Tesla task force FBI probes arson of Tesla cars and facilities, says this is domestic terrorism FBI director: Agency "investigating increase in violent activity toward Tesla." Jon Brodkin Mar 25, 2025 2:55 pm | 52 Tesla cars sit in a parking lot at the company's factory in Fremont, California on October 19, 2022. Credit: Getty Images | Justin Sullivan Tesla cars sit in a parking lot at the company's factory in Fremont, California on October 19, 2022. Credit: Getty Images | Justin Sullivan Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe Federal Bureau of Investigation yesterday launched a task force "to try to nail the criminals setting fire to Tesla vehicles and charging stations," and is looking into an anarchist blog that has been "calling for more" attacks, The New York Post reported."The bureau has received reports of 48 instances so far this month related to Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations and is investigating at least seven of them in conjunction with local law enforcement, The Post has learned," the article said. "The agency's newly formed 10-person task force will deploy ATF personnelspecial agents and intelligence analysts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the Treasury Departmentand personnel from the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, including its Domestic Terrorism Operations Section and Weapons of Mass Destruction."ATF is embedding personnel in some FBI field offices, starting in San Antonio, Texas, "where some of the Molotov cocktail attacks have been carried out," the report said. There were previously three arrests. The FBI is reviewing security camera footage and gained access to cell phone location data in an attempt to find more culprits, the report said.When contacted by Ars, an FBI spokesperson said, "We can confirm the establishment of a task force to investigate the incidents targeting Teslas." The FBI said that Director Kash Patel "has been unequivocally clear: The FBI will be relentless in its mission to protect the American people. Acts of violence, vandalism, and domestic terrorismlike the recent Tesla attackswill be pursued with the full force of the law."Patel shared the New York Post article in a post on X and confirmed that the agency "has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response. This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice."The FBI defines domestic terrorism as "violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature."Anarchist blog in FBIs reading listThe New York Post report said the anarchist blog being eyed by the FBI is run out of Salt Lake City, Utah. "In addition, the FBI identified the site Dogeque.st that has information [for] doxxing Tesla employees and locations across the country and [is] being run out of the African country of Sao Tome," the news report said.A Democratic congressman criticized the FBI's decision to create a task force on Tesla-related crime."This is the political weaponization of the DOJ," wrote US Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), who previously served as lead counsel in Trump's first impeachment trial. "Trump uses his official authority to defend his benefactor Elon Musk. The FBI then creates a task force to use our law enforcement to 'crack down' on adversaries of Musk's."Tesla Takedown calls for peaceful protestThe New York Post report said the FBI is also "tracking a mass protest called 'Tesla Takedown' scheduled for March 29 calling for 500 demonstrations at Tesla showrooms and charging stations." The group behind the protest is calling for peaceful demonstrations and said it opposes vandalism and violence.A Tesla Takedown website says the planned demonstrations are part of the group's "peaceful protest movement. We oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property." Tesla Takedown says that "Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it" and urges people to sell their Teslas, dump their Tesla stock, and join the demonstrations.CNBC quoted a Tesla Takedown spokesperson as saying that the "movement has been and always will be nonviolent. They want to scare us away from protesting Musk's destructionbut standing up for free speech is essential to democracy. We will not be deterred."Three arrestsUS Attorney General Pamela Bondi last week issued a statement highlighting three arrests of suspected arsonists. Each defendant faces five to 20 years in prison if convicted. One defendant threw "approximately eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership located in Salem, Oregon," another tried to light Tesla cars on fire with Molotov cocktails in Colorado, and a third in South Carolina "wrote profane messages against President Trump around Tesla charging stations before lighting the charging stations on fire with Molotov cocktails," the press release said."The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended," Bondi said. "Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars."Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 52 Comments

Not Another Stalled Administrator Momentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator "We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA." Eric Berger Mar 25, 2025 2:42 pm | 38 Jared Isaacman during training at SpaceX before the Polaris Dawn mission. Credit: SpaceX Jared Isaacman during training at SpaceX before the Polaris Dawn mission. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWith the vast majority of President Donald Trump's cabinet members now approved by the US Senate, focus is turning to senior positions within the administration that are just below the cabinet level.The administrator of NASA is among the most high-profile of these positions. Nearly four months ago Trump nominated private astronaut Jared Isaacman to become chief of the space agency, but he has yet to receive a hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Almost immediately after his nomination, much of the space community fell in behind Isaacman, who has flown to space twice on private Crew Dragon missions, raised charitable funds, and is generally well-liked. Since then, Isaacman has worked to build support for his candidacy through conversations with people in the space community and officeholders.However, publicly, not much has happened. This has raised questions within the space community about whether the nomination has stalled. Although some people have expressed concern about financial ties between Isaacman and SpaceX, according to multiple sources, the primary obstacle has been Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who chairs the Senate committee.Cruz is not happy that Isaacman has donated to Democrats in the past, and he is concerned that the private astronaut is more interested in Mars exploration than the Moon. Cruz also did not appreciate Elon Musk's call to end the life of the International Space Station early. The station is operated by NASA's field center, Johnson Space Center, in Houston, where Cruz lives.Nomination on trackNevertheless, despite the slower pace, people familiar with the nomination process say Isaacman's candidacy remains on track. And recently, there have been some public announcements that support this notion.In early March, the governors of several southern US states, including Florida and Texas, sent a letter to Cruz expressing "strong support" for the swift confirmation of Isaacman. A notable absence from this letter was the governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, where NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is located. However, she also recently sent Cruz a letter praising Isaacman, calling him an "exceptional selection" to lead NASA. It is notable that the governors of all the US states with major human spaceflight activities have now lined up behind Isaacman.Additionally, as part of the nomination process, Isaacman has written a letter to explain how he will disentangle his conflicts of interest, including resigning from the company he founded, Shift4 Payments, and stating that agreements between himself and SpaceX for the Polaris missions will be terminated.A group of more than two dozen former astronauts from across the political spectrum also recently shared a letter sent to Cruz in support of Isaacman. "We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA at the critical juncture," wrote the astronauts. And just this week, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation issued a similar call for confirmation.This all appears to be part of an at least loosely coordinated campaign to push Cruz to schedule a hearing with Isaacman. A request for comment from Cruz, through the Senate committee he chairs, was not responded to.NASA in need of a leaderSo what will happen now?Undoubtedly, Isaacman's ties to Musk will come up during the confirmation process, and potential conflicts of interest will be the source of some contention with Democratic senators. SpaceX stands to benefit from the Trump administration in myriad ways, including from NASA. At the same time, there is a general recognition that, when it comes to civil space, SpaceX has provided essential services to NASA at a significantly lower price than any other provider.Therefore, although there may be some grumbling about Isaacman's conflicts, they are unlikely to be a killer. Cruz, too, has signaled privately that he is willing to move forward with the nomination. But it likely won't be soon. Due to recesses in April for Easter and Passover, there are limited opportunities for a confirmation hearing. Therefore, it seems most probable that Isaacman will not appear before Cruz's committee until May.Is that a bad thing? If you ask people at NASA and within the industry, the answer is, generally, yes. Like other federal workers, the employees at NASA feel shell-shocked by the Trump administration's treatment of their jobsthe calls to resign, the requests for massive reductions in force, and concerns about budget cuts. There is a general sense that having a confirmed leader in Isaacman, who is viewed as dynamic and passionate about spaceflight, would provide clarity and confidence to get NASA moving ahead.Eric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 38 Comments

The houndshark species Mustelus lenticulatusPaul CaigerAt least one shark species has a bark to go along with its bite. It can make clicking noises, scientists report, a first among an animal group once thought to be totally silent.During her doctoral research at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, Carolin Nieder, now at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, was studying sharks hearing. When handling the sharks during experiments, she noticed one species a houndshark called the rig (Mustelus lenticulatus) appeared to make metallic clicking sounds. AdvertisementI was just kind of ignoring it because sharks are not supposed to make sounds, says Nieder. And it just kept happening.The ability to produce sounds intentionally is common among land vertebrates, as a world full of bird chirping and mammalian bellowing illustrates. But underwater, many fish emit sounds by scraping objects or vibrating their muscles, and in 2022 researchers reported that some rays close relatives of sharks will click when disturbed by divers. No shark sounds had been formally described yet.To confirm the existence of the rigs noisiness, Nieder and her colleagues brought 10 juvenile rigs caught in the waters off New Zealands North Island into the lab. There, they were placed in tanks with sensitive sound recording instruments. The team gently handled the sharks and found that all of them made a clicking noise in response. The rig appears to be the first shark known to produce sounds that arent associated with other actions, such as feeding or bumping into something.The researchers think the sharks may be producing the sounds by snapping their jaws together. Much like the clicking rays, the rig has flattened teeth, which might create a sharp sound upon impact. Listen below.https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/25180709/audio-1.wav![endif]-->Further research may confirm the source of the clicking and if it has a function. Nieder points out that the rig is a small shark and potential prey for larger animals, so its possible the clicking has a role in defence when the animal is bitten or grasped.It could be to disorient the predator a little bit, she says. Its also possible the clicking has a role in hunting, she adds, such as scaring or discombobulating the sharks crustacean prey.Teeth of the rig sharkEric ParmentierThis is a long-overlooked but potentially really important area of shark biology, says Aaron Rice at Cornell University in New York, who was not involved with the research.If sound production is widespread among sharks, their clicks may be useful for studying their often steeply declining populations, says Rice. There is a great wealth of sound data recorded from fish and whale studies that might have also captured shark sounds, he says. These could be used to determine if sharks were in the area, adding another tool for monitoring the imperilled predators.[The finding] represents what is truly a new discovery in basic biology, says Rice. It highlights the fact that theres so much we dont know about the ocean.Journal referenceRoyal Society Open Science, DOI: 10.1098/rsos.242212Topics:

Placebo pills can have real effects through the power of suggestionSeventyFour Images / AlamyWomen with premenstrual syndrome seem to benefit from the placebo effect even when they know they are taking sham pills, suggesting this could provide a cheap and easy treatment.Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which involves symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and abdominal cramps, commonly affects anyone who has periods. Previous studies have found that placebo pills can reduce symptoms in women who think they may be taking a real medication, but it was unclear whether these benefits remain when people knowingly take sham pills. AdvertisementAntje Frey Nascimento at the University of Basel in Switzerland and her colleagues recruited 150 women in Switzerland aged 18 to 45 who had moderate to severe PMS. In a survey that scored 27 PMS symptoms on a scale of 0 to 5, the participants rated at least one symptom a 4 or a 5 at the start of the study. The participants also reported that at least one symptom interfered with their social, work or school lives, scoring this disruption a 4 or a 5.Next, the researchers randomly assigned one-third of the participants to take two placebo pills daily over two menstrual cycles, and told these people they were taking placebos. Another third of the participants also took placebo pills, but they received an additional explanation of how placebos can relieve symptoms through the power of suggestion and belief.The remaining third of participants were not given placebos, but all groups were able to take their normal medications. All the participants completed daily surveys on their PMS symptoms and how much these interfered with their lives.Get the most essential health and fitness news in your inbox every Saturday.Sign up to newsletterBy analysing survey data from the participants final menstrual cycle, the team found that those who took placebos without an explanation saw a 50 per cent reduction, on average, in the intensity of their PMS symptoms, compared with what they reported before they took the pills. These symptoms were also half as disruptive to their lives.Those who took a placebo with an explanation reported an even greater reduction of 79 per cent in the intensity of their symptoms and 83 per cent less disruption to their lives. That is a really substantial effect that you will notice in your life, says Stefan Schmidt at the University of Freiburg in Germany, who wasnt involved in the study.When people take placebo pills, they may both subconsciously and consciously expect symptom relief from the placebo effect; this seems to generate real improvements for instance, by causing the release of natural painkillers in the body like endorphins, says Schmidt.We are living in a pill society where there is all this knowledge about how, when you ingest them, you get all the benefits of science in your body, so people expect to feel better, he says. Highlighting these potential benefits to people seems to enhance the effect, he says.Despite not taking any pills, the control group saw a smaller 33 per cent reduction in the intensity of their symptoms and found they were 46 per cent less disruptive than before. Enrolling in a study and completing these daily diaries may make you feel better or pay more notice to when symptoms get better, so they see benefits even without taking any pills, says Schmidt.One limitation of the study is that those who signed up for the trial may be more open to alternative treatments than the wider population, and therefore see greater benefits of the placebo effect, he adds.Larger studies should determine whether these benefits of placebos last over longer periods and whether they apply to a broader range of people in older age groups or other countries, says Schmidt. If the results stand up to scrutiny, placebos could eventually offer a cheap and easy way to treat a significant health burden, he says.Journal reference:BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2024-112875 Topics:women's health

ChatGPT has a new image generator feature that can create images from users' text prompts. Jaque Silva/NurPhoto 2025-03-26T00:54:35Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? ChatGPT released an image generator on Tuesday.A software engineer on X said they discovered that the feature had trouble creating images of "sexy women."OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said it was a "bug" that will be fixed.ChatGPT's new image generator appeared to have a bug that only allowed the AI tool to create images of "sexy men."An X user who identified themself as a software engineer pointed out the issue on Tuesday, shortly after the feature was unveiled. The image generator is a new function of ChatGPT that allows users to create elaborate images from detailed prompts."New ChatGPT image gen can draw sexy men but not sexy women," the user wrote, posting a screenshot of ChatGPT's response, which said, "The difference comes down to context and how content is interpreted in terms of sexualization and objectification, especially when it involves women."OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded that image generation of sexy women "should be allowed" and that it was a "bug" that will be fixed."Hot guy though!" Altman added.ChatGPT appeared to have no issues generating an image of a "hot woman" when prompted by Business Insider. ChatGPT can now create images of humans through detailed prompts. Screenshot of ChatGPT The image generator does have restrictions around creating images of real people. When Business Insider continued the prompt requesting an image of Sam Altman, ChatGPT responded that it couldn't generate an exact image of the CEO but could instead create a "character inspired by his features with a unique, artistic twist." ChatGPT's new image generator has content restrictions regarding generating images of real people. Screenshot of ChatGPT OpenAI said in its announcement of the feature that there are "heightened restrictions" on requests for images of real people, especially when they involve nudity or graphic violence.In an addendum explaining the new feature, the company said it won't outright block the capability of generating images of adult public figures. This allows for the "possibility of helpful and beneficial uses in areas like educational, historical, satirical and political speech," OpenAI said.Public figures can, however, opt their image out of this feature, the company said.An OpenAI spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Donald Trump on Tuesday signed his latest executive order targeting a Big Law firm, this time taking aim at Jenner & Block. Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images 2025-03-26T00:43:28Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Donald Trump on Tuesday signed his latest executive order targeting a Big Law firm, Jenner & Block.The order is similar to one against Perkins Coie, which a federal judge blocked as unconstitutional.Jenner & Block, in a statement, said the firm remains focused on serving its clients despite the order.Jenner & Block on Tuesday became the latest target in President Donald Trump's war on Big Law after he issued an executive order revoking its attorneys' security clearances and ordering a review of the firm's government contracts. But Jenner signaled it doesn't plan to back down without a fight.The firm, headquartered in Chicago, employs over 400 attorneys across six offices nationwide and is the fourth major law firm targeted by the Trump administration with similar executive actions. Each of the firms Paul Weiss, Perkins Coie, and Covington & Burling has had ties to Trump's political opponents.In the Tuesday order, Trump specifically singled out attorney Andrew Weissmann, a Jenner employee who served as a lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Special Counsel's Office, which investigated Trump's ties to Russia in 2016. The order described Weissmann's career as "rooted in weaponized government and abuse of power.""Jenner & Block has had a long history representing clients, paid and pro bono, in their most difficult matters since 1914," Jenner & Block said in a statement released after the order was issued. "Today, we have been named in an Executive Order similar to one which has already been declared unconstitutional by a federal court. We remain focused on serving and safeguarding our clients' interests with the dedication, integrity, and expertise that has defined our firm for more than one hundred years and will pursue all appropriate remedies."US District Judge Beryl Howell on March 12 partially blocked Trump's order against Perkins Coie. Politico reported that during an emergency hearing, the judge said that the "retaliatory animus" of Trump's order against the firm was "clear on its face" and "runs head-on into the wall of First Amendment protections."On Friday, the Justice Department filed a motion to disqualify Howell from overseeing the lawsuit, arguing the judge is "insufficiently impartial" to rule on the case.While Perkins Coie fights the executive order in court, another targeted firm has taken a contrasting approach to handling Trump's actions against it.Instead of challenging the order's legality, Paul Weiss agreed to reevaluate its hiring practices in alignment with Trump's anti-DEI initiatives and provide $40 million in pro bono legal work to further causes identified by the Trump administration, such as combating antisemitism and assisting veterans. Trump rescinded the order against Paul Weiss after the agreement was struck, though Business Insider previously reported the language in Paul Weiss' copy of the agreement did not include references to DEI that were in Trump's announcement.Rachel Cohen, a now-former associate from the high-profile firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, last Friday publicly resigned over what she said wasAlso on Friday, the president sent amemo to Attorney General Pam Bondiordering her to identify "frivolous" lawsuits against his administration and flag the law firms associated with the cases so they can be targeted for punitive actions like those levied against Paul Weiss and Perkins Coie.In an email to his staff on Sunday, Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp called Trump's order "unprecedented" in the firm's 150-year history and an "existential threat.""The executive order could easily have destroyed our firm," Karp wrote. "It brought the full weight of the government down on our firm, our people, and our clients."The assault on Big Law and each firm's disparate handling of the orders against them has made waves across the legal industry, with legal scholars warning Business Insider the unprecedented attacks from the sitting president are a threat to the rule of law that have implications far beyond damaging the businesses of the targeted firms."Something like this has never happened, or maybe hasn't happened since the time of Andrew Jackson. I mean, this is really a kind of a constitutional crisis," Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, previously told BI. "I think our legal system is under attack, and it's a question of who's going to step up and defend it."Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ktangalakislippert@businessinsider.com or Signal at byktl.50. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

The Witcher 4 release date could be 2027 confirms CD Projekt RedGameCentralPublished March 26, 2025 2:00am The Witcher 4 could be out in two years time (CD Projekt)CD Projekt has narrowed down the release date of The Witcher 4 and offered updates for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel and The Witcher 1 remake.Cyberpunk 2077 might have had the bumpiest launch of any modern video game but it all turned out okay in the end and publisher CD Projekts sci-fi dystopia has now sold over 30 million copies. Thats nothing compared to 2015s The Witcher 3 though, which has racked up over 50 million sales making it one of the best-selling single-player games of all time.At one point, publisher CD Projekt implied there wouldnt be any direct sequel, but after the rocky road travelled by Cyberpunk 2077 they changed their mind and announced a host of new titles, including a remake of the first game and a new trilogy of original titles.The Witcher 4 is the first of these but the only thing weve seen so far is a pre-rendered trailer, which implies that Ciri, not Geralt, is the lead protagonist. Its not clear when CD Projekt are going to reveal any more information, but they have narrowed down the release date a bit.In the companys latest financial report, it completely ruled out the chance of The Witcher 4 in 2026. However, 2027 was described as a possibility, but with no promises that it wouldnt be pushed back beyond that.We are not going to announce the precise launch date for the game yet, said chief financial officer Piotr Nielubowicz. All we could share now to give more visibility to investors is that the game will not be launched within the time frame of the first target for the incentive program, which ends December 31, 2026.As you can tell by the way he phrased it, the information was aimed at investors, not fans, but its pretty unambiguous in terms of when you should start hoping for the game to be released.That wasnt the only revelation though, with CD Projekt announcing that it has also partnered with new Pokmon Go owner Scopely, for an unnamed title set within one of CD Projekts IPs. That probably means The Witcher or Cyberpunk, but CD Projekt does have at least one other new IP underway.There were also minor updates on some of CD Projekts other internal projects, with The Witcher multiplayer spin-off Project Sirius described as still being in pre-production. Nevertheless, developer The Molasses Flood has already been merged with the CD Projekt Red team, which suggests Sirus will share some of The Witcher 4s DNA (and assets).More TrendingStrangely, The Witcher 1 remake, which was implied to be the next game to be released, still isnt in full production, with some of the development team now helping out with The Witcher 4 instead.A remake shouldnt take as long as a brand new game but theres now a question mark over whether the game will in fact be the next title from CD Projekt, or if The Witcher 4 will leapfrog in front of it.CD Projekt has also hinted that it has a number of other unannounced projects in development, as well as brand new IP codenamed Project Hadar. What that is though, is a completely mystery.The Cyberpunk 2077 sequel is currently codenamed Project Orion and will apparently be entering pre-production in the coming weeks. Theres no clue as to when it will be released but it will definitely be after The Witcher 4, so 2028 at the very earliest. Its unclear what CD Projekts next game will be (CD Projekt)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Assassins Creed Shadows shinobi does it better? (Ubisoft)The Wednesday letters page thinks a Metroid Prime 4 reveal this week makes total sense, as one reader predicts Mass Effect wont be part of any Nintendo Direct.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukStealth assassinsIve been playing a lot of Assassins Creed Shadows and I have to say Im really enjoying it. Its not really doing anything new for the series, but the graphics are very good and theres not many bogs, which is a nice change. But the thing I like best? Its the closest thing to a next gen Tenchu Ive ever played. Which by default makes it the best ninja game of the modern era.The problem is that there arent many other contenders. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is definitely a better game but its not that similar to Tenchu, which is fine because thats not what it was trying to do and Id much rather FromSoftware make something original. (The irony is From did actually make a Tenchu game, back in their pre-Dark Souls days, but it was just an Xbox Live Arcade spin-off.)Ubisoft isnt exactly on their artistic level though, so theyre the perfect ones to make a new game that is Tenchu in all but name and I kind of love them for it. Ive honestly had a lot more fun with it than Ghost Of Tsushima, which wasnt trying to be that stealthy but I found became repetitive much too quickly. Maybe Shadows will in the end but so far Im enjoying sneaking over rooftops and peering round corners, just like Tenchu on the PS1.FrankyCrazy DirectThe idea of another Nintendo Direct this week seems crazy at first, given everyones waiting for the one next week, but I think were forgetting just how weird and unpredictable Nintendo can be. Metroid Prime 4 and Mario Kart 9 makes sense to us as a launch line-up, but we dont know how far along those games are or what theyre like.It seemed madness to me that there wouldnt be a Switch 2 specific version of Metroid Prime 4 but what if, instead, Nintendo uses it to show how much Switch 2 improves the quality of Switch 1 games? That actually makes more business sense, because then youre telling everyone that even though the Switch 2 looks the same it actually makes the games youve got even better.Its the PS5 Pro pitch, except I imagine the differences will be more obvious and the console will be more affordable and do other things the original cant. So, if theres a Switch 1-only Direct this week and Metroid Prime 4 is the focus, I actually wouldnt be surprised.OnibeeWinners and losersIt will be kind of hilarious if this autumn theres nothing out except GTA 6 and Switch 2 exclusives. I can easily imagine it too, because we know thats whats people are interested and as publishers now seem to be accepting, people havent got time to play a dozen games a year.Its an extreme example, that probably wont be repeated again, but it does highlight the vast gap between the winners and losers in this business. Gamers arent willing to take a risk on anything that isnt either a big name or dirt cheap, preferably free.Thats always been true but never to this degree. Seems to me the answer is to make smaller and cheaper games but I dont see any sign that anyones trying to do that. Its the same old problem of everyone trying to be number one and nobody being willing to admit they wont be.ClanceyEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukVapour, where?So is there any theory for why Rockstar hasnt shown Trailer 2 of GTA 6 yet? I hate to ask a stupid question, but it seems really strange to have your first one in 2023 and then nothing, and were now a quarter of the way into 2025.A delay seems the only explanation, but Take-Two says its not that, so what is it? Are we only ever going to get two trailers? Are we going to get a bunch of them all in a row, just before release? Wont that seem a bit overkill?I just dont get it and if this was any other game wed be accusing it of being vapourware at this point. Its not like theres an obvious date theyre waiting for, so you cant assume itll be in June, or whenever. Theres just no clue at all and thats beginning to seem weird.FlossyNever betteredI didnt think there could be anything more crazy than the way that Sony has handled Bloodborne, but finding out its 10 years old manages to beat it. I guess time flies when youre having fun, but I wouldve never have put that down as a decade old. Its not even like it was a launch PlayStation 4 game or anything.I think thats because the boundaries between this gen and the last seem so vague. It still feels like this gen hasnt really started and yet were already talking about the next one. Its all so stressful because for me the PlayStation 4 was pretty much the prefect model console and yet the follow-up has been such a wet fart.I knew Bloodborne seemed like a high watermark at the time, I didnt realise that was going to be literally as good as it gets.Duke LazerTravel plansIve been wondering where Assassins Creed can go next too, and I agree theres nothing very obvious. The only one Ive seen a lot from fans is WW1 or 2, which could be interesting, but it depends where they set it.Something showing why theyre called world wars would be interesting, so a theatre we dont usually see maybe, like Africa or China. China is one of the obvious settings left but thats probably going to seem too similar to Shadows to do straight away, so the country in one of the world wars would be interesting.India would be another good one, but would Ubisoft really get into the politics of the Raj? And if they did, would they actually manage to be sensitive and accurate enough about it? I have my doubts. They could do it pre-colonialism though, that would be interesting.I know very little about that, but Id say one of the flaws of Assassins Creed is that it doesnt really teach you a lot about history that you didnt already know. They go for obvious settings but theyre obvious because people know them. Id like to learn about a new place and culture for once, that I didnt know about before.Given historical accuracy wasnt exactly Shadows strong point maybe thats a bad idea, but then again it could be a chance for them to prove theyre doing things right now.StationNothing insideSo Xbox have decided that you can go to the shop and buy Indiana Jones And The Great Circle but its a code that you download. What is the point of that? I was going to buy it but I dont think Ill bother now.Why dont they just do one or the other? You can either buy it on disc or you can download it, why do it where you can buy it in shops but you have to download it?DavidGC: Codes in a box have been a thing for years now, sadly. If thats even what this is it sounds more like there is a disc but it needs additional downloads to work.Direct EffectI wonder if well see anything about the new Mass Effect this year? Thats one thing I dont expect to see at the Nintendo Direct, but I would like it if it turned up at one of the not-E3 events. We really need to know that EA hasnt canned it, after the failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but maybe thats me being paranoid.It makes me wonder in general what kind of games will be in the Direct and what wont. Im pretty sure therell be nothing from Rockstar, for example, but I wouldnt be surprised at Capcom stuff, up to and including Resident Evil.Ubisoft is a given, since theyve always been close with Nintendo, and I think bringing back those MySims games shows that EA are wanting in too. Although EA are getting like Activision nowadays, where they publish fewer and fewer games every year, to the point where Im not even sure what else theyd put on Switch 2. The current one already has EA Sports FC, so what else is there? A port of Dragon Age?Literally anything could happen next Wednesday and thats definitely exciting. I just hope Nintendo make the most of the opportunity and dont leave us with more questions than answers. People assume theyll talk about the release date and price but thats not guaranteed.We dont even know if therell be any third party games there, but I think there will be. Theyll want to show off that everyone wants to be on Switch 2 and hopefully thatll involve a lot of surprises just probably not Mass Effect.KrisInbox also-ransIm always shocked that Australia is the most strict country in the West when it comes to ratings and video game content. How can they be so chill about everything else but get worked up over video games?AlgieA lot of talk about Capcom bringing back old franchises but Im surprised theyve never tried to do a new Breath Of Fire. I know role-players arent generally their thing, but they made a lot of them back in the day, so they mustve have been popular at the time.PengleMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Enjoy a glimpse of a magical world brought to life by Mark Carier in this stylized 3D gate. Inspired by World of Warcraft and League of Legends, the artist demonstrated his hand-painting skills in this colorful diorama.The project was based on a concept by Virginia Critchfield. It is a result of Cariers 2-year exploration of hand painting, realized using Maya, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, and Photoshop.You can find Cariers projects on ArtStation.If you enjoy this diorama, check out this fun animation assembling a tiny bathroom in Blender and othergorgeousworks weve covered on 80 Level.Quackles3DAlso, join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Cute Stylized Hand-Painted Gate Diorama Made in 3D appeared first on CG SHARES.

Game developer August Hkansson doesnt waste his weekends by being idle: there is always work to do for his upcoming project. As a practice and future mechanics, he set up a cool functional modular synthesizer in Unity using his teams custom interaction system.The setup works as a synthesizer does: there are several buttons, including vibrato, harmony, and echo, which respond to tweaking with pleasant clicks. A little monitor is a nice addition to the instrument.August HkanssonHkanssons studio Motvind is working on Beyond The Plastic Wall, an atmospheric narrative puzzler about hope, decay and the things we cannot fix. According to the artist, the synthesizer will appear in the game once its out. Moreover, Hkansson might release the setup or part of its code online in the future.If you want a glimpse of his other projects, like a GPU-rendered vegetation distribution system, a lighting setup using a standard sprite shader, a camera-switching effect, and a compute shaders grass system, visit Hkanssons X/Twitter; its full of wonders.Join our 80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Artist Set Up Working Modular Synthesizer Made in Unity appeared first on CG SHARES.