Seems it’s a good day to be a Helldivers 2 player: in addition to the buff-happy Into the Unjust 5.0.0 patch that launched earlier, developers Arrowhead have shared an update on their efforts to shave down the co-op shooter’s mammoth install size. And it’s not so much a shaving as a fully fuelled chainsawing, high vis vests be damned. As the Steam post explains, there’s now a beta build, available to try, that cuts the 154GB game down to 23GB – a 131GB (!!!) reduction. That’s like surgically removing an entire Black Myth: Wukong that was growing out of its back.

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There are numerous motives to eliminate a Leaper, the frightening spider-like mechanical foe in Arc Raiders capable of traversing vast distances almost instantaneously. The mission “Into the Fray” explicitly instructs you to take one down. Weekly challenges often require you to inflict damage on or obliterate a Leaper. They’re also a reliable source of valuable loot. Their Pulse Units inflict significant damage as a thrown item and are essential for stage four of the ongoing Expedition Project. Here’s the most effective method to take them out.

While I would argue that Leapers, although daunting, are the least powerful among the larger Arc forces, their swift ability to navigate large areas makes them a formidable target. They can easily crush you with minimal effort. Fortunately, since they are large, they cannot fit into narrow spaces, and they do not launch projectiles. Thus, if you can find a secure location with a clear line of sight, and possess the right armaments, they will be done for.

After investing nearly 200 hours in this game, I have discovered what I believe to be the optimal spot for quickly dispatching a Leaper, whether you’re solo or in a group. To reach this location, proceed to Spaceport, specifically the central area of the map near the Central Elevator. There is a bunker northeast of the Elevator, nestled between it and the South Trench Tower. That’s where you want to be.

The only disadvantage of this location is that it’s situated in an open area, so it’s unlikely you’ll be the only one drawn into the battle, and you’ll need to watch out for rival players. To be frank, this applies to almost any area in the game. However, this specific spot has several key advantages regarding PvP and rapid extraction, so let’s delve into it.

Spaceport: The ultimate Leaper elimination zone

This bunker serves as a great place to prepare for a Leaper onslaught since both doors are pre-blocked (if you arrive and there’s no option to breach the door, it indicates that other players have already entered). The Leaper won’t be able to access the bunker, and as mentioned earlier, they don’t shoot projectiles, so as long as you steer clear of the windows when it unleashes its singularity area-of-effect attack, you’re essentially invulnerable while you unleash fire on our mechanical arachnid friend.

Regarding that Leaper, they generally arise in the nearby area. You’ll usually spot it wandering around close to the Elevator or near the Launch Towers and Departure Building to the south of the Elevator.

Occasionally, a Leaper may spawn on the opposite, eastern side of the Launch Towers. In theory, luring one over to the bunker can be done, but it requires some distance and exposes you to considerable risk. If there isn’t a Leaper present near the bunker, I recommend engaging in another activity and reloading to a new map instance where, ideally, our target will be waiting.

Step one: Equipping and securing the bunker

Any firearm using Heavy Ammo will inflict adequate damage on the Leaper. A fully upgraded Ferro will perform excellently, as will an Anvil. If you’re bringing one of those weapons, ensure you have a substantial supply of ammo. The Leaper will drop faster than you may expect, but you’ll need to land numerous shots.

Hullcrackers are acceptable but should be reserved for larger threats. Thrown explosives can also be useful, but bear in mind, we’ll be targeting the Leaper through a two-foot window in the bunker and there’s a high chance that amid the chaos you may misthrow the grenade and wind up bouncing it back into the bunker, which is, well, less than ideal.

If you enjoy Rainbow Six: Siege, you’ll appreciate this next segment. Any mix of the following items will enhance your success rate:

– Barricade Kit
– Door Blocker
– Any trap or mine (Blaze Grenade Traps, Jolt Mines, or even Trigger ‘Nades are effective)
– Lure Grenade (useful for directing the Leaper or other Arc away from you if the situation turns chaotic)

While the Leaper cannot enter the bunker, other players can, and there’s no assurance they’ll be amicable. So, we must do everything possible to hinder other players from accessing the area while you confront the Leaper.

Fortunately, the bunker is pre-blocked! Other players can dismantle those blocks, but they create substantial noise while doing so, allowing you time to redirect your attention to the encroaching threat.

However, you’ll need to break one of the blocks yourself to enter.

Get rolling!

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Arc Raiders developers Embark have shed a bit of light on how their looter-shooter changed after shifting away from the free-to-play business model. Apparently, it made Arc “drastically easier” to design, in the sense that the Swedish studio felt less pressure to turn players into whales.

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**The Dispute Surrounding Pokémon Go: Claims of Reselling Exclusive Monsters and Intimidation within the Community**

The Pokémon Go community is currently entangled in a multifaceted situation, sparked by accusations that certain individuals at Niantic may be involved in a plot where rare Pokémon are being resold for actual money. This allegation has incited anger among players, resulting in a culture of intimidation and doxxing directed at those who sought to reveal the purported misconduct.

The matter was uncovered via a post by user Glitch-keeper on the CasualPokemonTrades subreddit. The post outlined suspicious transactions involving rare Pokémon that, per Glitch-keeper, could not have been legitimately acquired through standard gameplay due to inconsistencies linked to in-game mechanics. These Pokémon were reportedly captured in Poké Balls not usually linked to those specific characters, indicating potential hacking or the use of spoofing tools.

Although trading in-game Pokémon for monetary profit is not an unusual practice within gaming circles, the allegations imply that the rare creatures at the heart of this issue result from more than mere hacking. Screenshots presented in the Reddit thread depict sellers claiming ties to Niantic’s development team, insisting that these connections enable access to exclusive Research tasks allowing players to obtain rare Pokémon without the typical effort demanded.

Skepticism surrounds these assertions; some community members speculate that claims of insider ties could simply be another instance of fan fiction, akin to children stating that their relatives work at Nintendo. However, the situation escalated when another Reddit user, Unironic_Onix, highlighted ongoing discussions on the PokémonHome subreddit, only to have their post deleted by moderators. This intervention spurred a backlash, as both Glitch-keeper and Unironic_Onix reported experiencing harassment and threats from members of a Facebook group believed to be tied to the trading of these rare items.

As the controversy unfolded, posts addressing the situation on Reddit have been consistently downvoted, and those voicing opposition have faced consequences, such as being prohibited from posting on the platform. Despite these obstacles, several users assert that they have encountered others alleging ties to Niantic facilitating the trade of rare Pokémon via private Discord groups and other venues, with some Niantic employees reportedly charging for these services.

Kotaku has examined private messages indicating the orchestration of sales within the alleged Facebook trading group, although access to this community seems to be currently limited. As narratives within the community develop, there is increasing concern regarding the implications such actions could have on the integrity of Pokémon Go gameplay, alongside the overall welfare of the player community.

Niantic has not yet responded to these claims. The resolution of this matter remains uncertain, but the blend of assertions surrounding insider trading and community backlash has undeniably had a substantial effect on the Pokémon Go environment, raising issues of trust and fairness within the game.

Is Darkryte worth the hype?

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One of the first “moving pictures” ever created is a moving picture of a horse. In the late 1870s, the photographer Eadweard Muybridge produced a series of “chronophotographs” of horses and riders, including the famous 12-frame sequence Sallie Gardner at a Gallop. I know about Muybridge’s work thanks to Jordan Peele’s film Nope, which considers the historical erasure of Sallie Gardner’s Black jockey, whose identity is disputed. Another thing that easily gets overlooked when considering these images is their contribution to the practice of horse-breeding.

Muybridge – who, incidentally, murdered his wife’s lover, which doesn’t seem wholly irrelevant here – captured the images after many years of tinkering with shutters, triggers and emulsions, but they were commissioned by the industrialist Leland Stanford, founder of the university of the same name. Stanford kept racehorses, and wanted a more precise understanding of their movements, with the obvious wider motive of being able to raise more champions; nowadays, gait analysis by means of video capture is commonplace among breeders. Muybridge’s breakthrough in terms of photographic reproduction is thus an important development in control of equine reproduction. To stretch that point a little, you could argue that the moving picture has always been a way of disciplining sex – and one animal may seem much like another, once reduced to a quantity of frames.

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**Mad Men: A Vintage Comeback and Its Streaming Missteps**

*Mad Men*, the critically lauded TV show that aired for seven seasons between 2007 and 2015, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest series in television history. Set within a 1960s advertising firm, the series skillfully delves into themes of identity, societal evolution, and human aspirations. With its complex narratives and detailed character explorations, *Mad Men* not only amassed a plethora of awards but also played a pivotal role in shaping the so-called “golden age” of television.

The recent 4K re-launch of *Mad Men* on HBO Max has sparked renewed interest in this legendary series, marking its comeback to a major streaming service after departing from Netflix in 2020. Available from December 1, 2025, this ultra-HD revamp showcases the series with improved visuals. Nevertheless, the re-launch has not been without its issues, as significant oversights have triggered conversations about the quality assurance involved in streaming services.

One of the most surprising aspects of the new 4K edition arises from Season 1, Episode 7, named “Red in the Face.” This episode contains a crucial and unforgettable moment in which character Roger Sterling, overwhelmed by alcohol and oysters, vomits before his peers—a scene that encapsulates the fraught relationship dynamics among the main characters. In the freshly released version, however, viewers are unexpectedly shown a revelation: the ‘vomit machine’ utilized in the scene is visible, along with a crew member operating it. This bizarre and somewhat amusing mistake sharply contrasts with the meticulously crafted aesthetic of the original show.

Reactions on social media to this blunder have surged, with viewers finding humor in the sight of the crew’s behind-the-scenes participation. One Twitter user joked about the visible crew member, quipping that the additional hand on the operator was “providing him extra emotional support while he dispenses fake vomit from a tube.” This anecdote highlights a broader dialogue about the expected production standards and attention to detail for contemporary re-releases.

The notable errors do not conclude there. Viewers have reported that episodes within Season 1 are disorganized, with at least one case where Episode 7 has seemingly been swapped with previous episodes. Such disorder raises concerns about the diligence of the quality control processes applied before releasing this updated version.

As the television landscape continues to transform in the streaming age, the re-release of *Mad Men* serves as a case study for what some critics have termed the “enshitification” of media. This phrase expresses a rising concern regarding the perceived decline in quality assurance amidst a rapidly growing digital market, where speed often seems more important than attention to detail and craftsmanship.

In conclusion, while the 4K release of *Mad Men* offers the attraction of enhanced visuals and nostalgia, it inadvertently illuminates significant weaknesses in the industry’s approach to preserving classic television. The occurrence of production mistakes and the disarray of episode order raise questions about the commitment to narrative integrity and viewer satisfaction. As audiences eagerly delve into the complexities of Don Draper’s world, they are also left contemplating the obstacles faced in upholding the legacy of a landmark series within the evolving digital environment.

Hint: it’s underground.

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In case you missed it, Hitman‘s latest celebrity elusive target mission is all about Eminem. The rapper has Agent 47 take down his blonde alter-ego Slim Shady, it’s all very meta and a tad less appealing to me than the cameos previously made by the likes of Bruce Lee and Mads Mikkelsen as Bond villain Le Chiffre.

That said, a new interview some IO Interactive folks have given to Variety, in which boss Hakan Abrak makes clear there will be a new Hitman coming once the studio have gotten some stuff off their plate, has caught my attention by contrasting Mr Nem with murderbald handler Diana.

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