More than 400 members of the entertainment industry have signed a letter pushing back on OpenAI and Googles proposal to allow AI models to train on copyrighted content, as reported earlier by Variety. The letter claims both companies are arguing for a special government exemption that would allow them to freely exploit creative industries.The letter, which comes in response to the Trump administrations request for feedback on its incoming AI Action Plan, is signed by stars like Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo, Cynthia Eviro, Cate Blanchett, Taika Waititi, Ayo Edebiri, Aubrey Plaza, Guillermo del Toro, Natasha Lyonne, Paul McCartney, and many others.It directly addresses Google and OpenAIs comments on the AI Action Plan, both of which argue that they need access to copyrighted materials to train their AI models and that existing laws are holding them back. In its letter, OpenAI claims applying fair use protections to AI is a matter of national security.There is no reason to weaken or eliminate the copyright protections that have helped America flourish, the celebrities letter reads. Not when AI companies can use our copyrighted material by simply doing what the law requires: negotiating appropriate licenses with copyright holders just as every other industry does.Last year, Hollywood stars banded together in support of Californias AI safety bill, which was later vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.You can read the letter in its entirety below:

GIMP 3 Released / Uncategorized / March 18, 2025 Over 20 years since the release of GIMP 2 and 7 years after the GIMP 3 fork began, GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program 3 has been released. This free and open-source application is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.Highlight Features of GIMP 3:Need to tweak a filter you applied hours ago? New inGIMP3.0 is non-destructive editing for most commonly-used filters. See the changes in real time with on-canvaspreview.Exchange files with more applications, includingBC7DDSfiles as well as betterPSDexport and many newformats.Dont know how big to make your drawing? Simply set your paint tool to expand layers automatically asneeded.Making pro-quality text got easier, too. Style your text, apply outlines, shadows, bevels, and more, and you can still edit your text, change font and size, and even tweak the stylesettings.Organizing your layers has become much easier with the ability to select multiple items at once, move them or transform them alltogether!Color Management was again improved, as our long-term project to makeGIMPan advanced image editor for allusages.Updated graphical toolkit (GTK3) for modern desktopusage.New Wilberlogo!Key LinksGIMP 3 AnnouncementGIMP 3 Release NotesGIMP HomepageYou can learn more about the GIMP 3 release in the video below.

VR is a fast-growing space that continues to surprise with new innovations and technologies each year. Many major companies have attempted to jump into the market with a VR headset of their own, including Valve with the Valve Index and PlayStation with the PlayStation VR2. But whether you are looking for a headset that is excellent for PC gaming or one that is relatively cheap, the Meta Quest lineup has always been a very reliable option for many. With so many headsets released over the years, it can be tricky to outline just when every Meta Quest headset was released. Luckily, we've outlined the release date of each Meta Quest, as well as information on what each headset brought to the market.How Many Meta Quest Headsets Have There Been?In total, there have been five different Meta Quest headsets released. The first headset was released in 2019, with the latest release arriving in 2024. This list includes the Oculus Quest, which was released before Oculus VR became Reality Labs.Oculus Quest - May 21, 2019Released on May 21, 2019, the Oculus Quest was the first entry-level standalone VR headset in the Quest lineup. Both eyes had a Pentile OLED display, offering a per-eye resolution of 1440 x 1600 and a 72Hz refresh rate. The Quest made many improvements from the Oculus Rift, utilizing Oculus Insight as an inside-out tracking system to keep track of your play area. The headset utilized modified Android source code as its OS.Meta Quest 2 - October 13, 2020Oculus Quest 2, later rebranded as Meta Quest 2, was a solid upgrade from its predecessor. The Quest 2 brought an improved refresh rate of 120Hz, swapping out the old OLED panel for an LCD panel with a per-eye resolution of 1832 x 1920. This headset also brought new third-gen Oculus Touch controllers, which provided a dramatic increase in battery life and a new design.Meta Quest Pro - October 25, 2022Meta Quest Pro was Meta's first attempt at crafted a high-end mixed reality headset. Meta packed in many high-tech features like eye-tracking and face tracking, as well as local dimming for improved contrast. Quest Pro also brought the Touch Pro controller, which provided numerous upgrades to the existing Oculus Touch controllers for Quest 2. As of 2024, the Quest Pro was discontinued by Meta after poor sales and a failure to capture the expected adoption rate.Meta Quest Pro VR HeadsetSee it at AmazonMeta Quest 3 - October 10, 2023The Meta Quest 3 marked a huge jump in both quality and performance from the Quest 2 when it first released on October 10, 2023. This headset was much thinner than its predecessor, despite featuring a 30% increase in per-eye resolution for much sharper visuals. Meta Quest 3 also brought new custom-designed pancake lenses over, which paved the way for many of the headset's improvements. Mixed Reality also became a real focus, allowing games to blend both virtual and in-person surroundings into one.Our Top PickMeta Quest 3Outstanding standalone VR headset running on a powerful Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip that is comfortable on head with excellent optical performance and well-tracked controllers.Meta Quest 3S - October 15, 2024The latest model in the Quest lineup, Meta Quest 3S, brought many of the Quest 3's best features at a new lower price. The Quest 3S is thicker than the Quest 3, largely due to the use of Fresnel lenses, which are larger than the pancake lenses used in the Quest 3. To cut costs, the Quest 3S has lower resolution displays, sticking with the original per-eye resolution of the Quest 2 but with Quest 3 performance. Compared to the $499 asking price for Meta Quest 3, the Quest 3S sat as a solid entry-level option at $299.Meta Quest 3SOutstanding entry-level standalone/PC VR headset with major performance chops, handy full color passthrough, and more. When Is The Next Meta Quest Coming Out?With the recent release of Meta Quest 3S, we expect the Meta Quest 4 to release sometime in October 2026 based on previous releases. This would match the gap between Meta Quest 2 & 3, providing Meta with time to develop a headset that offers significant upgrades.

In an era where open-world games are a dime a dozen, Xenoblade Chronicles X soars above the pack. Theres an unparalleled feeling of freedom and exploration as you fly your mech suit across the massive planet of Mira, the size of which dwarfs other RPGs like it. While its story about humanity finding another home can be forgettable at times, an already engaging battle system is bolstered by the dramatic quality-of-life improvements this Definitive Edition makes, resulting in an RPG unlike any other.Xenoblade Chronicles X starts off with the human race boarding spaceships in an attempt to escape Earth after it gets caught in the crossfire of an alien war. Your ship, the White Whale, eventually crash-lands on Mira, and it falls on you to find its scattered remnants from the freshly settled city of New Los Angeles. Its a passable story in a vacuum, but its also the weakest of the Xenoblade games overall. Thats partially due to its customizable silent protagonist, who is completely devoid of any personality. That blank slate means the story lacks the same emotional impact as the other games in the series.Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Gameplay ScreenshotsThankfully, the side quests really help pick up the slack, with fascinating worldbuilding and compelling character development for the rest of your party and even many NPCs. For example, as all of humanity was forced to band together in order to survive, one basic quest explores the topic of discrimination against other alien races it offers important insight into how humans interact with those races on Mira and how friendships can be forged across racial boundaries outside of Earth.Completing any mission increases the Affinity levels of whoever is in your party at the time, which can then unlock Heart-to-Heart events for them. These are special scenes that provide essential bits of extra backstory, similar to how Persona and The Legend of Heroes handle their bonding events. For instance, Colonel Elmas cold personality starts to melt away as you learn more about her interest in cars and pizza, fleshing out her character and showing us a different side that the main story doesnt.Once a character has a high enough Affinity level, youll also unlock their personalized Affinity Missions, and the rewards for completing these are some of the most substantial available. The main draw is that your protagonist will learn exclusive combat skills, called Arts, that otherwise cant be obtained by leveling up. Its an excellent incentive to learn more about the supporting cast while also getting stronger.Your main character may be bland, but the world is certainly not.One standout is the engineer, Lin. Her Affinity Mission details how integral her engineering skills and passion were to the White Whale. While she would much rather sit on the sidelines, she understands that she must also fight when needed, which is why she wields a giant shield and gatling gun in battle. Personal moments with your crew like this really help balance out the fact that your bland silent hero doesnt have any of their own.The Definitive Edition even includes brand new recruitable characters, as well as new story content that is well worth seeing. Without going into spoilers, this content is dolled out at an even pace throughout the 50-60 hour campaign, making its inclusion feel natural while adding even more longevity to an already massive game.While your main character may be bland, one thing thats certainly not is the open world of Xenoblade Chronicles X. Its divided into five regions, each with its own type of terrain. For example, the beginning area of Primordia is a lush grassland, while a later area called Cauldros feels overpowering with its lava fields. There are so many gorgeous landmarks scattered throughout Mira that keep exploration exciting, from the giant natural overpass called Arendt Bridge in Primordia to the mysterious and mechanical Leaning Ring sticking halfway out of the sand in the desert region of Oblivia. What we said about Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii UPlayXenoblade Chronicles X is a massive RPG with enough surface area, sub quests, and customization to keep you busy for many hours. It took me 73 hours to finish the main story and there's still lots of things to do. The presentation can feel stiff and awkward at times, but the satisfying loop of combat and customization makes exploring the vast world of Mira a fun and rewarding experience. - Jose Otero, December 7, 2015Score: 8.2Read the full Xenoblade Chronicles X review.While the only hub area for human activity is New LA, everywhere else is still absolutely filled to the brim with life. Both small and giant monsters are crawling in every direction, but what makes them stand out is that some are docile while others are hostile. The low level bee monster might attack you on sight, but that level 40 gigantic dinosaur-like creature could just walk right past you, minding its own business. Each species has its own habits and behaviors, which means you have to stay alert as you explore instead of just mindlessly meandering around like in many other open-world games. Some monsters will only show up at certain times of day, too, which you can now conveniently adjust from the menu rather than having to find and use special pods scattered throughout Mira.What also helps is the speed at which you run. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth may be great overall, but I was constantly frustrated by how slow Cloud ran, realistic or not. In Xenoblade Chronicles X, your character runs incredibly fast in contrast. Miras gravity also feels like the moons, letting you cover long distances and even reach higher elevations with a single jump. Decisions like these make exploring Mira much smoother and less intimidating.Its impressive how well the world scales up with its mechs.Its also impressive how well the world scales up with its mechs, called Skells, which unlock once you get far enough into the story. When in your Skell, you can move even faster than running on foot, but those giant monsters that were peaceful before may now be hostile to you. That means sometimes its better to run to a destination instead of driving your Skell there depending on what is standing in your path. This constantly changes the dynamic between you and Miras environment, keeping exploration fresh. Towards the end of the story, your Skell even gets the ability to fly, letting you reach higher altitudes and providing access to mountains you couldnt explore at the beginning. This brings exploration to new heights, making Mira really feel like humanitys new home as you gain the ability to go pretty much anywhere unrestricted.Everybody was MMO fightingCombat in the Xenoblade Chronicles series is in real-time, but it is distinct from other battle systems as it feels much more like an MMO. Both enemies and allies fight with basic auto-attacks, and you have a row of more powerful Arts to choose from at the bottom of the screen. The order you use them in is similarly important for example, some offensive Arts can inflict Topple onto enemies, which is a status condition that causes them to fall to the ground temporarily, while others then do more damage to Toppled enemies. Theres a lot of synergy to play around with that adds quite a bit of strategy to the action.Another unique feature is the Soul Voice. RPG characters love to call out the names of their attacks and spout quippy one-liners as they fight, and Xenoblade Chronicles actually turns that trope into a game mechanic! You and your allies will occasionally shout out specific phrases that suggest certain actions, like using an Art that inflicts a status effect (which is color coded purple) following that suggestion will then activate a purple Soul Voice, giving you extra bonuses like making the enemy more susceptible to status effects. Its immersive while simultaneously leaning into the genres more absurd elements.While thats all just as fun as it was in the 2015 original on Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition also adds a bevy of quality-of-life improvements. One substantial addition is the Quick Cooldown bar, which fills up over the course of battle as you use auto-attacks. By spending a portion of the bar, you can completely bypass the cooldown period of any Art and use it right away. Need extra healing and cant wait? Use your healing Art then Quick Cooldown to save your allies from getting knocked out. The Quick Cooldown bar builds fairly slowly, so its important to pick the right time to use it, but it can instantly turn the tide of battle when you do.Perhaps the biggest adjustment is that you can now conveniently change out your party members at any time, anywhere, from a separate menu. While this is a basic feature of many RPGs, the original version instead asked you to memorize where every single character was within New LA and go talk to them in order to swap them in. Sure, maybe that process was more tied to the world around you, but it was also painstaking and incredibly annoying especially if you were out exploring, since youd have to return to New LA to change your lineup. This single change is monumental, and quite frankly, is enough to make the Wii U version feel completely obsolete on its own.The Definitive Edition cuts down on unnecessary grinding.On top of that, characters not in your active party will still gain EXP now, reducing the tedium of swapping people around even further. In the Wii U version, benched members had to be brought in and leveled separately, making for some very uneven party compositions. The Definitive Edition enormously cuts down on unnecessary grinding, which is certainly appreciated.As for customization, each party member has a specific class that cant be changed, like Lin as a Shield Trooper, but your custom character can switch their class at will. By going down different class trees, you can level up their ranks to learn new Arts and passive abilities. That makes the protagonist feel like they belong in Fire Emblem, where characters can mix and match different skills, and its fun to play around and find the perfect setup that fits your playstyle.You can also fight in your Skell, and Xenoblade Chronicles X scales its battles to them just as well as its exploration. Their overinflated stats and power make mincemeat out of smaller enemies, but they are perfect for facing off against Miras giants and other bosses that would otherwise crush you. Battles in your Skell play out similarly to ones on foot, except the Skell weapons you equip determine what kind of Arts you have. Its another added layer of depth and tinkering that pleased the min-maxing part of my brain.George's favorite Japanese RPGsGeorge's list of his 10 favorite Japanese RPGs.See AllAside from the quality-of-life changes listed above, the Definitive Edition boasts some nice visual improvements, too. The UI is much cleaner and the character models are sharper (as youd hope they would be a decade later), which makes for a smoother look finally worthy of one of the best sci-fi gaming series around. With the Wii U gamepad gone, fast travel and map info have also been smartly reworked into a separate menu on a single screen, transitioning that information perfectly over to Switch. Now I no longer have to experience the neck pain issues caused by having to constantly switch between looking down at my gamepad and back up at the TV screen.Theres also some returning multiplayer functionality in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, though I wasnt able to test these features as the servers were not on during this review period. In the Wii U version, you could recruit the avatars of other players to tackle Squad Missions such as defeating a specific group of enemies, and online Nemesis Missions offered a satisfying way to test your endgame skills. While minor parts of an otherwise single-player heavy game, these multiplayer elements contributed to the more MMO-centric identity that makes Xenoblade Chronicles X unique, so heres hoping theyll have been done justice in the final version of the Definitive Edition.

After about my third death, it became very clear to me that its dangerous to go alone in 33 Immortals. My sinful pride was getting the best of me as I navigated the Inferno, inspired by Dantes Divine Comedy, filled with all manner of infernal beasts, creatures, and tortured souls, presented with crisp, beautiful hand-drawn animation. I thought my experience with ARPGs would be enough to push back against this enemy horde alone I was wrong. Its once I found other Rebel Souls (fellow players) to tag along with when my journey through Hell became a bit more manageable.33 Immortals describes itself as a distillation of the MMO raid experience, an action-packed roguelike where 33 players are placed together on a large world map, a land littered with charred buildings and jagged spears of stone surrounded by flames. Its also full of monsters. Lots of monsters.In the first part of this game, conquering Hell is an exercise in structure. Your goal is to defeat Lucifer, the boss of Inferno, but first you must work with other players to unlock an Ascension Battle just to reach him. How do you do that? Glad you asked: You must complete 12 Torture Chambers, mini raids where you are grouped up with up to six players to battle multiple waves of monsters. Complete these to earn a variety of helpful loot and resources that you can then put into your character, increasing your odds of success as you proceed to tackle the next Torture Chamber, and then the one after that, and so forth.This multi-tiered approach to finishing your roguelike run is challenging, yet very fun to play with even though I only managed to complete just three Torture Chambers before succumbing to the elements (aka ripped apart by monsters). As I would learn during repeated runs it seems the number of completed Torture Chambers is retained should you die and reenter Inferno the larger the group of fellow Souls I traveled with, the larger my chances of survival became and you can imagine how much bigger those chances get with 32 other people on your side. Leaning on one anothers skills and class abilities to unleash a balanced attack against waves of monsters is a key to success.And becoming familiar with your abilities and how they interact with others is deeply important. Before you enter Inferno, youre given the choice to pick one of four weapons, which also assign you a class: Bow of Hope (Shooter), Sword of Justice (Tank), Daggers of Greed (Fighter), and Staff of Sloth (Specialist). Each of these weapons have a primary and secondary attack that rely on you inflicting damage on enemies to build up their respective gauges.For example, hitting enemies with the Sword of Justice will generate Justice points for you to execute special attacks like Heavy Slash or Guard. Or like with Daggers of Greed, you generate Greed off enemy hits; the amount of Greed you build up determines the amount of damage youre able to inflict with a takedown attack.Of all these choices, I liked playing with the Bow of Hope the most, as it kept me at a decent length away from enemy attacks. Also, its Guiding Light feature, where returning arrows sliced through monsters on the way back into my quiver, allowed for a nice interplay of positioning to my targets so I could double-up on damage. I really like how 33 Immortals combat system is constantly finding ways to encourage you to go on the offensive.There are three types of currency used in 33 Immortals that youll want to get a handle on. First, theres Dust, which you earn from defeating enemies and can be spent at a Dust Shrine to upgrade characteristics like Attack, Vitality (Health), or Empathy (Co-op). There are also Bones which can be found in Urns and world chests in Inferno, used to buy healing, teleport stones (lets you warp across the world map), or a chest key that can open a locked chest full of useful loot found only in Torture Chambers chests. And then there are Shards, found inside the chests of Torture Chambers, used to spend on weapon upgrades and more when youre in the Dark Woods (Ill touch on this in a moment).Upgrading your character and focusing on strengthening your class abilities is what will keep you in the fight through Inferno, along with working with other players, and the variety of currency you can earn here feeds into that. The reliance on other Souls to unlock the more difficult sections of 33 Immortals is a unique approach to cooperative gaming that I didnt realize I was going to enjoy as much as I did. I primarily enjoy single-player experiences where Im free to suddenly drop without letting my party down Ive become an unreliable online raider with growing adult responsibilities that can pull me away at a moments notice.33 Immortals elegant solution here is to have a surplus of souls available on the world map at seemingly any given time 33 to be precise ready to jump in and help fill up any open slots. But should any Soul die, they will go back to the Dark Woods and not be replaced in that instance, making it vital to collaborate to give you and your Souls the best shot at taking down Lucifer. That also means you can join an open game at any time there are more than enough enemies around should I just want a quick pick-up and raid session to earn some Shards to spend on cosmetics and Perks in The Dark Woods, your home base on this adventure. Having a constant flow of Souls in and out Inferno also fits nicely within the narrative of 33 Immortals with this being Hell, theres no shortage of damned souls looking for a chance of redemption. And loot, apparently.The above-mentioned Dark Woods is a staging ground outside the realm of Inferno, free of enemies, and where youll be able to upgrade your Soul for its next run by speaking to some notable literary characters. Its here where you can spend some of the Shards youve earned from those Torture Chambers or in your fights with Elite Bosses in Inferno.Speaking with Dante will help you equip and upgrade various Perks like Fortitude of Heart, which increases vitality, or Guiding Light, which lets you inflict Status Effects on monsters. As your Feat level grows you can equip additional Perks (a maximum of six). Beatrice (Dantes guide in The Divine Comedy) can also be found here in the Dark Woods to help with your progression, managing your Feats, like Kill 35 Monsters or Complete 5 Torture Chambers. Completing a Feat gets you Feat Points (XP) which then contribute to your Feat level. As this grows you can unlock additional features like weapon upgrades and more.Youll also find Charon, who manages the in-game shop, where you can equip and manage cosmetics for your Soul. One of those customization options is a pet by your side Ive got my eye on a little beagle companion. Finally, Virgil (based on the ancient Roman poet) is also here, managing the Compendium should you need a refresher on how the game works and if really wanted to know the official name of that creepy silkworm with teeth that killed you on your last run (for the record, its called a Mangiatore).Of all of these, I found myself spending most of my interactions with Beatrice, tracking my various Feats and working to increase my Level and eventually unlock even more features. But I liked the vibe The Dark Woods area offers, letting me recover a bit from the hectic Inferno, and interact with these characters to help the story of 33 Immortals unfold.Just a short time with 33 Immortals revealed a surprising amount of depth for what could first appear to be a simple action-roguelike. And theres so much more for me to see: Whats the Ascension Battle like? How hard is it to face down Lucifer? How much more difficult will the second world, Purgatorio, be compared with Inferno? How badass can I make my weapons? Whats it like to run around hell with a beagle by your side? These are all exciting questions Im looking forward to answering once 33 Immortals launches into Game Preview on March 18.33 Immortals (Game Preview) launches March 18 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Cloud.33 Immortals (Game Preview)Thunder LotusGet it now33 Immortals is a co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play a damned soul, and rebel against God's final judgment. Pick-up and raid, cooperate to survive hordes of monsters, defeat massive bosses, and face the wrath of God in a fight for your eternal life.Join the rebellionYour mortal life has been judged sinful, and your souls fate is to be punished for all eternity but an uprising is brewing among the damned! Press on as a renegade in the immortal rebellion against Gods final judgment, and fight for your eternal life.Pick-up and raidJump start your rebellion dive straight into epic co-op battles with instant matchmaking. Fight through a lean, mean distillation of the MMO raid experience.33-player co-opFind true strength in numbers. Optimize your skills and tactics to bolster your 33-player team, and tip the odds in your favor through powerful cooperative moves. Sustain your numbers as best you can, for only the strongest group of survivors stand a fighting chance in brutal boss battles.Rise above the AlmightyFace the Wrath of God, and stay bold for He will end your quest swiftly and often. Expand your epic arsenal with weapons empowered by sins and virtues, loot the spoils of His realms, equip potent new relics to match your playstyle, and gain permanent upgrades to your soul.Inspired by the Divine ComedyExperience your souls epic journey through the afterlife rendered in beautiful hand-drawn animation. 33 Immortals is a unique take on Dante Alighieris literary masterpiece, the Divine Comedy.This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.

Were back with more day one games for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, more games for Game Pass Standard, and more games for Game Pass Core! There is a little bit of everything, including co-op battles, classic console games, survival action and more. Lets get to the games!Available Today33 Immortals (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! 33 Immortals is a co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play as a damned soul, and rebel against Gods final judgment. Dive straight into epic, 33-player co-op battles with instant pick-up and raid matchmaking. Cooperate with your allies to survive against hordes of monsters and massive, challenging bosses. Expand your arsenal and equip powerful new relics to permanently upgrade your soul.Coming SoonOctopath Traveler II (Series X|S) March 19Now with Game Pass StandardIn this critically acclaimed second title in the Octopath Traveler series, eight new travelers venture forth into an exciting new era in the land of Solistia. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey in this role-playing adventure.Train Sim World 5 (Console) March 19Now with Game Pass StandardThe rails are yours in Train Sim World 5! Take on new challenges and new roles as you master the tracks and trains of iconic cities across 3 new routes. Immerse yourself in the ultimate rail hobby and embark on your next journey.Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island (Cloud, Console, and PC) March 20Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardYoure shipwrecked on a lost mythical island. As backpacker Alex, you must befriend the forgotten gods of Greek mythology and restore their memories. Explore the dynamic island and its story sandbox to build new friendships, solve the mystery and save the gods.Blizzard Arcade Collection (Console and PC) March 25Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardExperience a blast from Blizzards past! The Blizzard Arcade Collection brings five classic console games to modern platforms and new audiences, including Blackthorne, The Lost Vikings, The Lost Vikings 2, Rock N Roll Racing, and RPM Racing. Plus, visit the Blizzard Arcade Collection Museum to explore a trove of treasures from each games past, including concept art, music, behind-the-scenes interviews, and more.Atomfall (Cloud, Console, and PC) March 27Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England. Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.More Games Coming to Game Pass Core on March 26Game Pass Core members can look forward to three more games coming to the library on March 26! Explore a land filled with lost legends in Tunic, experience the explosive finale to the award-winning Arkham series in Batman: Arkham Knight, and collect, train and battle monsters in Monster Sanctuary.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate PerksMore March Perks are here! Check the Game Pass section on your console, Xbox mobile app, or Xbox app on Windows PC to find new in-game content, consumables, and offers included with your Game Pass Ultimate membership.EA Sports WRC: Livery & Content Pack Available nowShow off in your dream car on new roads with the EA Sports WRC EA Play Livery & Location Content Pack, available with your EA Play membershipWar Robots: Frontiers: Lancelot Rising Available nowGo beyond your limits with new battle supplies with the Lancelot Rising. Unlock Lancelot (War Robot) for your Hangar with 4 Punisher Weapons, Counterattack and Speedboost Abilities, Ruin (Common Pilot), 3 days of Premium, a Play Hard Sticker, and the exclusive Mean & Green Wrap.Apex Legends: Gold Voidwalker Injector Weapon Charm Available nowFlex your style with the Apex Legends Gold Voidwalker Injector Weapon Charm, available with your EA Play membershipLeaving March 31The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, so this is your call to jump back in! Game Pass members can also save up to 20% on their purchase to keep these games in their library.MLB The Show 24 (Cloud and Console)Lil Gator Game (Cloud, Console, and PC)Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)Open Roads (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza 0 (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza Kiwami (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza Like a Dragon (Cloud, Console, and PC)The Lamplighters League (Cloud, Console, and PC)Monster Hunter Rise (Cloud, Console, and PC)Were adding more games over time to the Stream your own game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Go to Xbox.com/Play to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.Thats a wrap! Ill be grabbing 32 of my fellow Immortals for some raids, but in the meantime be sure to follow Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox for updates when games are available!

When you hire an electrician, a plumber, or even a contractor, you know what you're getting yourself into. Trade professionals, often brought in to solve a problem or consult on a project, aren't a mystery. But for some reason, the day-to-day of working with an interior designer is a bit more confusing to understand, especially if you've never been through the process firsthand. Going far beyond the tasks of choosing paint colors and upholstery fabrics, interior designers are tasked with the daunting endeavor of turning a space into a dream home. Whether you're seeking expert help with a simple room refresh or a gut renovation, an interior designer tackles everything from furniture choices to floorplans to hardwired fixtures. That's what they dobut how do they do it? In other words, what is it like to actually work with an interior designer? We tapped interior designer Amanda Khouri to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the job and walk us through the design process, from the initial consultation to the marathon installation day. Read on to discover what it's like to work with an interior designer from start to finish.Related StoriesThe ConsultationOnce you determine the right interior designer for you and have them signed onto the project, the next step is a design consultation. This initial meeting will determine the project's scope and budget, get you started with the aesthetic direction, and outline any major non-negotiables. "We want all parties to come into the first meeting with confidence about the project and excitement to get started," says Khouri. "We also try to lay out a realistic timeline for the design process and what the client can expect at each point along the way."Caroline SharpnackAmanda Khouris home.Khouri also explains that this meeting is where the team and the clients will hash out the preferred method (and frequency) of communication. They'll also take a more granular look at their overall preferencesmood boards or 3D-renderings, text messages or emailsand go over bigger picture adetails. "We want to hear about how they plan to use the spaces we're working on in detail and if there are any special considerations we need to be aware of as we begin the design process, says Khouri. "We are here to listen, so we are bringing a notebook and many follow-up questions."The Design ProcessThe overall design process varies greatly depending on the scope of the project. If it's a simple redesign with no construction needed, Khouri finds that most clients work well with floorplans and mood boards. The more extensive the project, the more back and forth there will be with materials and renderings. "In general, there is an initial research phase where we are gathering inspiration images, pulling colors favored by the client, and brainstorming ideas to put together a very broad stroke of a mood board," says Khouri. "We like to begin with floorplans to establish the way a space or house will flow. We decide what the furniture layouts will be, the locations of built-ins, and provide initial ideas about wall and floor treatments, lighting locations etc."From here, there is a bit of back and forth as you, the client, will provide feedback and guide your designer in the direction of the final result. "There are literally thousands of seemingly small decisions and details to take into consideration at this stage," says Khouri. "For example, it's not just the tile selection, but how it will transition to the flooring or over a shower curbwill the tile be mitered as it transitions into the shower niche, or will we utilize slab stone to line the niche?" She explains, "every decision made leads to another, and typically there are multiple trades and vendors involved in each of these decisions, so this part of the process can be quite lengthy." A good designer, like Khouri, will try and think through as many of these details as possible prior to presenting the design in order to limit the number of decisions needed, but there will always be details to further consider, especially once the site visits occur. Design FinalizationCaroline SharpnackAmanda Khouris office.Ideally, the design concept, including all furnishings and fixtures, will be decided upon prior to the items being ordered and arriving at your home. But if measurements are incorrect, or your use of the space changes, there can continue to be blank spots, or placeholders, in the design. For Khouri, the design is often complete and fixed after the client provides feedback. However, if the plan calls for vintage pieces that may not have been found yet or one-of-a-kind items, she'll offer a hold on the floorplan and on the renderings. "Many times we will leave placeholders in a furniture plan for items that may not turn up on the exact timeline we'd prefer," she says. "For custom pieces and renovation plans, we do everything we can to finalize those at the presentation and limit changes after that."Site VisitsKhouri prefers to spend as much time on site as possible. After the initial day spent measuring and discussing layouts, further site visits are useful for seeing paint samples and textile swatches in the exact light they'll be placed in. "There may be an occasional dimension that needs double checking, visits with vendors and tradespeople for their parts in a project, and visits with contractors to talk through details as they're being executed onsite," she says.Historically, Khouri preferred to have compiled the proposed materials as flat lays for client presentations, but it's becoming more important for clients to be offered better visualization, often in the form of 3D or CAD renderings. "It allows clients to move forward with confidence and gives them something to refer back to when we are months and months post-presentation but not yet to install day," she says.Related StoryInstallation DayKate LeichhardtA dining room by Amanda KhouriIn the design industry, the day everything comes together is commonly known as 'install day'. Although hard furnishings like paint, wallpaper, hardware, and cabinetry will already be complete in your home, this is the day when all the furniture and finishing touches arrive. Today, though, install day might stretch out beyond a 24-hour period."I think it's rare in the post-COVID era to have an entire install happen fully on one single day," Khouri says. "I like to line up wallpaper, curtains, and rugs to be installed a week or two leading up to the furniture delivery so that on the day the furniture arrives we have fewer traffic jams, and furniture placement and accessorizing can be the focus. An install day is fun, often nerve-wracking, and rewarding!"Of course, no matter the amount of preparation or level of detail attended to, errors can occur. Khouri notes that it's important for clients to be prepared for all possibilities on the day. Think of install day as being like moving into a home; it's a stressful endeavor, but the outcome is worth any hassle. "We try to prepare ourselves and our clients for this reality and go into an install day hoping for the best, but prepared to find solutions where they may be needed," she says. Project Conclusion and Follow-Up"I find that with most projects, even once they are 'complete' we are still asked to advise on art acquisitions or a client is moving on to another project they'd like to tackle," says Khouri. "It's always fulfilling to work with repeat clients!" Interior designers make themselves available for quick consultations or advice on new layouts or rooms you may want to tackle, especially if you've worked with them previously and already built up a rapport. Khouri bills hourly, which makes this level of outreach easy for former clients to navigate as they move onto their next design project.Related StoryFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

This years WWDC is going to be a big one for software changes, with iOS 19, macOS 16, and more expected to get major design overhauls. While a lot of focus is on the iPhones changes, theres a very important reason why macOS 16 could prove just as significant: it may be the best evidence yet that touchscreen Macs are finally coming.The first touchscreen Mac might arrive next year, and WWDC will be tellingApple shipped the iPhone with multitouch in 2007. It followed up with the iPad in 2010. And all throughout the many years since then, bringing touch to the Mac has been a constant question.Executives at Apple have regularly shot down the idea. But as history has proven, Apple can deny something vehemently only to be secretly working on it behind the scenes.Yet so much time has passed. Touch has long become the norm on PCs, but there are still no touchscreen Macs.Leaving aside macOS 16 for a moment though, the 2026 MacBook Pro sounds like the best chance yet for that to change.Thats because its expected to boast a major hardware redesign thats thinner, lighter, uses OLED, the M6 chip line, and possibly even a C1 or C2 modem.The history of rumors around this model indicate that touch support could be a key feature too.Were 18+ months away from that new MacBook Pros launch though. But thanks to Apples upcoming software revamps, we shouldnt have to wait nearly that long to discover whether the touchscreen Mac smoke truly means fire.macOS 16 will either strongly hint at touchscreen Macs, or put an end to our hopeI remember when macOS Big Surs redesign stirred up a wave of excitement that Macs with touch could be coming.At the time, executives like Craig Federighi suggested users were reading too much into some small design tweaks.But when macOS 16 is introduced this Junein just three monthsI expect a different scenario.Big Sur made macOS slightly more touch-friendly, but if Apple is truly planning to launch its first touchscreen Macs soon, macOS 16 will almost certainly make that clear.One of two things will happen. Either:macOS 16 will have big changes that make touchscreen Macs seem obviousor it wont, and we can give up hope of a touchscreen MacBook Pro next year or any time soonIn the second scenario, normally I might say that theres always macOS 17. But if macOS 16 is getting a big redesign, is it really plausible that Apple will make major changes again with macOS 17?If touchscreen Macs are truly coming, the clues should be evident in June. And if theyre not, we should know that after WWDC too.Either way, I expect macOS 16 to provide much needed clarity on Apples current plans for touchscreen Macs.Do you think macOS 16 will reveal optimizations for touchscreen Macs? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.Best Mac accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple has been facing increased antitrust scrutiny in Germany since a new law came into effect, and the company has now lost its latest appeal.The Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office) had argued that it should have the right to directly order Apple to make changes to the way that it runs the App Store, and a court has now granted it this right A key difference between US and European lawThere is a fundamental difference in the US and European legal approach to antitrust issues.In both countries, regulators need to first prove that a company has acted in a way that interferes with competition by other companies. However, US law requires them to also demonstrate that this action has resulted in actual harm to consumers, for example by proving they are paying higher prices.In Europe, regulators only need show that the anti-competitive behavior creates the potential for consumers to be harmed. This allows them to intervene at a much earlier stage, with the idea of prevention rather than cure.The Bundeskartellamt found that the way Apple runs the App Store creates the potential for harm, and that it therefore had the right to order the iPhone maker to change its policies. Apple appealed against this, arguing that it did not hold a dominant position in the app market, and therefore should not be subject to this law.Apple loses appealReuters reports that Apple has today lost this appeal.Apple lost an appeal on Tuesday against a regulatory assessment that opens the iPhone maker up to stricter controls in Germany, the Federal Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday, following years of debate over the companys market position.Federal judges backed the German cartel offices 2023 designation of Apple as a company of paramount cross-market significance for competition.This means that Germany can now impose rules on the way in which iPhone apps are sold.9to5Macs TakeThe ruling was pretty much inevitable. Apple has always argued that it doesnt have a dominant position in the sale of mobile apps as a whole, while European regulators have always taken the view that it holds a monopoly on iPhone apps, and this is what counts.However, its unclear what rules the regulator may impose. European Union law already means that Apple is required to allow third-party app stores, and this has indeed happened. All of the antitrust protections sought by European regulators appear to already be available through EU law, so Im unclear what additional steps the Bundeskartellamt may wish to take.Photo byMariia ShalabaievaonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

After docking with the International Space Station, the latest crew visiting the orbital outpost were met with a startling sight.Specifically, Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner greeted them while wearing acartoonish alien mask. Footage shows Vagner pushing himself into the docking portion wearing the costume.He then can be seen haunting the premises while crew members are preparing to deboard the new visitors.A NASA spokesperson confirmed to Futurism that Vagner "wore it down at the hatch so it would be the first thing the Crew-10 crew saw when the hatch opened.""Its really just like it appeared to be, a quick prank," the spokesperson added.All told, it sounds like a moment of levity assuming he didn't scare any of the incoming astronauts too badly to punctuate an otherwise lengthy and meticulous docking procedure.It's a particularly long-awaited mission. Fellow ISS crew members and NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been waiting for this moment since last summer,with the pair stranded on board the ISS since June due to major technical issues plaguing Boeing's Starliner spacecraft that brought them there. (The pair have now departed the station and are headed back to Earth.)The hijinx are reminiscent of the time NASA astronaut Mark Kelly attempted to send a full-body gorilla suit to his identical twin brother Scott, who was stationed on board the ISS at the time.The first suit exploded after the SpaceX mission to deliver it to the station blew up in June 2015. A second attempt in February 2016 proved more successful,and anow-iconic video shows Scott Kelly dressing up in the suit and hiding on board the station before popping out to terrify his compatriots."Of course people liked it," Kelly told People magazine in 2022. "How can you not like space gorilla?"More on the mission: NASA Sending Military Personnel to Space StationShare This Article