Gaming
Long War 2 Mod Available Now for XCOM 2
2K and Firaxis Games have announced that Long War 2, the mod for XCOM 2 on PC from Pavonis Interactive, is now available from Steam Workshop. Pavonis Interactive, the creators of the Long War mod for XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM: Enemy Within have been hard at work on its successor for XCOM 2.
The Long War 2 mod presents a series of changes to the game’s campaign including the introduction of new tactical mission scenarios like Jailbreak, the Technical class for your XCOM soldiers, and more varied counter-operations from ADVENT forces.
Here’s a tête-à-tête with John Lumpkin, the design lead and managing partner at Pavonis Interactive:
Can you tell us what your exact position at Pavonis Interactive is?
We got to make up our own titles. I’m the design lead. Also a managing partner. And public relations coordinator. And rookie-killing sadist.
How did Pavonis Interactive form?
Its informal beginning was when my partner Rachel “Amineri” Norman contacted me in early 2013 with some suggestions on how to dig into XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s code to make grenades a little less reliable. We started modding EU and then EW together with the help of several other talented programmers. We formed Long War Studios as a company as we got to work on our own title and shortly before signing a contract to develop the release-day mods for XCOM 2. With the release of Long War 2, we are rechristening our company Pavonis Interactive to capture that our future work will range beyond modding XCOM and toward developing our own independent titles. “Long War” will be indelibly linked with XCOM.
What are you and your team most proud of in Long War 2?
We think we’ve recreated a lot of the “Long War” feel in the XCOM 2 engine, although we tried to peg full campaigns at around 100 to 120 missions, which isn’t quite as many as the original.
Can you briefly describe how you’ve changed the Strategy Layer?
We’ve made a lot of changes. ADVENT now has a certain strength in each region on Earth, and it will move troops around in response to XCOM activity. This strength will determine how hard missions will be. This encourages XCOM to build a global Resistance and strike where ADVENT is weakest, just as a proper insurgency should.
In addition, in each region you’ve made contact with, you assign Resistance members to various jobs in a Haven: scavenging supplies, recruiting more rebels and soldiers, or gathering intelligence to generate missions. Many missions have set durations, and you must send a squad to infiltrate the target site over several days. The longer you infiltrate, the fewer enemies you will face, but larger squads need more time to sneak into the mission area.
Finally, it is now possible to liberate regions entirely from ADVENT control. Doing so will grant bonuses in resource gathering and more importantly trigger the AVATAR plot missions, but ADVENT will try to take them back.
How did you conceptualize and execute on these changes? Did you always have a vision in mind or is it something you guys stumbled upon by testing out different mechanics?
The general ideas of a hit-and-run insurgency and having mission difficulty scale both with strategic conditions as well as squad size are things we’ve had from the start. The general idea behind the infiltration mechanic was to replace our fatigue mechanic from the original Long War – we want to tie up your soldiers and force you to develop a deeper roster, and frankly the infiltration mechanic works better narratively than fatigue to fulfill this purpose, especially in a guerrilla war narrative. We also wanted to make squad size something organically determined rather than a straight set of upgrades you acquire over a campaign. Now, the extra flexibility provided by bringing 10 soldiers on a mission has costs, so it’s ultimately up to the player to decide how they want to take on a mission.
In your own words, can you briefly describe how you’ve changed the Tactical Mission gameplay?
We’ve implemented, and in many cases improved on, most of the content from our prior mods. We’ve also added an additional soldier class, the Technical, who can specialize in either the rocket launcher or flamethrower wrist weapons, which are available from the start. Each of our new classes has its own secondary weapon: The Sharpshooter has a holo-targeter, the Ranger a sawed-off shotgun, the Assault an arc thrower, and the Gunner a combat knife for self-defense. (We’re allowing all classes to equip pistols.) In addition, we’ve reworked the AWC bonus perk system to give each soldier a randomized mini-tree of offensive, defensive and pistol perks they can train, but they have to spend several days in the training tube to acquire the additional abilities.
We’ve added several mission types – ambushing a troop column, attacking an ADVENT military base, and rescuing multiple rebels from a jail, to name a few. We did try to add more pitched battles alongside the timed missions.
We’ve also made officers more integral to tactical play. They have the Command ability from Long War; they also provide bonuses to soldiers whom they have been on several missions with, and they have the ability to spend the intel resource to extend the timers on timed missions.
What else? All of Alien Pack is in there, plus some new ADVENT bad guys, sometimes in pods of up to eight enemies. Uncontacted enemy pods will now behave differently, sometimes trying to flank your squad or moving to defend the objective. The Skyranger now takes several turns to arrive when you throw the flare.
Which of the new mission types is your favorite and why?
Probably a toss-up between our alternate Haven defense mission, in which you have to defend an extraction zone in the center of the map while holding off increasingly strong Alien reinforcements and rescuing your rebels, and the invasion, when ADVENT tries to re-take a region. It functions something like a retaliation mission, but in a city.
What are you and the team most proud of in your changes to the Tactical gameplay?
I polled our playtesters, led by the illustrious Tim “Bilfdoffle” Evans, and they offered the following:
- The AWC/officer perks creating unique soldiers
- Corpse reanimation by unactivated sectoids
- Yellow alert and pod job mechanics
- The coil cannon
- All the new missions
- Changes to evac timer and meta around stealthier missions/
- Controlling Rebels and Civs
- Defending the Evac
- The new Arc Thrower

Computex
ASUS ROG Unveils New Esports Gear at COMPUTEX 2025

Reporting from Taipei, Taiwan: At COMPUTEX 2025, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) reinforced its commitment to esports with a range of new product announcements: the ROG Falcata 75% gaming keyboard, the esports-focused ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse, the Strix Ace XG248 gaming monitor, the ROG Courser and Destrier Core gaming chairs, and the ROG Sheath II XXL mouse pad.
ROG’s “Ace” line is developed in collaboration with esports professionals, incorporating cutting-edge features to meet the demands of gamers at all levels. VALORANT Champions winner Max “Demon1” Mazanov played a key role in shaping the Harpe II Ace, influencing its design for optimal claw and fingertip grip.
“At ROG, we believe greatness in esports starts with gear that’s built to perform under pressure,” said Kris Huang, General Manager of the ASUS Gaming & Workspace Gear business unit. “Our mission is simple: to equip the next generation of champions with the tools they need to reach the top.”
ROG also announced a new brand partnership with legendary CS2 player Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, who will contribute to the testing and development of new keyboard products. ROG continues to partner with esports teams, including long-standing relationships with NRG Sports and Team Vitality, equipping the latter’s Counter-Strike and VALORANT teams.
ROG Falcata Gaming Keyboard
The ROG Falcata is a 75% split gaming keyboard designed for precision and flexibility. Its design allows users to utilize the left keyboard module to free up desktop space for their mousing hand, providing more room for mouse movement than even a 60% keyboard.
The keyboard features hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switches, offering refined keystrokes with customizable actuation points (0.1mm to 3.5mm) and 0.01mm interval adjustments. These pre-lubed magnetic switches deliver a solid feel, fast performance, and a 100-million-keypress lifespan. The switches include a polycarbonate top housing, POM plastic stem and bottom housing, and a walled stem design to enhance stability and prevent dust intrusion. A unique snap-fit mechanism minimizes key wobble.
The ROG Hall Sensor ensures accurate input detection, reduces electrical noise and interference, and increases magnetic flux tolerance. A multifunction wheel and button allow users to adjust settings like actuation point, Rapid Trigger sensitivity, volume, media playback, and keyboard lighting. A Rapid Trigger toggle enables quick switching to the fastest typing response and key repeat rates.
The Falcata offers an 8000Hz polling rate and ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology for up to 610 hours of battery life. Tri-mode connectivity allows connection to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth®, 2.4GHz wireless, or wired USB. Integrated four-layer dampening minimizes pinging noises and provides a cushioned typing feel. Detachable silicone wrist rests enhance comfort.
ROG Harpe II Ace Gaming Mouse
The ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse is designed for esports, developed in collaboration with professional gamers to deliver speed, precision, and reliability.
Engineered for pro-grade performance, the Harpe II Ace is balanced for effortless movement and precision. Its bio-based nylon construction reduces weight and enhances impact resistance, while ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology delivers an 8000Hz polling rate. The mouse features a 42,000-dpi ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor with track-on-glass technology, and ROG optical micro switches with a 100-million click lifespan.
Developed with input from VALORANT star Demon1 and other esports professionals, the Harpe II Ace’s shape is optimized for control and consistency, accommodating both claw and fingertip grips. The refined silhouette, gently tapering sidewalls, and button incline promote better hand balance and stability. The side buttons are positioned and angled to minimize accidental misclicks.
The Harpe II Ace weighs 48 grams, 11% lighter than the Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition. Its bio-based nylon shell, made using castor oil, reduces its carbon footprint by 70% compared to regular nylon. The internal structure is strengthened to prevent flex, and a smooth, matte surface coating manages sweat and grease. Large PTFE mouse feet with rounded edges provide smoother glide and better control.
Featuring ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology, the Harpe II Ace is the first gaming mouse with a next-gen MCU chip to offer true wireless 8000Hz polling rate performance. Zone mode optimizes hardware settings for competitive play, pushing the polling rate to 8000Hz, ensuring heightened responsiveness, conserving battery by disabling RGB lighting, and decluttering data signals by disconnecting ROG Gear Link.
ROG Gear Link allows configuration of the Harpe II Ace via a web browser, simplifying setups for esports players. Alongside the Harpe II Ace, the ROG Strix Ace XG248 gaming monitor was also introduced at Computex. Equipped with a Super TN panel, the Strix Ace XG248 boasts an overclocked 610Hz refresh rate and a 0.8ms input lag.
ROG Sheath II XXL Mouse Pad
The ROG Sheath II XXL mouse pad measures 900 x 400 x 3mm, providing ample space for gaming gear. Its cooling fabric enhances heat dissipation, and a nonslip rubber base ensures a firm grip. Durable anti-fray edges offer a smoother feel and minimal friction.
ROG Courser and ROG Destrier Core Gaming Chairs
The ROG Courser gaming chair features a 90–155° Dynamic Synchronized Reclining system with constant back support. 360° 4D armrests and 4D Adjustable Lumbar Support allow for customized ergonomics. The chair includes a cold-pressed lumbar pad, a 58cm wide seat, a magnetic detachable headrest, premium transparent leatherette, and concealed RGB lighting.
The ROG Destrier Core gaming chair is now available in Moonlight White, complementing the ROG Moonlight White peripherals lineup. It features breathable mesh, a Nylon frame, adjustable headrest, lumbar support, padded armrests with a special elevation mode for mobile gaming, and optimal airflow.
Gaming
DOOM: The Dark Ages Gets NVIDIA Game Ready Driver, Adds DLSS 4 Support

NVIDIA has released its latest GeForce Game Ready Driver, specifically optimized for the highly anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages, which enters Early Access today for premium edition owners and those who purchased the GeForce RTX 50 Series bundle, with a global launch slated for May 15th. The new driver unleashes the full potential of GeForce PCs and laptops, leveraging the game’s native idTech8 ray tracing and enhancing performance with the introduction of DLSS 4, featuring Multi Frame Generation, and NVIDIA Reflex for reduced latency.
The collaboration between NVIDIA and id Software promises GeForce RTX gamers the definitive PC experience in DOOM: The Dark Ages. Notably, owners of GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs can expect an average performance multiplication of up to 4x at 4K resolution when utilizing DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation. GeForce RTX 40 Series users will also see significant performance gains through DLSS Frame Generation, while all GeForce RTX cardholders can benefit from improved image quality via DLSS Super Resolution’s advanced AI model. The game’s native idTech8 ray tracing technologies are further accelerated by GeForce RTX Ray Tracing Cores.
NVIDIA has also announced that a post-launch update for DOOM: The Dark Ages will introduce PC-exclusive Path Tracing, taking ray-traced lighting to an even higher level on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, thanks to DLSS Ray Reconstruction. For gamers looking to stream, DOOM: The Dark Ages will be available via NVIDIA GeForce NOW for Ultimate and Performance members.
In addition to DOOM: The Dark Ages, the new Game Ready Driver brings support for New World: Aeternum’s latest update, “Season of the Divide,” which went live on May 13th and incorporates DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and NVIDIA Reflex. This integration allows GeForce RTX 50 Series players to achieve the highest possible frame rates, while RTX 40 Series users can boost performance with DLSS Frame Generation, and all can enhance image quality with DLSS Super Resolution. The inclusion of NVIDIA Reflex further reduces PC latency for a more responsive gaming experience.
The NVIDIA App, a key companion for NVIDIA GPU users, now features enhanced capabilities for upgrading games and apps with DLSS 4 and improved DLSS AI models. Today’s driver release also includes 15 new and updated DLSS overrides for various games and applications, offering performance boosts and image quality improvements. Furthermore, support has been added for 7 new G-SYNC Compatible gaming displays, ensuring smoother visuals through Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and 2 new Optimal Playable Settings profiles.
This week sees DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation enhancing performance in titles like DOOM: The Dark Ages and Empyreal, while Deedlee Doo! Carkour! now supports DLSS Frame Generation and DLSS Super Resolution. To celebrate the launch of DOOM: The Dark Ages, NVIDIA is offering an exclusive in-game skin, the Verdant DOOM Slayer skin, available through the NVIDIA app for a limited time, while supplies last.
Gaming
Boulies Launches EP300 Chair

UK based premium office and gaming chair specialist, Boulies, has launched its EP300 ergonomic chair that combines functionality, comfort and durability to provide optimal support and a great sitting experience for users. The perfect addition for any workspace, it can be tailored to individual needs thanks to its variety of adjustable features The Boulies EP300 is available on the Boulies UK website for an RRP of £289.99, currently discounted to £254.99, in black with a choice of mesh or padded mesh. On the Boulies US website, it is listed at an RRP of $369.99, with a current price of $299.99.
Engineered for a tailored seating experience, the Boulies EP300 features a Multi Tilt Mechanism to help users get a comfortable and ergonomic sitting posture with a 360° swivel. Built for durability and adjustments, the tilt mechanism provides long-lasting support whilst adapting to unique needs. The backrest can be easily adjusted to lean forwards or backwards (recline 90°-109°), offering the ideal balance between focus and relaxation and able to switch between work and play – covering a full day and evening. Furthermore, Boulies engineers the backrest to perfectly align with the spine’s natural curve to help reduce strain on the back during long hours of sitting.
In addition, the mechanism features a seat depth adjustment to accommodate individuals of different sizes, leading to a customised and ergonomic experience, no matter the height. By allowing users to adjust the seat’s depth, this helps to maintain proper thigh support and posture, reducing strain. The wide-sized seat cushion is suitable for individuals of various weights and is soft yet supportive, relieving pressure on the tailbone. It also has adjustable backrest height with 3-levels to ensure ultimate comfort. For even more personalisation, the fully adjustable headrest can move in height, angle, and depth, offering personalised neck or head support for every user, further reducing strain and providing support and comfort.
Featuring an adjustable seat angle and rocking function, the EP300 adapts to seating needs and preferences. Whether preferring to lean back and relax or maintain an upright posture for focused work, it is flexible and able to provide a dynamic sitting experience that supports both productivity and relaxation. In addition, the adjustable armrests can be moved up, down and at angles to fit exact requirements. The arm top pad supports the elbows in softness, providing sublime support for the elbows. The armrest is also detachable for those who prefer an unencumbered sit, offering freedom in the experience.
The EP300 has two backrest material options for customised comfort. The mesh backrest provides maximum breathability and is designed to enhance airflow, keeping users cool and comfortable. The padded mesh backrest gives a perfect blend of softness and breathability. Using Boulies’ specialised sewing technique, this design provides extra comfort while maintaining airflow, giving a support yet plush seating experience.
Equipped with a premium gas lift mechanism that provides a stable and heavy-duty support system, the component is meticulously engineered to offer seamless height adjustment and withstand the demands of long-term use. The PU casters are made to be durable yet wooden floor friendly and the heavy-duty wheel base is engineered with premium plastic to provide extreme stability and strength.
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