is the budget-friendly alternative that lets you play on the big screen without draining your bank account.

As of Aug. 24, you can get the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Luna Controller game streaming bundle for $64.98, down from $119.98, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount, or $55 in savings.

This bundle is essentially a plug-and-play cloud gaming starter pack. It includes the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and Amazon's official Luna Controller. Setup is super simple: just download the Luna app onto the Fire TV Stick, connect the controller, and stream games straight from the cloud — no console needed.

If you're already a Prime member, you'll automatically get access to a rotating selection of free games every month at no extra charge. If you want more options, you can always subscribe to Luna Premium for a wider selection across genres.

This ASUS TUF gaming monitor has dropped to its lowest-ever price on Amazon — save $60

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:22:56 +0000

TL;DR: The ASUS TUF 24.5-inch gaming monitor (VG259QMR5A model) is on sale for $139 at Amazon, down from its $199 list price

Credit: ASUS

ASUS TUF Gaming Monitor

$139 at Amazon
$199 Save $60

Breaking through to 300Hz specs usually pushes gaming monitors into more costly price brackets, but one of ASUS's rapid-fire TUF displays has just become a much cheaper buy for competitive PC setups.

As of Aug. 24, the VG259QMR5 model in the ASUS TUF gaming monitor lineup is now only $139 at Amazon as part of a limited-time deal. Compared with its $199 list price, that strips $60 from the cost for a 30% discount and takes the 24.5-inch display down to its lowest Amazon price yet — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Amazon is handling both the sale and shipping. Prime members can have it delivered as soon as Aug. 25, and this monitor is even covered by free 30-day returns.

There’s the fast IPS panel, which runs at Full HD resolution and can be overclocked to 310Hz. ASUS pairs that with a minimum 0.3ms GTG response time, making this an excellent choice for fast shooters like Valorant and other competitive games like Marathon.

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Keeping all those frames looking tidy is a mix of AMD FreeSync Premium, NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, and ASUS's ELMB Sync technology, which aims to curb tearing and ghosting when all that action causes too many elements to move on-screen at once.

That said, image quality hasn't been completely pushed aside in pursuit of speed. This particular ASUS TUF monitor SKU covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut and carries DisplayHDR 400 certification, while the Gaming AI feature includes Dynamic Crosshair, Dynamic Shadow Boost, and AI Visual.

To top it all off, the DisplayWidget Center even lets you adjust monitor settings using your mouse, and connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports alongside DisplayPort 1.4. Plus, a height-adjustable stand rounds things out, giving you some extra flexibility when fitting it into your gaming setup.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 24, 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:37:38 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 24 Pips

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 24 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 24 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (8): Everything in this space must be greater than 8. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 24, 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A handheld tool.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PLIER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Repurpose.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

REUSE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound a frog makes.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CROAK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Figure it out.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SOLVE

Final Hurdle hint

Helps a car run.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOTOR

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 22, 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

An evil spirit.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DEMON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Courage.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

NERVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To shake.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

TRILL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Rabbit.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BUNNY

Final Hurdle hint

Parable of the ___.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SOWER

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 23, 2026

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:01:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4 placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Hurdle hints and answers for August 23, 2026

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Quick.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRIEF

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unwarranted.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNDUE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Russian prison.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GULAG

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Mush.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SLUSH

Final Hurdle hint

Smelly drain.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SEWER

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

NYT Pips hints, answers for August 22, 2026

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

How to play Pips

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 22 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 22 Pips

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 22 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (16): Everything in this space must add up to 16. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Dont miss a record deal on this ASUS ROG 4K monitor — next level gaming with $100 savings

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:12:06 +0000

SAVE $100: The ASUS ROG OLED 4K 32-inch gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $699, down from the list price of $799. That's a 13% discount on a 4K monitor, and according to price tracker CamelCamelCamel, the best-ever discount on this product.

Credit: ASUS

ASUS ROG OLED 4K 32-inch gaming monitor

$699 at Amazon
$799 Save $100

Sure, gaming's fun. More than that, it's a way of life when you take it seriously. But no one ever said that gaming was cheap. In fact, when you do get serious with your gaming, it's a very pricey way of life indeed — and tech prices are on the rise. Top quality hardware means upgraded visuals and an upgraded overall experience — plus a boost in performance that can be the difference between victory and defeat.

That's why it always feels like a win when we find some high-quality hardware at a discounted price, such as this ASUS ROG OLED 4K 32-inch gaming monitor, a fantastic option from one of the most reliable brands in gaming tech.

As of Aug. 20, the ASUS ROG OLED 4K 32-inch gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $699, down from the list price of $799. That's a 13% discount, saving you $100.

This monitor is stacked with next-level specs. An OLED display delivers eye-popping 4K, with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. That means a lightning-quick, butter-smooth gaming experience with zero lag or glitching. TrueBlack technology helps make the image even sharper.

At 32 inches, this monitor is ideal for a mid-size gaming area. It's far from the biggest monitor available, but absolutely big and advanced enough to draw you into an immersive experience.

Don't miss the ASUS ROG OLED 4K 32-inch gaming monitor while it's discounted on Amazon — now just $699 for a limited time. Again, per the price tracker CamelCamelCamel, this monitor has never been priced this low before.

GTA 6 leak: Take-Two subpoenas Microsoft, Discord, and Github over stolen content

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:40:00 +0000

The makers of Grand Theft Auto VI have filed two Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) subpoenas targeting Microsoft and Discord in the quest to unmask the leaker known as Cyberleek, who has been posting gameplay footage of the unreleased video game.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the parent company of Rockstar Games, filed two subpoenas on Aug. 20 in the Southern District Court of New York, as first reported by Kotaku. The subpoenas specifically cite "stolen content," which confirms what many gamers have suspected all along — at least some of the gameplay videos and maps posted by Cyberleek are legitimate.

The supbeaonas request specific information "to identify the user or users responsible for posting Take-Two’s copyrighted content online," and the filings name specific Discord users, Discord servers, and GitHub repositories.

Credit: U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

One of the subpoenas includes a copy of a take-down request sent to Discord, which states: "The reported post contains unauthorized, leaked gameplay footage from the unreleased game Grand Theft Auto VI. This material reproduces our Client's copyrighted, unreleased game assets and was published and distributed without any authorization from the copyright holder. The content is presented as genuine leaked Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay from Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and its distribution constitutes unauthorized reproduction and public disclosure of our Client's copyrighted work."

Cyberleek has been posting a steady drip of leaked gameplay videos, which have spread widely on X, Reddit, and file-sharing platforms. (Mashable is not posting any of the leaked content.) The leaks came about a week before Netflix was due to stream an exclusive "extended look" at GTA 6, and Rockstar's promotional plans have been completely overshadowed by the anonymous leakers.

The filing goes on to name specific Discord users and account IDs associated with the leaker, including "CYBERLEEK" and "CINEMATICROCKSTAR," as well as Discord servers hosting the leaked material.

A screenshot released by Rockstar Games shows a plane flying over the fictional state of Leonida. Credit: Rockstar Games

The subpoena requests "All identifying information associated with all user accounts that are/were members of the Discord community servers and channels listed below during the time period from June 1, 2026, to present. For each returned account, provide the following: backend server metadata or telemetry records, original message logs, IP access logs, email addresses, phone numbers, connected accounts, registration timestamps, linked connections (Google/Xbox/etc.), and any associated device identifiers (MachineGuid/MSA)."

Take-Two also subpoenaed Microsoft, the parent company of GitHub. In that filing, Take-Two also demands that GitHub remove "leaked content" on a specific GitHub repository.

"The entire repository must be completely disabled, there are no remedies to rectify this clear case of infringement," one of the exhibits in the filing states.

As of this writing, the GitHub repository named in the takedown request is still online; it's unclear if that repository is directly associated with the leaker, who has been primarily communicating through a website and Telegram.

The first Cyberleek videos appeared online on Aug. 18, and since then, the leaker has released six gameplay videos and three previews that appear to show the game's map. Grand Theft Auto VI is one of the most highly anticipated video games in history, and after numerous delays and a decade-long development process, gamers are desperate for any information about the upcoming title, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 19.

For now, the identity of Cyberleek is unknown, but the individual (or group) has been promoting a memecoin along with the leaked videos, encouraging people to purchase the coin to vote on what material should be released next. One of the most recent leaks shows the character shooting the word "LEEK" onto a wall, suggesting that the leaker may have a playable version of the game, which would be a nightmare scenario for Rockstar.

Cyberleek has threatened to continue posting leaked footage, and the leaker's website includes a manifesto and list of grievances against video game companies.

Mashable has contacted Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. repeatedly with questions about the leaks, and we'll update this story if either company responds.

Grab the Samsung Odyssey G5 QHD gaming monitor at its lowest ever Amazon price — save over $70

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:20:25 +0000

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) QHD gaming monitor is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon, down from its $221.99 typical price..

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) Gaming Monitor

$149.99 at Amazon
$221.99 Save $72

Putting together a 1440p gaming setup can get expensive once you start considering higher refresh rates, but one of Samsung’s more affordable Odyssey displays has just dropped back to an especially tempting price at Amazon.

As of Aug. 21, you can buy the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) gaming monitor for a new low price of $149.99 at Amazon. With $72 cut off the $221.99 typical price, you’re getting a 32% discount — and it's the lowest price we’ve seen for this model yet, confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Amazon is both selling and shipping the display directly, with free delivery currently estimated for Aug. 26. Prime members can get it considerably quicker, with delivery showing for Aug. 22 at the time of this writing. Free 30-day returns or replacements are included as well.

That $150 price gets you a 27-inch VA panel running at 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution. With that, you’re getting 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD for a much sharper display all-around.

When mixed in with the Odyssey G5’s 180Hz refresh rate, alongside a 1 millisecond moving picture response time (MPRT), you’ll be equipped for any fast-paced shooter like Fortnite, racing titles like Rocket League, or a single-player adventure along the lines of Crimson Desert — pairing fluid movement with lovely visuals all in one.

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AMD FreeSync is also on hand to cut down on tearing, lag, and stuttering with compatible hardware, while HDR10 brings brighter highlights and more detail into darker scenes — making any game, TV show, or movie you watch pop even more.

Samsung has rounded things out on this particular monitor with Black Equalizer for improving visibility in shadows, Virtual Aim Point for adding an on-screen crosshair, and Auto Source Switch+ for jumping between connected devices automatically.

The height-adjustable stand can also tilt and pivot, giving you considerably more flexibility than many budget monitors around this price.

For any gamers willing to spend a bit more, the QHD-OLED Acer Predator (X27U F5) monitor is on sale at $300 off. Meanwhile, the 32-inch version of the Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor is also on sale for only $50 more.

Sonys back-to-school sale: Save up to $200 on headphones, earbuds, speakers, and gaming gear

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:42:58 +0000

The best deals in Sony's Back to School sale

Best budget pick

Sony WH-CH520

$39.99 (Save $30)

Best speaker deal

Sony ULT Field 5

$189.99 (save $160)

Best earbuds deal

Sony WF-1000XM6

$298 (Save $31.99)

Best headphones deal

Sony WH-1000XM6

$398 (save $61.99)

Best gaming gear deal

Sony 27-inch INZONE M9 II Gaming Monitor

$749.99 (Save $200)

Back to school means a new backpack, a new schedule, and probably a new pair of headphones after last semester's finally gave out.

Sony's Back to School sale is discounting a big chunk of its audio and gaming lineup, from noise-canceling headphones to portable speakers to Inzone gaming gear, with savings up to $200 — deals are valid through Sept. 7.

Whether you need something to drown out your noisy dorm, a speaker for the room, or a headset for late-night gaming between study sessions, there's a deal worth grabbing here.

Best speaker deal

Credit: Sony

Sony ULT Field 5

$189.99 at Sony
$349.99 Save $160

Why we like it

The ULT Field 5's biggest selling point is bass you can actually feel — the dedicated ULT button kicks in extra boost modes that turn any room into a party, no aux cord required. It's IP67 waterproof and dustproof, so it can handle a backyard hangout or a dorm party, and the shoulder strap makes it easy to grab and bring wherever you're headed.

Battery life stands out, too — 25 hours per charge easily outlasts a party, and a 10-minute quick charge adds 2 more hours if you forgot to plug it in overnight.

More speaker deals

Sony XB100 Compact Wireless Speaker — $44.99 ~~$64.99~~ (save $20)
Sony ULT Field 1 Wireless Portable Speaker — $79.99 ~~$139.99~~ (save $60)
Sony ULT Field 3 Wireless Portable Speaker — $139.99 ~~$209.99~~ (save $70)
Sony ULT Field 7 Wireless Portable Speaker — $399.99 ~~$499.99~~ (save $100)

Best earbuds deal

Credit: Sony

Sony WF-1000XM6

$298 at Sony
$329.99 Save $31.99

Why we like it

Sony's WF-1000XM6 earbuds get their noise cancellation from the new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3e, which is three times faster than the chip in the previous XM5 model, and the Adaptive NC Optimizer adjusts in real time depending on your environment. Sound quality holds up too, with Hi-Res Audio via LDAC and studio-level tuning co-developed with mastering engineers, according to Sony.

They're also built for actual daily use: an IPX4 rating handles sweat and splashes, up to 24 hours of battery life means fewer mid-day charging scrambles, and dual beamforming mics with AI noise reduction keep calls clear even on a busy campus.

More earbuds deals

WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds — $49.99 ~~$69.99~~ (save $20)
WF-C710N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds — $89.99 ~~$129.99~~ (save $40)
LinkBuds Clip — $199.99 ~~$229.99~~ (save $30)

Best headphones deal

Credit: Sony

Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones

$398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99

Why we like it

The WH-1000XM6 runs on a new chip, the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, which Sony says is seven times faster than the one in the older XM5 model, and it uses that speed across 12 microphones to block out background noise as it happens.

Calls hold up well thanks to a six-mic system that picks out your voice and cuts background noise, even in loud places like a train platform or a busy street.

Since you might be wearing these for hours, comfort matters: The headband is wide and soft, made of synthetic leather, and the headphones fold down into a compact case for travel. Battery life is rated at up to 30 hours, and if you're in a rush, a three-minute charge gets you about three hours of playback.

More headphones deals

IER-EX15C Wired In-ear Headphones — $14.99 ~~$29.99~~ (save $15)
WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $39.99 ~~$69.99~~ (save $30)
WH-CH720N Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $99.99 ~~$179.99~~ (save $80)
WH-1000XM5 Premium Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $199.99 ~~$399.99~~ (save $200)

Best gaming gear deal

Credit: Sony

Sony 27-inch INZONE M9 II Gaming Monitor

$749.99 at Sony
$949.99 Save $200

Why we like it

The M9 II is a 4K 160Hz monitor with Full Array Local Dimming and VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, so contrast and color hold up whether you're gaming or just working on a spreadsheet between classes.

A 1 millisecond response time and backlight scanning keep motion blur down during fast-paced games, and it's built to pair with a PS5 as much as a gaming PC. The low-profile stand also means it won't eat up your whole desk, which matters if you're working with a dorm-sized setup.

More gaming gear deals

Sony Inzone H3 Wired Gaming Headset — $79.99 ~~$119.99~~ (save $40)
Sony Inzone H5 Wired and Wireless Gaming Headset — $129.99 ~~$179.99~~ (save $50)
Sony Inzone Buds Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Earbuds — $159.99 ~~$239.99~~ (save $80)
Sony Inzone H6 Air Wired Open-back Gaming Headset — $179.99 ~~$199.99~~ (save $20)
Sony Inzone H9 Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Headset — $179.99 ~~$329.99~~ (save $150)
Sony Inzone H9 II Wireless Noise Canceling Gaming Headset — $249.99 ~~$349.99~~ (save $100)