Earlier today, 65 companies–including gaming giants Electronic Arts, Gearbox Software, and Microsoft–signed a letter opposing Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent “anti-LGBTQ+ efforts.” Published in The Dallas Morning News, the letter calls for “public leaders in Texas and across the country to abandon their efforts to write discrimination into law and policy.” The plea comes shortly after the Texas governor issued an order for child protective services to begin investigating the families of transgender children receiving gender-affirming healthcare, likening it to child abuse.

Organized by the LGBTQ organization the Human Rights Campaign, the letter begins with a simple proclamation–“Discrimination is bad for business”–before further elaborating on how Abbott’s policies impact Texan workers.

“The recent attempt to criminalize a parent for helping their transgender child access medically necessary, age-appropriate healthcare in the state of Texas goes against the values of our companies,” the letter states. “This policy creates fear for employees and their families, especially those with transgender children, who might now be faced with choosing to provide the best possible medical care for their children but risk having those children removed by child protective services for doing so.”

This will run in the Dallas Morning News this morning. #ProtectTransKids #txlege pic.twitter.com/rviiklLbJr

— Rebecca Marques (@_RebeccaMarques) March 11, 2022

As pointed out by Kotaku, many of the tech and gaming companies who signed the open letter, such as EA, Microsoft, and Gearbox, are members of Texas Competes, a pro-LGBTQ business network. Texas Competes Managing Director Jessica Shortall told the outlet that “many Texas businesses are partially motivated by talent retention.” Shortall then explained that the labor market is “tight” right now, and policies such as Abbott’s most recent could lead to potential employees turning down job offers rather than relocating to Texas.

As such, this isn’t the first time many of these companies have taken a stance against discriminatory policies. Just last year, Gearbox was considering a “shift from Texas” following the passage of Texas Senate Bill 29, which required public school students to take part in athletic competitions based on their assigned gender at birth.

When reached out for comment, an EA spokesperson told GameSpot, “We are committed to building a culture of inclusion for our employees, players, and community. We’re proud to join the Human Rights Campaign, along with others in the business community, to stand against discriminatory laws and policies being introduced in Texas, Florida and other states across the country.” Microsoft and Gearbox have yet to offer any additional remarks.

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Elden Ring is one of the most acclaimed games of all time, with critics and fans praising everything from its combat system to its open-world design, and it just might be From Software’s masterpiece. The game is enormous and seeing everything will take you dozens of hours, but you may be wondering if there are other games like Elden Ring to play when you’ve finished.

We’ve compiled a list of games that, for one reason or another, could appeal to Elden Ring fans. Some are Souls or Souls-like games themselves, while others are similar for a reason like the combat design or the emergent world. Almost all of them are massive in their own right, as well, so you should have plenty to play for months.

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As we continue the journey through 2022, we find that AMD’s current AM4+ platform is in middle of its stride. On top of AMD’s current stack of Zen 3 processors, AMD CEO Lisa Su confirmed during CES 2022 that AMD’s next Zen 3 desktop CPU, the V-cached equipped Ryzen 7 5800X3D, will launch this spring. So with a new chip to come and AMD’s existing Zen 3-based offerings remaining highly competitive today, there remains a sizable market for AM4+ motherboards.

With varying levels of motherboards available, from the more affordable B450 chipset to the flagship X570 chipset and latest X570S models, there’s something available for users on all kinds of budgets. Here are our AMD-based selections for March 2022 in our latest motherboard buyers guide.

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The one-two punch of Margit the Fell Omen and Godrick the Grafted has been enough to cause many an Elden Ring player to high-tail it out of Stormveil Castle in search of upgrades and less brutal baddies. You see, despite being the first two bosses in the game, they’re also among the most tricky, each one dishing out devastating combos and possessing far greater agility than you might assume. Even with summons and assistance from renowned sorcerer Rogier and the fierce warrior Nepheli Loux, they can be a tricky pair to best–which makes the fact that someone did it using a controller made of bananas a bit, well, bananas.

Modder and content creator SuperLouis64 has become the first (and presumablyx only) person to beat Godrick the Grafted with a controller made of bananas. In the latest video in the YouTuber’s “Controller Bending” series, SuperLouis64 briefly explains his 10 banana controller setup–which apparently smells “really bad”–before showing off some footage of himself talking on a dragon using a very unusual kind of button mashing.

For those of you looking to replicate this experiment at home, the first four bananas, SuperLouis64 explained, should be programmed to act as your basic directional buttons. The other six each have a distinct role: jump, attack, dodge roll, summon horse, lock-on, and heal. According to SuperLouis64, this is the minimum number of bananas needed to attempt to beat Elden Ring. However, if you were wanting to create a setup wherein every input on a PlayStation 5 controller has a corresponding banana, it would take a whopping 24 of them.

Funnily enough, this isn’t the first time SuperLouis64 whipped out his “Controller Bending” skills for Elden Ring. Shortly after the game was released, the creator figured out how to use his Ring Fit to play the game and work up a pretty good sweat while doing so. He’s also not alone in his quest to find new and challenging ways to play the open-world RPG. LilAggy, a Souls speedrunner, made news yesterday for completing the game in less than an hour.

For those of you trying to get through the game the old-fashioned way, be sure to check out our various guides. Whether you’re still stuck on choosing a class and figuring out how to get past Margit the Fell Omen, or are trying to collect every last golden Seed and Sacred Tear, we’ve got you covered.

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One of the best features of Xbox Series X|S is backward compatibility. Not only does it let you continue playing games you already own, but it lets you pick up old, affordable Xbox One games you may have missed out on years ago. Microsoft isn’t shy about discounting some of its most popular titles either, with new sales every week that slash prices to surprisingly low numbers.

However, sifting through all the promotions and finding your favorite game at a good price isn’t easy–the Xbox catalog is home to more than 2,000 games, and sometimes the best deals can get buried. Whether you’re looking for an old Xbox One game or a new Series X release, you’ll find the best Xbox game deals listed below.

Best Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S game deals

Absolver — $6 ($30) Alan Wake Remastered — $20 ($30) Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — $15 ($60) Assassin’s Creed Origins — $15 ($60) Assassin’s Creed Valhalla — $24 ($60) Assassin’s Creed Valhalla + Immortals Fenyx Rising Bundle — $36 ($110) Back 4 Blood — $30 ($60) Batman: Arkham Knight — $4 ($20) Battlefield 2042 — $30 ($60) Call of Duty: Black Ops — $15 ($30) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 — $10 ($20) Cyberpunk 2077 — $20 ($30) Forza Horizon 5 — $51 ($60) Gang Beasts — $8 ($20) Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition — $40 ($60) Halo: The Master Chief Collection — $16 ($40) Hello Neighbor — $12 ($30) Hitman 3 — $30 ($60) Hot Wheels Unleashed — $30 ($50) It Takes Two — $20 ($40) Just Dance 2022 — $25 ($50) Lego DC Super-Villains — $9 ($60) Lego Marvel Super Heroes — $5 ($20) Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 — $5 ($20) Lego Worlds — $6 ($30) Microsoft Flight Simulator — $48 ($60) Midway Arcade Origins — $5 ($20) Minecraft Dungeons — $20 ($30) NBA 2K22 — $17 ($60) No Man’s Sky — $30 ($60) PGA Tour 2K21 — $15 ($20) Resident Evil Village — $35 ($50) Riders Republic — $30 ($60) Scarlet Nexus — $20 ($40) Shadow of Mordor GOTY Edition — $5 ($20) Skyrim Anniversary Edition — $30 ($50) Slime Rancher — $6 ($20) Watch Dogs: Legion — $36 ($60) Yakuza: Like A Dragon — $30 ($60)

Battlefield 2042 caught a lot of flack when it launched, and rightfully so. However, DICE and EA have slowly been adding features and fixing bugs, and the game is slowly becoming a multiplayer game worthy of your time. It’s still not perfect, but at $30, now might be a good time to invest in the shooter.

It Takes Two is also discounted to a great price, now available for just $20, down from $40. The cooperative adventure was one of the best games of 2021, pulling in numerous awards for its innovative game design. If you haven’t checked out the quirky title, its hard to pass up at this price.

The Batman was recently released in theaters, so if you’re in the Caped Crusader mood you can find Batman: Arkham Knight on sale for just $4. The title was well-received in 2015, with our review calling it “a satisfying return to the world’s most tormented megalopolis.”

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February was a massive month for new releases, as AAA blockbusters, long-in-development sequels, and highly-anticipated indie games hit the market. Those games dominated the download charts on PS4 and PS5 last month, with the top games in various categories mostly being new releases.

On PS5, Elden Ring was the most-downloaded game of February in the US, Canada, and Europe. Unsurprisingly, Elden Ring has become the best-selling game of 2022 in the US so far, as fresh data from the NPD Group noted that strong critical success and a hungry fanbase were a recipe for success. It is worth noting that while Elden Ring had more downloads than Horizon Forbidden West, the new Sony exclusive still outsold the latest From Software game.

Elsewhere on the charts, Horizon Forbidden West, Dying Light 2, and Sifu also made a splash around the world. Horizon Forbidden West took second place on PS5 and PS4 in the US, Canada, and Europe, and was followed by Dying Light 2 in third place. Kung-fu beat-’em-up Sifu had a more scattered listing across the globe, but it was in the top five on PS5 in US, Canadian, and European territories. Cyberpunk 2077 also made a return to the top ten, boosted by its current-gen upgrade, free trial, and a significant overhaul in its gameplay.

Beyond those games, the rest of the month was fairly predictable. Sports games NBA 2K22 and Madden NFL 22 continued to appear in the top ten, Minecraft is as popular as ever, and Europe still loves the sport of Formula One. The full rankings for North America and Europe, as provided on the official PlayStation Blog, are listed below.

PlayStation Top Monthly Downloads – February 2021

US/Canada

PS5

Elden RingHorizon Forbidden WestDying Light 2SifuCyberpunk 2077NBA 2K22Madden NFL 22Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesCall of Duty: VanguardIt Takes Two

PS4

Elden RingHorizon Forbidden WestDying Light 2Grand Theft Auto VNBA 2K22Madden NFL 22SifuMinecraftRed Dead Redemption 2Horizon Zero Dawn

PSVR Games

Beat SaberCreed: Rise to GloryJob SimulatorSuperhot VRZenith: The Last CityRick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityVacation SimulatorGornGun Club VRSwordsman VR

Free-to-play PS4 and PS5

FortniteApex LegendsCall of Duty: WarzoneRec RoomYu-Gi-Oh! Master DuelRocket LeagueDestiny 2Genshin ImpactBrawlhallaRogue Company

Europe

PS5

Elden RingHorizon Forbidden WestDying Light 2Cyberpunk 2077SifuF1 2021FIFA 22Assassin’s Creed ValhallaNBA 2K22Among Us

PS4

FIFA 22Horizon Forbidden WestDying Light 2Elden RingGrand Theft Auto VMinecraftHorizon Zero DawnF1 2021The Witcher 3: Wild HuntRed Dead Redemption 2

PSVR Games

Beat SaberCreed: Rise to GloryJob SimulatorSuperhot VRSniper Elite VRThe Room VR: A Dark MatterGun Club VRZenith: The Last CityRick and Mort: Virtual Rick-alitySwordsman VR

Free-to-play PS4 and PS5

FortniteRocket LeagueRec RoomYu-Gi-Oh! Master DuelCall of Duty: WarzoneApex LegendseFootball 2022Genshin ImpactDestiny 2Brawlhalla

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Microsoft has detailed which of its games are compatible with Valve’s Steam Deck, with only a handful of titles being unsupported thanks to incompatibility with anti-cheat software.

In a post on Steam, Microsoft explained that each developer in Xbox Games Studios is responsible to ensuring compatibility with the Steam Deck, but that priorities at each might force this to take longer than expected. The upside is that many games are already compatible, with a large majority having “Verified” statuses already from Valve.

The following games are classified as Steam Deck Verified:

DeathloopPsychonauts 2Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeThe Evil WithinFallout ShelterPreyBattletoadsMax: The Curse of the Brotherhood

These games haven’t been Verified by Valve directly but are still playable currently:

Sea of ThievesFallout 4Forza Horizon 5Forza Horizon 4Quantum BreakState of Decay: Year One Survival Edition

In terms of games that will not work at all with the Steam Deck, it might come as no surprise that the issues they encounter are around anti-cheat systems. Halo Infinite and The Master Chief Collection are both unsupported, as well as Gears of War 5 and Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X. Unlike Bungie, which says players attempting to play Destiny 2 on the Steam Deck might result in a ban, Microsoft hasn’t detailed what exactly might happen if you try get them working on SteamOS.

You can circumvent this entirely now that AMD had released Windows drivers for the Steam Deck, allowing you to remove SteamOS and install Windows 10. These drivers are just the start of Windows support for Valve’s new PC, but Valve itself is not providing support for users who attempt to do this.

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Now that we’re a few weeks into Destiny 2: The Witch Queen and Season of the Risen, Bungie is set to kick off the first Iron Banner and Trails of Osiris events. Both PvP activities will be accompanied by a refreshed range of loot to collect, including some new and returning weapons.

According to Bungie, players can battle it out for a new Legendary-class scout rifle and a classic auto rifle, each one bearing the unique art design and markings of Trials of Osiris.

Trials of Osiris

Aisha’s Embrace is a rapid-fire scout rifle that can unleash rounds at 260 RPM, and Bungie says that there’s a chance that the oft-requested Triple Tap and Fourth Time’s the Charm perks may be included in this weapon. If you’re really lucky, the Tunnel Vision and Multikill Clip perks might also be included, which would turn this weapon into an absolute beast for PvP activities.

For the auto rifle, the Summoner has been pulled out of storage and will offer more popular perks such as Heating Up and Focused Fury. Summoner has long been considered one of the best all-rounder auto rifles in Destiny 2, and with these new mods replacing less popular perks, it’s about to become even more sought after. Bungie added that all six weapons in the upcoming Trials pool will have the Alacrity and One Quiet Moment origin traits, making them even more powerful in PvP.

That’s some great Trials of Osiris loot right there.

Alacrity increases the reload, stability, aim assist, and range when running solo or as the last Guardian standing, while One Quiet Moment grants players increased reload speed when not in active combat. As mentioned in a previous update, the Eternity and Vostok maps have returned, and there’ll be a new map added to the Crucible that Bungie will talk more about at a later date.

Iron Banner

Next week also sees a new Iron Banner tournament kicking off, where players can earn some new loot from Saladin’s vault as well. All six weapons in this Iron Banner pool will have the Skulking Wolf trait, which activates when your team controls all zones.

One of these weapons honors the brave bards of the past, AC/DC.

As a Hunt-activated perk, you’ll briefly gain enhanced radar and removal from enemy radar after landing a final blow during these encounters. All returning Iron Banner weapons will have updated perk pools, and the new weapons include the hand cannon Frontier’s Cry and the Sword Razor’s Edge.

Frontier’s Cry is a 180 RPM precision frame that has the chance to roll with Steady Hands and Compulsive Reloader perks, while the Iron Reach mod gives it added range. Razor’s Edge is a Vortex frame sword that has some potent perk combinations like Wellspring or Unrelenting combined with Chain Reaction.

To catch up on more Destiny 2 news, you can read up on the new patch that finally lets you buy Ascendant Alloy, our Vow of the Disciple Raid explainer, and a reminder that Bungie will allow you to pick a better name for your Guardian at long last. Tonight will also see the return of everyone’s favorite agent of the Nine, Xur, so stay tuned for his location and inventory.

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We’re settling into the groove of The Witch Queen in Destiny 2, and Xur is back in the solar system to make the challenges a little less challenging with some fresh gear. Get yourself some new Exotic duds and Legendary guns for the trip into the Vow of the Disciple raid or the Trials of Osiris. Here’s where you can find Xur and everything he’s selling this week.

Xur shows up with the daily reset on Fridays, so we’ll update this article as soon as he arrives with all the details of his inventory.

Xur is present every weekend in Destiny 2, starting with the daily reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET each Friday. His exact location is always a mystery when he first arrives, as he is not listed on the map, and for novice players, he can be easy to miss. However, there are a set number of locations where he takes up residence, including the Tower Hangar area, on Nessus in Watcher’s Grave, and in the Winding Cove area of the EDZ.

Alongside changes in his location, Xur’s inventory also rotates weekly. That means it’s worth visiting him each time to check out his new weapons and rolls on Exotic and Legendary armor. You can visit him any time between his arrival Friday and the weekly reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET the following Tuesday when Xur departs the solar system.

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For some people, beating Elden Ring can take upwards of 70 hours. For Souls speedrunner LilAggy, however, just one is all he needed.

Merely two days after a YouTuber by the name niko bellic made news for beating the entirety of Elden Ring in just two hours and 35 minutes, Twitch streamer LilAggy figured out a way to shed that time down to just 59 minutes. Of course in doing so, LilAggy utilized a number of glitches, bugs, and teleports. Nevertheless, his speedrun is still very impressive to watch.

Spoilers for Elden Ring are included in the video below.

After creating his character–a Samurai equipped with one of the game’s Golden Seeds–LilAggy blazed through the game’s intro and made his way across the map to Raya Lucaria Academy, where he then took advantage of a way to teleport his character straight to Volcano Manor. While he managed to avoid most of the game’s 12 “mandatory” bosses through using glitches and quick resets, he did take on Godskin Noble, the Godskin Duo, Maliketh, Gideon, Radagon, and the Elden Beast. While LilAggy said the run was “far from perfect,” as he died a few times while taking on Maliketh, he still still managed to complete his play through in under and hour, setting a new world record.

Considering Elden Ring has been out less than two weeks (and the speedrunning community’s long-standing adoration for From Software games and figuring out the best way to breeze through them), it’s likely we’ll see even more record-shattering gameplay sooner rather than later. For those of you trying to get through the game the old-fashioned way however, be sure to check out our various guides. Whether you’re still stuck on choosing a class and figuring out how to get past Margit the Fell Omen, or are trying to collect every last golden Seed and Sacred Tear, we’ve got you covered.

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