Elon Musk's unique government sway could be playing a role in X's ad growth, according to EMARKETER. Graeme Sloan for The Washington Post via Getty Images 2025-03-27T12:25:48Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? X will clock $1.3 billion in US ad revenue this year, per a new forecast from EMARKETER.The report said some of the growth is motivated by fear of Elon Musk and isn't sustainable.X's advertising tactics have garnered scrutiny from Democratic senators.Things seem to be looking up for the advertising business of Elon Musk's X.A new forecast from the research firm EMARKETER says X's advertising business will get its first annual growth since 2021 this year.EMARKETER forecasts X's US digital ad revenue will jump 17.5% to $1.3 billion this year, up from $1.1 billion in 2024. Globally, EMARKETER estimates X will pull in $2.3 billion in ad revenue this year, up 16.5% year-on-year.There's a catch, however.EMARKETER principal analyst Jasmine Enberg cautioned in her report that some of the growth is "being driven by fear" and, because of that, could be unsustainable."Many advertisers may view spending on X as a cost of doing business in order to mitigate potential legal or financial repercussions," Enberg said. "But fear is not a sustainable motivator, and the situation remains volatile, partly as some consumers' discontent toward Musk grows."Enberg's comments echo previous reporting by Business Insider.BI recently reported that ad agency execs and consultants were begrudgingly advising clients to pay what could be called an Elon tax: buying ads on X in order to avoid legal and political woes.Enberg also said some of the ad growth came from the addition of small and medium-sized businesses and that X could also stand to benefit from Meta's new lax moderation policies.X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI. It's a private company and doesn't publicly report ad revenue. Emarketer forecasts X's US ad revs will increase by 17.5% this year, but cautions some of the growth is being driven by fear of Elon Musk. Courtesy of Emarketer X's relationship with advertisers has been fraughtDespite the recent upswing, X's ad revenue is still much lower than it was pre-Musk. In 2022, the year Musk bought it, the company pulled in $2.4 billion in US ad revenue, per EMARKETER estimates.X's ad business plummeted in the wake of Musk's takeover. Some advertisers were wary of his changes to the company. Xlaid offa large chunk of its staff, loosened moderation, shook up account verificationrules, and brought back somebannedaccounts.X fired back at some advertisers who had spurned the platform. The company filed a lawsuit against several advertisers in August last year, accusing them of illegally conspiring to boycott the platform through their membership in a now-defunct industry initiative called the Global Alliance for Responsible Media. The case is ongoing.X's sales tactics have garnered scrutiny from Democratic senators, who sent letters to the DOJ and FTC calling for investigations. In their letters, the Senators referenced a report in The Wall Street Journal that said X's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, and a lieutenant had pushed IPG to spend more money on X, citing people with knowledge of the talks. The Journal reported that IPG execs had interpreted the message as a reminder that the Trump administration could impede its proposed $13 billion merger with the ad giant Omnicom.Disclosure: BI and EMARKETER share a parent company.

President Donald Trump's auto tariffs are set to take effect next week. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images 2025-03-27T11:48:59Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Trump's auto tariffs have landed and they may have a major impact on car prices.JP Morgan analysts say 25% tariffs on cars from Mexico and Canada could push up prices by as much as $2,500.Auto stocks fell on fears the tariffs will impact the global automotive industry.After several false starts, Trump's auto tariffs are finally here and they could make buying a new car a lot more expensive.The announcement of the 25% tariffs on all imported passenger vehicles and key car parts, which take effect on April 2, sent foreign and domestic auto stocks tumbling.Analysts have long warned that the levies are likely to push up car prices as the US automotive industry scrambles to respond.Wedbush analysts said in a Wednesday note that the tariffs "would be a hurricane-like headwind to foreign (and many US) automakers and ultimately push the average price of cars up $5k to $10k depending on the make/ model/price point."Analysis from Anderson Economic Group reported by CNBC put the potential price hike from Trump's levies at between $4,000 and $12,200 depending on the vehicle. EVs are likely to be hit hard due to their imported batteries and electronics.Prior to Trump announcing a 30-day exemption for the auto industry earlier this month, JP Morgan analysts estimated that 25% tariffs on vehicle imports from Mexico and Canada alone could raise the average price of new vehicles by as much as $2,580.Automakers are also sounding the alarm. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major US automakers including GM and Ford, warned earlier this month that proposed import taxes could see car prices rise by as much as 25%.GM and Ford, as well as foreign rivals such as Toyota, Nissan, and BMW, all have major production facilities in Mexico, meaning they are likely to be badly affected by the tariffs.Barclays analysts warned earlier this month that 25% levies on auto imports from Mexico and Canada could effectively wipe out profits for Ford, GM, and Stellantis.Automakers like Tesla that build most of their cars in the US will feel the pain too, with the tariffs extending to automobile parts including engines, powertrain parts, and "electrical components."Despite building their cars in the US, the likes of Tesla still source many of their components abroad. Between 20% and 25% of the components from Tesla's 2025 model-year vehicles come from Mexico, according to regulatory filings.Global pain Shares in foreign automakers fell following the announcement of the tariffs, with Nissan, Toyota, and Honda down between 1.5% to 3.5%.In Europe, BMW and Volkswagen fell slightly in morning trading, while Mercedes stock dipped 2% drop.Economists have previously warned that increasing the tariff of cars imported from Europe to the US to 25% from the current 2.5% would lead to a sharp fall in the number of cars shipped across the Atlantic.A January report from Oxford Economics estimated that automotive exports from Germany and Italy would decline by 7.1% and 6.6% respectively due to the tariffs. The US is the main non-EU export market for both countries.Germany's struggling auto industry would be hit particularly hard, with Oxford Economics estimating that total automotive production would decline by about 5.3%.That's not a scenario manufacturers including VW already grappling with excess capacity and mulling factory closures to cut costs will be looking forward to. VW is considering closing factories in Germany. JENS SCHLUETER / AFP US tariffs on vehicles built in China have previously led to European automakers delaying the launch of new models in the US and in the case of Chinese automakers like BYD, avoiding America entirely.The Trump administration's latest trade war escalation also raises the prospect that Europe, Japan, and South Korea may retaliate with their own tariffs on US car exports.After Trump revealed the 25% auto tariffs, Japan's prime minister vowed that "every option" was on the table as the country considered its response.Germany's economy minister, meanwhile, called on the EU to deliver a "decisive response" to the tariffs, while South Korea said it would announce emergency measures next month.

This story originally appeared in Kids Today, Voxs newsletter about kids, for everyone. Sign up here for future editions.Over the next few weeks, millions of kids around the country will come home from school, toss their backpacks in a corner, and begin an annual ritual that can be fun, relaxing, stressful, and confusing all at the same time.I speak, of course, of spring break a phrase that has historically meant one thing to beach-bound college students, and quite another to families of younger kids, facing down a week (or sometimes two) when schools are closed and work is decidedly not.Summer has its own challenges, for kids and adults alike. But spring break, like the countless other interruptions that pockmark school calendars, can be even harder to plan for. Fewer camps are open; summer school is months away. Some families go skiing or take a cruise, but amid rising prices, those options are out of reach for more and more parents. For many families, you kind of cobble it together on your own, Lauren Smith Brody, CEO of the Fifth Trimester, a workplace gender equality consultancy, told me which means a lot of stress for parents and, often, a lot of screen time for kids. Its not just an inconvenience days off of school can mean days of hunger for kids from food-insecure families, who rely on school breakfast and lunch to get through the week. And the spike in juvenile crime between the hours of 3 and 6 pm on weekdays suggests that for some kids, unsupervised time can be dangerous.Some school districts and afterschool programs offer free or low-cost spring break camps a way to reinforce some of the learning thats going on in a way that feels like the kids are having fun and having a break, as Jodi Grant, executive director of the nonprofit Afterschool Alliance, put it. But those programs were underfunded even before President Trump ordered the closure of the Education Department, which administers federal funding for afterschool programs. For now, spring break is yet another reminder of the mismatch between American work culture and the needs of human life for relaxation, for connection, for something to shake up what can sometimes be a draining daily routine. At their best, Grant said, spring break programs for kids are just a chance to do things differently.If you dont have a school-aged child, you might not realize how many days off kids have in addition to summer break. In New York City, where I live, its about two dozen, which includes winter break, mid-winter break, spring break, and a number of religious and other holidays in between.School breaks are intended, at least in part, to give families and staff time to observe said holidays (in many districts, spring break encompasses Easter, Passover, or both). Spring break, in particular, is a popular time for travel, with 48 percent of families with children planning a trip during that period, according to a 2023 TransUnion survey. But that still leaves more than half who stay put (its not that easy for one or two adults to get a full week off work at a time thats neither summer nor the winter holidays). When kids are off but parents are working, the options are somewhat limited. Some camps operate during spring break, but the cost, which can run to hundreds of dollars a week, puts them out of reach for many families. Then theres the cobble-it-together approach, with parents (and sometimes other family members like grandparents) splitting up care and work as best they can. Theres a lot of juggling, Brody said, and nobody ever gets any rest.Kids, however, do really need breaks. Take it from a student at John Jay High School in Lewisboro, New York, who wrote in the school paper in 2022 that There are so many responsibilities on high school students plate, whether they must do homework, study, work, play a sport or activity, take SAT or ACT tests, look at or visit colleges, take AP exams, etc. Having a break in the school year could help a student relax and feel okay.Experts agree that theres a reason kids dont go to class 40 hours a week, 365 days a year. Longer school days have been tried in some districts, and both kids and teachers get exhausted, Grant said. Its also really important for a lot of kids to have an environment thats not graded or judged or prescribed. So what are families supposed to do? In Philadelphia, one answer is Spring Break Camp, a free, full-day program operating at 22 schools in the district. Some publicly funded afterschool programs offer spring break and other day-off camps as well, Grant said.These programs give kids a chance to hang out with new friends and new educators, to have more choice than they typically do during the school day, and to sample activities from yoga to weightlifting to building electric cars, Grant said.Many afterschool programs also provide snacks or meals for kids. But publicly funded programs often have limited space, and private ones can be expensive. Around the country, there are nearly 25 million kids whose parents want them to be in afterschool programs, but who dont have access, largely because of cost, Grant said. Expanding access to free or low-cost afterschool programs would help families deal with the three to four hours every weekday in which parents work but schools are out, as my colleague Rachel Cohen has written. It would also provide a solution for those two dozen days every school year that leave many parents scrambling for care and many kids bored on their iPads all day long.However, federal funding for afterschool programs has not kept up with inflation, Grant said. The Trump administration and DOGE have not cut support for these programs, but that support is administered through the Education Department, which Trump has instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle. Were feeling the same uncertainty as everyone else, Grant said.In the absence of robust federal funding, some states, like California, are stepping up by funding afterschool programs out of their own budgets. Employers, too, can help by fostering a culture that invites people to be open about their caregiving needs, Brody said.There is, of course, a core problem at the heart of the spring break conundrum: as Brody put it, the amount of paid vacation American parents typically get (which hovers around 11-15 days for all but the most senior employees) is just so out of line with the number of weeks that there arent school.You can solve this problem with camps, or you could solve it with more paid time off. The latter, of course, feels unattainable in a time of worker precarity and a resurgent grind culture. But as kids know well, everyone deserves a break sometimes.What Im readingThe Trump administration has reportedly cut funding for a program that provides legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children, potentially forcing them to represent themselves in immigration court.Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced Operation Stork Speed to improve the safety of baby formula. Its not bad to devote more attention to formula, experts say but the Trump administrations cuts at the FDA could hamper safety efforts.Evereden, once a baby brand, is now trying to give Gen Alpha tweens what they want. And apparently what they want are body mists.My little kid and I have been reading Fox and His Friends, originally published in 1982 and now a time capsule of 20th-century child-rearing norms. Fox, a school-aged child/animal, is tasked with babysitting his younger sister for an entire day with no adult input whatsoever. He is terrible at his job and eventually allows her to scale a telephone pole, then bribes her for her silence with ice cream. I am not sure if this is an argument for giving kids more independence, or the opposite.From my inboxLast week, I asked for your spring break experiences. Reader Kareen H had less-than-fond memories of spring at the YMCA as a child: I NEVER wanted to be at the Y.However, Kareen did enjoy field trips, adding that I won best singer award, because I was singing to myself in the Y van, coming back from some field trip. I have no memory of what I did during spring break as a child, but I am positive I have never won a best singer award in any context. As always, thanks for your messages and get in touch any time at anna.north@vox.com.See More:

These are uncertain times for many immigrants in the US. There have been reports of individual visa and green card holders and tourists who have been detained and deported. However, the Trump administration does not seem to be indiscriminately targeting legal immigrants who have authorization to be in the US on a large scale. Some have reportedly been targeted based on their political activism. A Brown University professor and doctor with a green card was deported after officials found photos of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Irans supreme leader on her phone. Immigration authorities also invoked a Trump executive order prohibiting antisemitism to detain a former Columbia student and green card holder who helped lead campus protests over the war in Gaza.In other cases, the Trump administration hasnt clarified its rationale for detaining someone. A German citizen with a green card was interrogated by border officials in Boston and detained without access to his anxiety medication. Its not clear if the government has charged him with a crime. Similarly, the administration had not offered an official explanation for detaining a Turkish doctoral student as of Tuesday.And its not just immigrants who have been affected. A US citizen said he was walking down the streets of Chicago when he was arrested by immigration agents, who confiscated his ID and held him for 10 hours before releasing him. Even though limited in number, these cases have been going viral and are understandably causing fear in immigrant communities.According to immigration attorneys, its hard to tell how worried immigrants who are legally living and working in the US need to be. After practicing for 40 years, its really difficult to divine what a measured response is right now, said Kathleen Campbell Walker, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. So far, cases of individuals with visas and green cards being detained or deported appear rare. That said, the lawyers I spoke with advised these immigrants, as well as US citizens, to consider certain precautions in an environment of such uncertainty.Consider carrying identification documentsLegal non-citizen immigrants have long been legally required to carry their immigration papers at all times. However, the penalties for failing to do so are becoming higher under Trump.In April, the Trump administration is expected to increase the associated fines from $100 to $5,000, Campbell Walker said. Failing to possess documentation is a misdemeanor. That could now land an immigrant in detention and deportation proceedings; Trump revoked the Biden administrations immigration enforcement priorities so that even people charged with nonviolent, minor crimes can now be deported.Relatedly, next month the Trump administration will also start requiring all noncitizens to register with the federal government and designate those who fail to do so as a priority for immigration enforcement. Many noncitizens who have had previous contact with the federal government whether because they applied for certain immigration benefits or were issued a notice to appear in immigration court are already considered registered under the new policy.Campbell Walker said US citizens should also consider carrying a passport card that fits in their wallet, or birth certificate, as proof of their nationality, given the reports of Americans swept up in Trumps immigration enforcement activities. In some of these cases, she said, there have been concerns that immigration agents are racially and ethnically profiling their targets.Carrying documents on your person, making sure that people who are not citizens or naturalized or acquired citizens have one place in your home where you have all your important documentation together and making sure that you have copies those are all reasonable and important steps to be taking in a moment like this, when we see the administration attacking free speech rights and attacking the basic norms of due process, said Heidi Altman, vice president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center.Reconsider international travelImmigration attorneys are urging immigrants to exercise caution in traveling abroad right now.Following the deportation of one of their professors, Brown University advised out of an abundance of caution that even green card holders delay any personal travel outside the US. The university said that changes in requirements to reenter the country and a draft proposal for a travel ban targeting 43 countries that could be implemented as early as this week might impact its students and staff. I believe that a lot of green card holders are making the decision to consult with an attorney before traveling, and I think thats a reasonable consideration, Altman said. Immigrants should consider whether their country of origin or where they are planning to travel may be on the list of countries that could be subjected to travel bans. They should also weigh their own history of activism and whether that could make them a target upon reentry to the US. We know that this administration is engaging in retaliatory actions against people who have engaged in constitutionally protected activism and speech, Altman said. And so I think people may want to think about their own history and imagine and explore if it might put them at high interest for retaliatory targeting and talk to an attorney about precautionary steps that can be taken before travel.If you must travel, consider leaving your personal electronic devices at home. Border officials can (and recently have) requested access to immigrants devices, including their cellphones. Refusing to grant them access might give them grounds to deny entry on the basis that they have insufficient information to determine if an immigrant is admissible to the US. But Campbell Walker said that she is concerned about officers lacking the training required to appropriately evaluate whats on a personal device. She said that, based on reports from member attorneys of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, officials are now looking through social media feeds on peoples phones for reasons to deny them admission to the US.Im not asking anyone to lie. Im not trying to obstruct justice, she said. But if somebody who may not have sufficient training is going to rip through a cellphone and jump to conclusions and potentially remove me or prevent me from entering the US, I dont think its advisable to have a bunch of social media or photographs on the phone you travel with. I dont think its very wise to be traveling with your [personal] laptop.See More:

It is now more or less impossible to put a precise figure on the number of video games released each year. According to data published by the digital store Steam, almost 19,000 titles were released in 2024 and thats just on one platform. Hundreds more arrived on consoles and smartphones. In some ways this is the positive sign of a vibrant industry, but how on earth does a new project get noticed? When Triple A titles with multimillion dollar marketing budgets are finding it hard to gain attention (disappointing sales have been reported for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the Final Fantasy VII remakes and EA Sports FC), what chance is there for a small team to break out?And yet it does happen. Last years surprise hit Balatro has shifted more than 5m copies. Complex medieval strategy title Manor Lords sold 1m copies during its launch weekend. But what awaits a small developer after they achieve success? And what does success even mean in a continuously evolving industry?James Carbutt and Will Todd of Coal Supper are still trying to make sense of it. Their acerbic satire Thank Goodness Youre Here!, in which players slap their way through bizarre quotidian scenarios in the fictional humble northern town of Barnsworth, is now an award-winning game. Its just not registered as a success in my head at all, says Carbutt. The numbers are going up on screen, and there have been YouTube playthroughs and some erotic fan art. Beyond that, it wont register.I cant imagine making any more games. I dont know where I would go from hereAfter spending three years working on the project, the pair now find themselves in the confusing glare of the spotlight, fielding questions about whats next. Its horrible, Carbutt jokes. But I dont think we feel any sort of second-album syndrome. The space it gives you to be a bit introspective about what you want to do next is the interesting quirk of a successful indie game.Veteran indie developer Gabe Cuzzillo (Ape Out, Baby Steps) offered them sage wisdom. He spoke about how you should focus not just on making something good because how do you quantify that, its amorphous? says Todd. Instead we should look at what it is we want to explore and judge success intrinsically, based on whether we explored that thing. The pressure of speed to market doesnt apply to us, because its never going to be possible to crank something out in six months to chase success anyway. Its more like, in the wake of this being received well, whats the next thing we want to explore? Thats something were interrogating at the moment.Australian developer Grace Bruxner has also redefined success after leaving behind a trilogy of Frog Detective games: bite-size adventures co-developed with Thomas Bowker that quickly became cult indie hits.Has it impacted peoples lives in a positive way? Frog Detective. Photograph: WormclubSuccess in games has always been a bit of a lie, a bit of an illusion, she says, pointing to typical markers such as cultural impact, player numbers and financial gain. My measure of success is: did I make something Im proud of, and has it impacted my life and other peoples lives in a positive way? And yes, it did, so thumbs up.Bruxner began working on the series during her final year at university as an experiment, to see whether she could produce a commercial game. After a relatively breezy first outing, the second Frog Detective game demanded that Bruxner and Bowker lock in, and spend most of their time on the project. By the third instalment, the hard work had paid off, though the pressure had begun to take its toll. Throw in the pandemic, as well as mental and physical health issues, and Bruxner was ready to take a break. I wasnt grinding super hard, but I also wasnt having a great time, she says. It just was really nice to make that choice to stop.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionIm looking forward to making art again, instead of feeling like I have to show up to a job I never applied toBruxner still has game ideas swirling in the back of her head, but she wanted to escape the endless production cycle that has swallowed up many of her peers, regardless of mounting exhaustion or burnout. Its not universal advice, she says, but if youre a solo dev or a really small team, I dont think theres any shame in leaving it there. Unless you love making games. Im not sure I love making games. I was quite young when we released the first Frog Detective, so it was like, This is my entire identity for life. I dont know how to be a separate person from that.Three years after the series swan song, she is on indefinite hiatus, exploring alternative creative paths such as pottery. I cant imagine making games, because of the expectations on me as a creator, she explains. I dont even know where I would go from here.Bruxner has been surprised by her ability to sustain herself on the modest amount of money provided by Frog Detective. If your game continues to have a tail, and you can budget properly and live within your means, it is possible to have a passive income that isnt tied to being a horrible landlord, she explains. Even so, she knows how taboo it can be to talk plainly about money, especially in creative circles like the indie game scene. I have the free time to chill and decide what I want to do, but I assume at some point Ill probably need to have a career again. My biggest question is will this money last forever? Probably not, and then what happens when it runs out? I dont know.Opportunities are limited Consume Me. Photograph: HexecutableIt may seem as though more indies than ever have broken into the spotlight in recent years. But enduring games industry turbulence has made finding financial support for follow-ups and debuts more complicated. The elephant in the room is everything thats happened over the past couple of years, with mass layoffs, studio closures and evaporating funding opportunities, explains AP Thomson, a developer of the forthcoming indie Consume Me with fellow NYU Game Center graduate Jenny Jiao Hsia. Before that, there was a pretty major change around the mid-2010s when indie publishers and funders started rising in prominence. Everything weve heard suggests that the same opportunities no longer exist or are incredibly limited.Consume Me, the duos coming-of-age scheduling RPG doesnt have a release date but has already been nominated for five gongs at the Independent Games Festival awards. As such, Jiao Hsia and Thomson are already under pressure to decide their next endeavour. Multiple people have told us we should be moving forward once it launches, says Thomson.Even with growing expectations, the pair arent keen to get ahead of themselves. Everything weve heard suggests that now is really not a great time to be pitching, so were going to focus our energy on the launch and then read the temperature of the room after that, Thomson adds.Im looking forward to finding enjoyment in making art again, instead of feeling like I have to show up to a job I never applied to, explains Jiao Hsia. The idea of making art for fun, without worrying about making money off it, is something I cant wait to do.

One former GTA 6 guru has discussed the challenge facing Rockstar Games when it comes to the upcoming title, claiming that players just don't tend to explore open worlds all that muchTech11:23, 27 Mar 2025Updated 11:25, 27 Mar 2025GTA 6 may be the most anticipated game of all timeGrand Theft Auto 6 is tipped to arrive in 2025, but the only people who seem to be talking about the upcoming epic are those that have left Rockstar.While former animator Mike York has suggested the developers will enjoy watching fan theories while the studio maintains its radio silence, other publishers are trying to avoid GTA 6's "blast zone".Article continues belowNow, another former Rockstar developer who worked on GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption has opened up on the challenges facing the studio when it comes to developing its latest entry in a series that began in 1997.When will we get our next glimpse at GTA 6?(Image: Still)As Cameron Williams, former game designer on GTA 6 and Red Dead Redemption 2 told a panel at GDC last week (thanks, PCGamer), "players don't explore".That was the first bullet point on a slide titled "Common Open World Problems", and Williams gave his rationale."Players just don't explore right?" he explained."Whether that's because you have a super action-oriented game or because they just simply aren't compelled.""Or, [your game has] a huge time investment and it's hard for players to pick up and put down, which is an increasing challenge, especially with the sort of evolving ecosystem of free-to-play and live service games that are kind of eating everyone's time and attention."GTA 5 never felt 'small'(Image: Rockstar Games)Williams, who now works as a senior mission designer at Absurd Ventures (a studio set up by Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser) said that malaise among players can manifest as "open world fatigue", where players are less likely to want to go and seek out adventure."They're wondering, 'Okay, how far away is the next thing? I really gotta run all the way across the map? And what's my gain?'" he added.Williams also touched on "analysis paralysis", citing studies where people given too many choices are often likely not to make any highlighting why it's important to highlight specific areas of a map but not too many."We want to avoid creating a possibility space so large that players simply just don't know what to choose," Williams explained.He also pointed to having certain side objectives introduced via main story missions, like fishing in Red Dead Redemption 2.So, what could this mean for GTA 6? Well, it certainly suggests Rockstar's map might need to be more easily readable for a wider variety of players, as well as potentially introducing content via the initial campaign to get players onside and ready to engage with it.Article continues belowGiven fans have predicted Vice City and its surrounding areas could be absolutely massive, perhaps this all means expectations need to be kept in check if players don't explore, maybe a colossal map isn't going to benefit everyone.For more on GTA 6, check out why the Xbox may get a big boost from its launch, as well as everything we know about the game so far.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

The new McDonald's Minecraft Happy Meal has been dubbed as being for adults - but be careful with your kids as the new Nether Flame sauce is not to be messed with so make sure you have a McFlurry on handTech11:06, 27 Mar 2025Updated 11:40, 27 Mar 2025The promotion sees blocky toys up for grabs(Image: McDonalds)After 'Square Doritos', we thought we were done with Minecraft's 'blockified' food promotions but McDonald's had other ideas.The company's Minecraft Movie Happy Meal is much more geared towards adults, but not just in terms of portion sizes. The plastic toys bring back a sense of 'landfill ready' nostalgia for a time before paper straws.Article continues belowI was able to check out the new menu on launch day, and was impressed by the brand's commitment to the crossover from the lovely new McFlurry to the subtle packaging changes, there's a lot to enjoy whether you have any interest in Minecraft or not.These classic McDonald's mascots are getting a blocky makeover(Image: McDonald's)If you're of a certain age, you'll probably remember when McDonald's 'toys' were just the right side of tat, usually reserved for a Disney movie tie-in but usually featuring Ronald McDonald, Hamburglar, Grimace and co in plasticky form.While I have no "skin in the game" as far as Minecraft is concerned (much to my son's dismay), opening up the box and getting a mystery gift in our meals was one of the best bits of the Minecraft meal.Between my wife, my son, and I, we ended up with two Hamburglars and a Soda Potion, but it was much more exciting than the biodegradable toys in other contemporary Happy Meals.Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we're focusing more on sustainability than goodness knows how many toys we don't need, but just for a moment, my son was able to experience the kind of thing we got excited about when we were his age.The new sauce is the real winnerRemember that Rick and Morty Szechuan sauce stunt that backfired a few years ago? McDonald's is ensuring it doesn't fall into the same trap with its new 'Nether Flame' hot sauce.I'm 35-years-old and have no idea what a 'Nether Flame' is, or what it should taste like, but here it's delicious. Ideal for chips or nuggets, our order arrived with half a dozen of them so don't expect to see riots over dips this time around.I should point out, however, that it's spicier than I expected. There's a definite touch of Tabasco in there, so be prepared my son (who's almost six) wasn't a big fan, and my wife (who admittedly isn't a fan of spicy food) reached straight for her McFlurry after tasting it.The new McFlurry is great, too(Image: McDonalds)On the McFlurry side of things, the Apple Cake variant is pretty sharp to the taste, but the toppings made it my favourite McFlurry in years.There's plenty of 'burger for your buck'(Image: McDonalds)Despite being billed as a 'Happy Meal', the Minecraft meal is definitely too much for many youngsters to eat on their own. It has nine nuggets rather than the standard four for a Happy Meal, and swaps the cheeseburger option for a Big Mac.Article continues belowDoing so raises the price, with a medium setting you back 8.49. Given the aforementioned plastic toy, larger portions and even in-game items, however, it's still a pretty decent value for anyone curious about Minecraft or wanting to relive those halcyon days.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Only a week to go (TikTok)With only a week to go until the first of the Nintendo Switch 2 live events, fans have spotted that preparations have begun.People were already obsessed with the Nintendo Switch 2 before Nintendo formally announced the thing, but things got even more out of control when details started leaking at the end of 2024.The January reveal only heightened fans excitement and while Nintendo has kept quiet on the specifics, plenty have made educated guesses about the Switch 2s price tag and release date, with June 2025 being the prevailing theory.Some lucky individuals will get to go hands-on with the new console through upcoming live events, which Nintendo is confirmed to have begun setting up, at least in New York.The proof comes from video footage posted to TikTok and then shared on the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit, which is taken from outside the Center415 building, where Nintendo will be holding its New York event.The inside is decorated with Switch 2 branding and there are large wooden crates that may be full of Switch 2 consoles, if not other paraphernalia and equipment thats yet to be set up.This is enough to get some fans excited, if only because its a reminder that the Switch 2 is inching closer to release. Or at least that more official details will emerge once event attendees get their hands on the console.When does the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience take place?As a reminder, the New York event is one of the first to be taking place, alongside an event in Paris, from April 4 to April 6, which is the weekend after the big Switch 2 showcase Nintendo has scheduled.A bunch of these will be taking place worldwide, including one in London from April 11 to April 13. Theyre set to run all the way into June, which lends credence to the idea that the Switch 2 will be out this the summer. Will you be attending the London event? (Nintendo)How to get into the Nintendo Switch 2 ExperienceIf youre wondering how you can attend the event, sadly the answer is that you cant. Not unless youve already been invited. Nintendo is keeping attendance limited, having only offered fans the chance to register for in January. So, only those who were selected will be allowed in.More TrendingHowever, you can add yourself to a waitlist in the event someone cancels, and their ticket becomes available. Some people have tried to sell their tickets on eBay but theres no point spending any money on them since Nintendo states the tickets are non-transferable, meaning youd be denied entry.Before any further Switch 2 reveals, fans have a new Nintendo Direct dedicated to the original Switch to get through. Its airing on Thursday at 2pm GMT.Itll likely to have new info to share for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which is scheduled for a 2025 launch, but other rumours/theories include a Kirby: Planet Robobot remaster and an announcement for the long rumoured re-releases of The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. More Zelda re-releases have been rumoured since 2021 (Nintendo)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

This week, Amazon is celebrating its Big Spring Sale. Right now, there are plenty of great offers with huge discounts all across the website on electronics, homes goods, andmost importantlyportable monitors. If youre someone who works remotely, its good to get out of the house every once in awhile to go get some work done at your local coffee shop. But how do you stay productive with just the singular display of your laptop screen?The answer is to get yourself a portable monitor, doubling your productivity. One of the Prime Spring Deals is for this KYY 15.6 portable monitor on sale right now for 30% off which brings the price down from $99 to just $69.See at AmazonThis 15.6 display makes for a traveling workers perfect companion. Whether youre working in a coffee shop or in a hotel, its helpful to recreate the desktop experience to see more of your work in front of your at once.Youll have no trouble at all setting up this portable monitor. Just plug in your laptop over either one of its two USB-C ports or over the Mini-HDMI port. You can even connect a smartphone, PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch if your so wish.Premium Smart Cover IncludedPerhaps the most important feature of a portable monitor wis how easy it is to travel with it. The monitor has an ultra slim 0.3-inch profile and comes with a scratch-proof smart covermade from a durable PU leather exterior to keep it well protected when you slide it into your bag. The cover doubles as a stand using a frameless magnetic design to keep it upright. You can use the monitor either in landscape or portrait for added versatility, able to use it in whichever way makes the most sense for you.The monitor has two speakers built-in so you can listen to your audio through the monitor directly with no need for any additional accessories. You can choose to plug in headphones or separate speakers via its 3.5mm audio jack if you would prefer.Are you someone who works off of their laptop a lot? Are you someone who travels with their Nintendo Switch but would prefer gaming on a larger display while on the go? Then consider treating yourself to a portable monitor. This one from KYY is currently on sale for 30% off, now at $69 down from $99.See at Amazon

By Matt Novak Published March 27, 2025 | Comments (0) | US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks with the media following meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025 Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Mike Waltz, President Donald Trumps national security advisor, had his Venmo friends list public until Wednesday when the White House was asked about it, according to a new report from Wired. The list included 328 people, including lobbyists, journalists, and members of the military, according to the news outlet. And that kind of information would obviously be tremendously useful for any foreign adversary, a term that may be difficult to define these days as Trump turns Americas longstanding friends into enemies. The news about Waltzs Venmo list comes as the former congressman from Florida has done his best to deflect from another operational security scandal thats blown up this week. Waltz accidentally added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal group chat discussing plans to bomb targets in Yemen. The Trump regime has tried to insist nothing was classified, though the messages were released by Goldberg on Wednesday and seem highly sensitive. And that seems to the running theme for Waltzs short tenure as national security advisor, whether its Signal chats or Venmo friend lists. Politicians can quibble about the technical definition of classified, but even if the Signal chats about Yemen werent strictly falling in that definition (though they probably were), they were sensitive enough that Americas geopolitical enemies would find the data quite useful. Waltzs Venmo list is just like that. Waltzs friends list on Venmo reportedly included some of the most powerful people in the U.S. government right now, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and national security council staffer Walker Barrett, both of whom were members of the Signal group chat about bombing Yemen, which had been dubbed the Houthi PC small group. Wired reports that Wiles also had her friends list public until the outlet reached out to the White House about it; her list included folks like Attorney General Pam Bondi. It doesnt sound like any of Waltzs transactions were public, but the friends list alone could allow any threat actor to develop a social map that would be useful. Waltzs list also included plenty of people who are not public figures, which can help make connections that would be even more valuableanything from shopping patterns to medical concerns.There were also a number of journalists in Waltzs Venmo friends list, according to Wired, including Bret Baier and Brian Kilmeade from Fox News as well as CNN journalists Brianna Keilar and Kristen Holmes. Vice President JD Vance had his Venmo friends list exposed in the summer of 2024, also by Wired; his list included plenty of people who were architects of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 plan to destroy the country. It seems like a solid bet that Waltzs security lapses will continue to pile up, if history is any guide. As just one example of how things could go sideways for the national security advisor, German magazine Der Spiegel reported Wednesday that contact information and passwords for Waltz and other top intelligence officials had also been available online, which could hypothetically be used to target accounts and devices of high-ranking members of the Trump regime. Its not immediately clear how many of the credentials were current or exploitable. But you know countries that wish the U.S. harm are working on it.The U.S. has been taken over by fascist thugs who are destroying old alliances with liberal democracies while cozying up to dictators around the world. Trump has threatened countries like Panama, Greenland, and Canada, insisting that he wants to make Canada the 51st U.S. state. And things arent looking any better domestically, as Trump rounds up valid visa holders for expressing support for Palestinians. Footage emerged on Wednesday of secret police arresting Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student from Turkey, apparently for writing an op-ed against the war in Gaza. Ozturk was kidnapped by masked people in plain clothes and reportedly flown to Louisiana, where shes currently sitting in an ICE detention facility. Things are bound to get much worse before they get better. And completely unqualified clowns like Waltz are going to keep making them worse, even as they pull historically stupid mistakes like inviting journalists into super-secret group chats for planning wars. And leaving their Venmo friends public.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published March 26, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 25, 2025 By Thomas Maxwell Published March 25, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 25, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 25, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published March 24, 2025