Mashable

AI is transforming many professions and industries, generating considerable hype for Big Tech, and serving as an undeniably powerful tool for research. Setting aside the challenges associated with AI, like hallucinations and how it will impact the job market, it's a massively consequential new area of tech.

So as you might expect, this potentially revolutionary tool is already being integrated into social media. There are plenty of ways that AI is completely changing how we use these platforms and interact with their apps.

Here's a look at some of the most interesting of those tools.

SEE ALSO: YouTube Music is testing an AI-powered ‘Ask for music any way you like’ feature Chat with Meta AI in Facebook Messenger, Instagram, or WhatsApp

For many people, tools like ChatGPT are incredibly useful in day-to-day life, whether it be for research purposes, generating email responses, or just chatting. But you don't have to subscribe to ChatGPT or download any additional apps to chat with an AI-based chatbot. Meta has built Meta AI, its ChatGPT equivalent, directly into all of its major social media services. You can use it directly from the Facebook Messenger app, the Instagram app, or even WhatsApp, chatting with it like you would with any other person.

The Meta AI chatbot is based on Meta's Llama large language model, a model that Meta is constantly evolving and improving. Unlike models from other companies, Llama is open source (or at least Meta claims it is), and it's gotten a whole lot better over just the past year. Best of all, you don't have to pay for anything to access it. Simply open up one of Meta's messaging platforms and start chatting with the search bar at the top. You can also, for instance, add Meta AI to a WhatsApp conversation, and everyone involved in the chat can see its answers.

AI filters and features in TikTok

TikTok is known for its filters, voice changers, and more – and the company has been building AI tools to help supercharge your TikTok videos for years now. Filters — the popular manga filter for instance — use object-recognition, or change your voice while still sounding completely natural, or add 3D objects to a space captured by your phone’s camera. These are all based on AI, and they’ve yielded some of the most interestingly creative videos on the platform yet. If you’re a creator on TikTok, it’s worth giving them a try. Who knows? They could radically enhance your content.

Snapchat AI Snaps

Snapchat isn't being left out of the AI push. Snapchat launched My AI quite a while ago, allowing you to chat directly with Snapchat's self-built bot. On top of that, the company is using image generation tools to make snaps even more creative. AI snaps allow you to transform snaps or create new ones using AI. 

You'll have to be a Snapchat+ subscriber to take advantage of this feature. If you're a subscriber, you can hit the AI button in the toolbar, then type a prompt or select a preset to create a whole new image. It takes a few seconds for the image to be generated, but it's a neat way to add a little uniqueness to your snaps.

AI translation in Instagram Reels

Soon you'll be able to watch Instagram Reels filmed in other languages as if they were originally filmed in your own language. Instagram is experimenting with a new tool that will use AI to not only translate content in a Reel but also dub and lip-sync the translated text in a voice that simulates the speaker's original voice. If the technology is effective enough, it will make it seem as if there's no translation applied to the Reel at all, just that it was filmed in whatever language you speak. In other words, you won't have to rely on translated captions to be able to follow along with content from creators that don't speak your language. 

The feature isn't out just yet, but Meta is conducting small tests with it, translating Reels between English and Spanish, and it plans to add more languages and more widely release the tool soon.

When you think of AI, you probably think of ChatGPT. But it's also going to have a big impact on gaming, and in fact, AI has already started being used in games for a more natural and interactive form of storytelling.

That's right, there are tons of AI games that you can play right now, essentially allowing you to immerse yourself in worlds without the same confinements that traditional video games have. Here's to trying one for yourself. Here are five AI games that you can play right now.

SEE ALSO: Parents have no idea how teens are using AI, survey finds AI Dungeon

As you can imagine, text-based games are a perfect use case for AI as it exists right now, considering the proliferation of services like ChatGPT. AI Dungeon is a perfect example of a text-based game that leverages AI tech. AI Dungeon is a text-based fantasy simulation game that allows you to direct AI to create worlds and scenarios within the game. There are few limits in this game and infinite possibilities for how the game will pan out. The game has a great community behind it too. You'll start by picking out a character or a world, or you can choose from one of the thousands of community-built scenarios that will get you started.

Because it's text-based, it's available pretty much everywhere too. You can play it online or download it straight to your smartphone and play it anywhere you go. The game is free to play on all platforms. However, some advanced features will require an AI Dungeon Subscription.

Kingpin Adventure

Kingpin Adventure is another text-based game with a slightly different vibe. The game is actually Breaking Bad-themed, and in it, you'll play a character in the world of Breaking Bad. It's relatively simple and easy to get started with, and doesn't even require you to sign in. You'll be given decisions to make and plot points along the way, helping build a narrative around your rise as a drug kingpin in Albuquerque. It's a great game for any Breaking Bad fan who wants something interactive, and after playing for only a few minutes, you’ll find that there are infinite possibilities. 

AI Town

AI Town is a little more visual. While the game is still technically text-based, it has visual elements to it and a mind of its own. The game uses language models to simulate a virtual world in which characters can interact with you and each other, making decisions based on your prompts. Each character has their own occupation, personality, and pre-specified relationships with other characters. It's very interesting to watch the characters evolve with the prompts that you give them and interact with each other based on that too. The game is open source and available to play on GitHub, but you don't need an account, so you can head to the website and play now if you want.

Hexagon World

Hexagon World is pretty much what it sounds like: a game where you'll create worlds of hexagons. Essentially, it's a simulation game in which you'll create tiny worlds from open hexagons and be rewarded based on your creativity. 

You'll build these hexagonal worlds through AI prompts, and you'll be able to see the worlds that others have created too. Each time you add a hexagon to the map, you'll be charged 100 points, but you'll earn points based on how creative your hexagons are. You can harvest these points daily. As long as you have 100 points, you can create a new hexagon on the map. It's a pretty unique game, and the fact that it allows you to see worlds created by others is an interesting touch.

Retail Mage

Retail Mage is an AI game on a much larger scale. The game leverages generative AI to change how NPCs act within the world. In Retail Mage, you'll play the role of a wizard working as a salesperson at a magical furniture store. The goal is to help customers with their requests as they come in. But you'll be able to do essentially whatever you want to fulfill those requests or not. NPCs using generative AI will respond as you go, and outcomes can vary widely.

This guide is about AI games that you can play right now, and technically, Retail Mage is a game that you can play on your own right now. The game is open source and still in beta, and you can sign up to playtest the game. Keep in mind, however, that things might be buggy or incomplete. You'll also need a moderately capable Windows computer to play it.

While generative AI is still in its infancy, it's set to play a major role in video game development going forward. Imagine if NPCs in your favorite game had an infinite number of responses and could understand anything you said to them. Or imagine if a world could change completely based on how you played the game, with each change being totally unique to your specific scenario. 

While we're perhaps at least a year or two away from new AAA games leveraging generative AI to enhance gameplay, there are plenty of studios and developers working on smaller scale games that make use of the technology for a more interesting and immersive experience.

One of the first of those is Jam & Tea Studios, which is actually a new studio that’s building its first game with generative AI included as a core component of gameplay. The game is called Retail Mage, and it's essentially a role-playing game in which players take on the role of a wizard working at a magical furniture store. The goal of the game is to help customers with their requests as they come in, but how you fulfill those requests can vary widely depending on how you approach the game. When you talk to an NPC in the game, you'll be able to type text into a dialogue box depending on how you want to respond to customers. You’ll then be given four different dialogue options to choose from – so while your inputted text isn’t exactly what your response will be to the NPC, it will guide what you say, and what NPCs respond to.

While Retail Mage is the first game from Jam & Tea Studios, the talent behind the studio is no stranger to the video game industry. It was actually founded by longtime developers from the likes of Riot Games and Wizards of the Coast, so you can be sure that there are top developers behind it.

The game itself isn't widely released just yet, but it is in a public beta in which users can sign up to playtest the game. I was given a walkthrough of the game and found it incredibly compelling. Again, we're not quite at the point where players can simply speak whatever they want into a game and have NPCs respond as naturally as a human would. But it's not hard to see how we could get there in the near future.

Being able to create your own responses to NPCs, instead of always being forced to choose from a few canned responses, makes a big difference in the immersiveness of the game – and means that no two play-throughs could possibly be the same.

Not only that, but beyond leveraging AI for NPC interactions, the game uses it for object interactions too. Players can approach any object in the game and tell the game what they'd like to do with that object, with the game reacting appropriately. It's not always able to visually represent changes to objects, but it will note those changes in text form.

Retail Mage is likely only one of the first of many new games that take advantage of generative AI. To get a better understanding of how Jam & Tea approaches developing a game with AI in it, we had a chance to chat with M. Yichao, co-founder and chief creative officer at Jam & Tea, and a narrative designer who worked on Guild Wars 2 and League of Legends.

SEE ALSO: An AI is getting very rich off crypto. It gets weirder. Mashable: What can generative AI bring to video games, and why are AI-powered NPCs better than traditional scripted ones?

M. Yichao: There are many folks seeking to answer the question "what can [generative] AI bring to video games." Some focus on the developer side, with [a] strong conviction that new tools for content generation will speed up and enhance production pipelines. While we expect various tool innovations to emerge, Jam & Tea sees the true innovation and platform shift on the player side, in the new experiences and game types that [generative] AI could enable at runtime.

That said, I fundamentally don't believe AI-powered NPCs are better than traditionally scripted ones. I do believe AI powered NPCs can be more improvisational and reactive to player actions. To draw an analogy to another form of media: there are scripted sketch shows like "I Think You Should Leave" and improv shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway." Both are vibrant modes of entertainment, and neither is better than the other. Similarly, a [generative] AI-powered game (where players can steer the story) will be a different experience than a scripted, linear story (with carefully crafted and scripted lines).

What kinds of guardrails do you have to put in place to keep AI NPCs both relevant and safe?

On the technical side, we've found promising results through a combination of known methodologies of fine tuning and training bespoke models, as well as a proprietary approach to our game architecture. This, coupled with curated prompts that make specific requests and calls, helps to keep output within bounds.

On the design and content side, we've crafted various systems that maintain output relevance while gently easing the creative burden on players. Rather than having players type or say the exact dialogue, players can express their intent (e.g., "I tell a joke"), and the system provides dialogue options based on their suggestion. This way, if they're roleplaying a loquacious bard, they don't have to be a brilliant writer for their characters to fulfill that fantasy in the game. Similarly, our characters are designed with guardrails and directions on how to react to various scenarios, how much to omit "real world" references, and other instructions — much as actors in immersive theater or escape rooms are trained to interact with curious, playful audiences.

Are AI 'hallucinations' an issue that you have to solve for here?

One area where we've made significant advancements — putting us ahead of many larger teams in this space—is our ability to have our characters not only converse (AI chatbot-level functionality), but also plan and execute actions and behaviors in the game world. We actually dialed this back a little for Retail Mage, as customers finding all the items they're looking for on their own, or even helping other customers before players can, isn't ideal when players should be the (retail) heroes!

On the AI R&D front, we've made exciting progress through proprietary methodologies. And as we refine our foundational technology, we also leverage our creative design and gameplay craft to build in moments where strangeness becomes an intentional part of the charm, rather than feeling like errors or bugs. I've seen an NPC who "hallucinated" about a non-existent area of the store get corrected by other NPCs, while some NPCs started a conspiratorial rumor about a "hidden back room" as a result!

Are you using AI beyond dialogue in your games? How so?

Fun fact: we'll have worked on Retail Mage for just 6 months from start to ship! Before focusing on this smaller game, our studio was immersed in R&D, building and testing many [generative] AI features for our larger RPG title, codenamed Project Emily. In that work, we developed many exciting mechanics, combining traditional procedural generation techniques to create a more responsive fantasy world for players to explore.

However, we know the best way to test and validate is by shipping games to players. So we selected a few of our most exciting mechanics to build Retail Mage—a smaller, more indie-scale experience that will give players their first taste of what's possible in an improvisational game world.

In Retail Mage, [generative] AI is woven into everything from character creation to NPC logic to our item systems and beyond. The two main mechanics players will experience most directly are dialogue with NPCs and item interactions.

In a traditional game, object interactions — say, with a chair — are preprogrammed: sit, pick up, destroy... In our game, in addition to these common interactions, players can freely state what they want to do with any object: disassemble the chair for parts, paint it blue, carve a customer's name into the chair. The game system will run checks to see if the player succeeds based on their character traits — are you strong enough to lift the chair? — environmental factors — do you have tools to take the chair apart? — previous events — did you get the chair from a fire-damaged corner of the store? — and more. The goal is to encourage players to get creative in how they interact with the world, and to honor and say yes to their outside-the-box ideas and playful interactions.

Every time I watch a playtest, I'm delighted by the surprising ways players craft, invent, conjure, and create the items customers ask for.

There are questions around AI usage in video games and how it impacts artists, voice actors, and developers. Can you speak to that a little?

We fundamentally believe that as [generative] AI use proliferates, the need for human creators will increase, not decrease. [Generative] AI makes it easier than ever to generate content. But as I said in the AP article: infinite content without meaning is just infinite noise.

Put another way: if no person bothered to create the experience, why should we expect any person to bother to consume it, much less enjoy it?

Developers, voice actors, artists, and all creatives at our studio are crucial to crafting meaningful experiences that will delight and bring folks together.

AI is poised to play a major role in all areas of tech going forward. You seem to be among the first to use AI NPCs in video games, but how soon do you think it will be until others build similar tech?

We have friends at other startups and at large companies exploring this space and its possibilities. And there are other companies building tools they hope developers will use in creating AI-powered games.

However, we're confident that our vision for the new kinds of games this tech enables will set us apart. Our founders' backgrounds combine improv storytelling, new tech integration, and multi-platform game launches into a small but mighty team.

Right now, we're just a team of eight. We've had much larger companies reach out to us and put their vote of confidence behind our tech and work because we're thinking differently about the space, with a core mission of "how can this technology enable people to connect with each other more," rather than "what problems could this technology solve?"

What’s next for your studio? Are you looking into licensing your tech to others, building more games for yourself?

We believe the best way to validate tech is to create products that engage and inspire players. Retail Mage is just the start. We're already fielding inquiries about our tools and platform, and as a company, we're excited to not only continue building great games but also to empower others through licensing our technology, as well as other models.

Disney+ has dropped its trailer for "Goosebumps: The Vanishing" starring David Schwimmer.

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 21, the roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ Robot Vacuum $299.99 at Amazon
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Robot vacuums are having a resurgence in popularity lately, and we're not mad about it. We're big fans of anything that shortens your chore list, big or small. And that's just what the roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ does.

As of Oct. 21, you can grab a great deal on this model at Amazon. Previously priced at $499.99, it is now down to just $299.99 for a limited time, saving you 33% on list price.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums spew racial slurs at owners in wake of hack

It's a great deal on a great vacuum. As the name suggests, it's equipped with a DuoRoller system, meaning it can pick up dirt, dust, and pet hair easily, whether it's on carpet or hard floors. It boasts a 5500 Pa HyperForce suction power, which basically just means it's really good at picking up dirt.

One of our favorite features is how low-maintenance it is — not only does it self-empty, but the dustbin has a 2.5 liter storage, so you'll only need to empty it around every seven weeks. We're also big fans of the voice controls, because who doesn't want to boss around an appliance? Whether you use Alexa, Google Home, or Siri, it'll work for them all.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so if a robot vacuum is on your wishlist, don't waste any time.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, October 21, 2024:

AcrossToe ___ (goofy term for a pad on a cat's foot)

• The answer is Bean.

Tummy

• The answer is Belly.

Purple flower that symbolizes one's first love

• The answer is Lilac.

Matures, as cheese

• The answer is Ages.

Feathery farm female

• The answer is Hen.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 21 Down"Sad" color joked about in viral TikTok videos

• The answer is Beige.

Comedian DeGeneres

• The answer is Ellen.

"'Tis a pity!"

• The answer is Alas.

Home o' MoMA

• The answer is NYC.

Just kinda meh

• The answer is Blah.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for October 21's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 21 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Beans

• Green: Come over here

• Blue: Gear shift

• Purple: Kinds of pools

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Kinds of Beans

• Green: Attract

• Blue: Automatic Gear Shifter Positions

• Purple: ___Pool

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #498 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of Beans: KINDNEY, MUNG, NAVY, PINTO

• Attract: DRAW, GRAB, HOOK, REVERSE

• Automatic Gear Shifter Positions: DRIVE, LOW, NEUTRAL, REVERSE

• ___Pool: CAR, DEAD, LIVER, WHIRL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 21

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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 Connections.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Guangzhou Open for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Some of the best tennis players in the world are heading to China to compete in the Guangzhou Open, and you can watch how things unfold without spending anything. With a simple hack, you can secure access to top WTA Tour tournaments from anywhere in the world.

If you want to watch the 2024 Guangzhou Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Guangzhou Open?

The Guangzhou Open is a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Nansha International Tennis Center. This tournament is part of the 2024 WTA Tour.

When is the 2024 Guangzhou Open?

The 2024 Guangzhou Open is the 18th edition of the competition. This year's tournament takes place from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27.

How to watch the 2024 Guangzhou Open for free

The 2024 Guangzhou Open is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-blocked to New Zealand, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ in just a few clicks.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Guangzhou Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 Guangzhou Open for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every Guangzhou Open match before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the WTA Tour, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live tennis is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Guangzhou Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2024 Guangzhou Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Through 27 October, navigate any project with ease with a lifetime license to Microsoft Project Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale for £13.79.

Project managers are professional task jugglers. They have to see to it that a project is completed — not to mention done well — on time and on budget. They must also oversee team performance, all the while knowing that they are personally accountable for the project's outcomes. It's no easy job, but the right project management tools can help.

Microsoft Project stands out as one of the original project management software systems, and it has built-in tools that allow you to track timelines, budgets, and resources efficiently. Through 27 October at the Mashable Shop, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Project Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for just £13.79.

We won't say that Microsoft Project will make project management easy, but it can at least make it look easy. Whether you're fiddling with a small task or navigating a long-term project, this intuitive app packs the tools to get it done.

Pre-built templates are available to give you a head start on any deliverable, while timesheets let you track time spent on project to accurately measure team productivity.

If you're having a tough time estimating timelines, you can either let the program auto-populate start and end dates based on dependencies (which you can tweak as needed), or you can make visual representations of schedules to reveal the bigger picture. You can even run what-if scenarios to see if your plans are foolproof. There's also an option to access built-in reports that point out inefficiencies, allowing you to see specific points of improvement.

This offer is only available to new users, and you'll need a device running Windows 11 or 10, or Windows Server 2019. This lifetime license covers one device, so it will last as long as your device does.

Keep all of your projects on track with a subscription to Microsoft Project.

Until 27 October at 11:59 p.m. PT, a lifetime license to Microsoft Project 2021 for Windows is on sale for only £13.79.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Project 2021 Professional (Windows PC) $13.79 at the Mashable Shop
$191.91 Save $178.12 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Toray Pan Pacific Open promises some really exciting games between top players, with Naomi Osaka set to compete (if she can stay fit). The good news for fans is that it's possible to live stream this popular tournament without spending anything.

If you want to watch the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Toray Pan Pacific Open?

The Toray Pan Pacific Open is a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo. This tournament is part of the 2024 WTA Tour.

When is the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open?

The 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open is the 39th edition of the competition. This year's tournament takes place from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27.

How to watch the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open for free

The 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-blocked to New Zealand, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ in just a few clicks.

Access free live streams of the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every Toray Pan Pacific Open match before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the WTA Tour, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live tennis is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Toray Pan Pacific Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 21 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We’re in this together

These words are cozy.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are names for groups of animals.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Groupname.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 21

• Flock

• School

• Pride

• Groupname

• Swarm

• Knot

• Colony

• Pack

• Herd

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 21 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 21

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for October 21's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 21 What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 21 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: "Who do you think you are I am" not included

• Green: Ways to retire

• Blue: Large and in charge

• Purple: Words after a word that rhymes with "fair"

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow - Bowling terms

• Green - Types of baseball outs

• Blue - “Big” baseball nicknames

• Purple - Air ___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #25 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Bowling terms: FRAME, GUTTER, SPARE, SPLIT

• Types of baseball outs: FLY, GROUND, POP, STRIKE

• "Big” baseball nicknames: HURT, MAC, PAPI, UNIT

• Air ___: BALL, BUD, FORCE, HOCKEY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections 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.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 21

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 Connections.

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 October 21's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for October 21 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 21 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A kitchen utensil.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

SPOON.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 21

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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The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, October 20, 2024:

AcrossLuggage ID

• The answer is Tag.

"___ Lisa"

• The answer is Mona.

Smallest of five digits

• The answer is Pinky.

90° is the right one

• The answer is Angle.

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and ___"

• The answer is Wise.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 18 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 18 DownEquipment used while barbecuing

• The answer is Tongs.

Low-down joint

• The answer is Ankle.

Marvin of Motown

• The answer is Gaye.

Puzzle that celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer

• The answer is Mini.

Nails stick out of it

• The answer is Paw.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Get the kids away from YouTube and let them explore with this portable LCD microscope, on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27.

If you're tired of trying to get the kids off those screens, offering a beneficial screen alternative could help. Step into a world of discovery with the Portable Handheld Pocket LCD Microscope, a tool designed to inspire curiosity and bring the hidden wonders of nature to life. It's on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27 and could make a terrific holiday gift.

This handy microscope is the perfect companion for kids and adults alike. It offers an educational alternative to traditional screens. Whether examining leaves in the backyard, observing tiny insects, or inspecting coins, this compact device allows you to explore the microscopic world in a whole new way.

The built-in four-inch LCD screen eliminates the need to squint into a lens. Instead, the crisp display presents the micro-world clearly and directly in front of your eyes. With its 2MP camera and 1080FHD picture quality, everything from plant life to small electronic parts comes to life (not literally).

This microscope magnifies objects up to 80 times their original size, providing stunning clarity for every little detail that would otherwise be impossible to see with the naked eye. It also features eight adjustable LED lights.

Perfect for both outdoor adventures and indoor exploration, this microscope weighs only 220g, making it truly portable. It comes with a wrist strap and carrying bag, so kids can take it with them on walks, trips, or even school field trips. And thanks to its built-in 2,000mAh rechargeable battery, the adventure doesn’t need to end quickly — you can keep exploring for hours.

Whether you're a parent hoping to spark a love for science or an adult seeking a practical tool to get a closer look at things, this portable LCD microscope delivers both fun and functionality.

This portable LCD microscope is on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $100) through October 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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