Games

New path of exile patch dropped last Friday, finally got to it yesterday, sunk 6 hours to get 4 acts in (I'm pretty casual), was really enjoying my build and the new mechanics.

I received an expansion card for my Xbox s for my birthday, immediately filled it with the large games, Forza horizon 5 and Forza motorsport got played a bit last week,

(start rant) it feels like Microsoft/Forza devs entirely missed the mark when splitting the games between, "the best car simulation game you've ever played" and "the most fun driving game you've ever played", there's no music track, no radio, not even a radio option in Forza motorsport (far and away the better driving simulator, but really no manual transmission setting??) and the assistant is practically useless having all of 2 or 3 different things to say outside of scripted events, you have no horn, the car decal customization is non-existent (despite all of your competitors cars looking awesomely tricked out), all of your pit crew looks exactly the same (as do all of your competitors and their pit crews), you have very limited means to earn new cars & money is always seemingly tight. Meanwhile in horizon 5 they refuse to stop holding your hand, content is constantly behind gates, there are very few serious races, they constantly talk at you they somehow even knew my name and used it in voice over, everything is open world and silly and fun but nothing ever gives the feeling accomplishing anything, they throw cars and money and outfit and customization of avatar, the cars all feel very same-y, and the environments are incredible but the races and driving themselves feel meh. (End of rant)

Backpack battles is still an awesome way to wind down at the end of the day, maybe a half hour of that every night.

And the daily word puzzles, but I've dropped wordle because they want me to log in to see more and more (what should be basic) features, like my stats. If I can't see my stats I'm not using your service, I will waffle and squardle.