Entertainment
Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct: 3 big takeaways from the stream
For the last couple of weeks, much of the internet has been abuzz about Mario Kart World, but not entirely for positive reasons.
The flagship launch title for Nintendo Switch 2 looks and sounds great on paper, of course, but the unprecedented $80 price tag has raised plenty of eyebrows. Despite the skepticism, Nintendo has urged fans to reserve judgment until the standalone Mario Kart World Nintendo Direct livestream. Well, I did. This morning, Nintendo blew the kid off of Mario Kart World in a 15-minute Direct, and I’ve compiled the biggest takeaways from the event.
This is the most social Mario Kart yet
This was already hinted at during the big Switch 2 Direct a couple of weeks ago, but Nintendo is really pushing the social angle this time around. You can freely drive around its big open world with a group of friends online (don’t worry, local split-screen races are still there, too), discovering new shortcuts or just taking big group photos together using the new Photo Mode.
Nintendo Switch 2 webcam support is built-in, so you can even see your friends’ faces as they infuriatingly zoom past you across the finish line. Interestingly, the camera also works with local play, recognizing up to four people’s faces in one frame and putting those faces in the game during races.
Nintendo also showcased a bit of the GameChat feature that allows for open-mic voice chat and screen-sharing. This didn’t look much different from what we already saw in the Direct two weeks ago, though. The voice actors doing pretend video game voice chat in the trailer sure seemed to be having fun, and the screen-sharing video feed is still very choppy-looking.
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There’s a bit more to Free Roam than just driving around
The biggest new addition to Mario Kart World is the big open-world map that connects every racetrack. Nintendo confirmed that some classic Mario Kart tracks will be included in this world, so it’s a mix of old and new. One of the biggest questions we’ve all had for the past two weeks, though, is about what else there is to do when you’re not racing. Thankfully, this Direct gave us some clarification on that front.
Only some clarification, though. One thing Nintendo showed was optional challenges that start up when you find and hit P-switches, which can theoretically show you new shortcuts or strategies to use during races. It’s unclear what kinds of rewards you get for finishing these challenges, though.
That’s not all, of course. There are hidden coins and panels to find that serve heretofore unknown purposes, and seemingly other fun distractions that should hopefully make Free Roam worth doing. It’s clear that there’s more that Nintendo isn’t showing right now, but just how much more is in question.
Food unlocks costumes, of course
Credit: Nintendo
Lastly, I’m most excited about the revelation of the role food plays in the new Mario Kart game. When I played the game a couple of weeks ago, I noticed fully cooked meals that showed up as collectible items on the track, but it wasn’t totally clear what they did aside from sometimes change your character’s appearance. According to Nintendo, that’s the point: They unlock themed costumes you can use whenever you want afterward.
Examples given included Peach wearing a kimono after eating sushi, and Mario donning cowboy garb after eating some western-inspired food. This will probably be another great incentive to explore the world of Mario Kart World. Who doesn’t love unlocking fun costumes?
Unfortunately, that’s about it for the big new reveals in the Mario Kart World Direct. The game launches on June 5 for Nintendo Switch 2.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
