Technologies

Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride: When Does It Start, How to Participate and More

Nintendo’s next racing game will have a free demo for anyone interested in trying it out.

As the year nears its end, Nintendo still has a couple of major titles coming out for the Switch 2.

One of them, Kirby Air Riders, is set to release on Nov. 20, but you don’t have to wait until then to get a feel of the game. There will be an online global test for players interested in the racing game featuring the popular Nintendo mascot.

The Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride takes place on Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16, spanning several sessions that will last 6 hours each. Those who partake in the test will be able to check out three of the courses for free before the game is officially released.

Details about the global test came out last month during the Kirby Air Riders Direct #2. Game director Masahiro Sakurai showcased the new game, a follow-up to the 2003 GameCube game, Kirby Air Ride. Although the new Kirby Air Riders shares a similar feel with Mario Kart, where different characters race around a track on various machines, this game does things differently.

A Road Trip mode, for example, lets players compete in challenges and races while learning more about the story of why Kirby and friends are on this journey. Swap Relay is a new kind of race where players switch machines while racing. There’s also the VS. Boss mode, where players team up to take down huge bosses.

Kirby Air Riders features 16 courses for players to race in, and numerous customizations are available for every player’s machine.

When does the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride start?

Nintendo planned for the Kirby Air Riders global test to take place over two weekends in November. Each session will last only 6 hours through the weekend.

Here are the days and times for the test:

Nov. 8 at 12:00 a.m. PT until 6:00 a.m. PT
Nov. 8 at 4:00 p.m. PT until 10:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 9 at 7:00 a.m. PT until 1:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 15 at 12:00 a.m. PT until 6:00 a.m. PT
Nov. 15 at 4:00 p.m. PT until 10:00 p.m. PT
Nov. 16 at 7:00 a.m. PT until 1:00 p.m. PT

What will I be able to play during the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride?

During the test, players will have access to three Air Ride courses: Floria Field, Waveflow Waters and Mount Amberfalls. For those who want to keep the game among friends, there is the Paddock, which acts as a lobby to set up matches. The test will limit the racers to 16, but when the game goes live, that number will increase to 32.

The test will also feature a Lessons mode to help you learn how to play the game. City Trial is another mode available during the weekends. In City Trial, players roam around the city of Skyah, where they can collect power-ups to improve their machine’s stats or find a new machine to ride.

What do I need to participate in the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Rise?

Those interested in participating in the online test will need a Switch 2. The test will be available to download on the Nintendo eShop on Nov. 7. A Nintendo Switch Online membership or a trial membership is needed for City Trial, while Lesson and Air Rides can be accessed without a Switch Online subscription.

When does Kirby Air Riders come out?

Nintendo will release Kirby Air Riders for the Switch 2 on Nov. 20 for $70.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.