Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan said customers told him Intel strayed from their needs and fell behind competitors on innovation.

The stories we almost missed this month Research roundup: 2,400-year-old clay puppets; this is your brain on Klingon Also: testing the efficacy of WWI "dazzle" camouflage; how the male blue-lined octopus survives deadly mating ritual. Jennifer Ouellette Mar 31, 2025 3:49 pm | 12 Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt's a regrettable reality that there is never time to cover all the interesting scientific stories we come across each month. In the past, we've featured year-end roundups of cool science stories we (almost) missed. This year, we're experimenting with a monthly collection of such stories. March's list includes fascinating papers on such topics as how the brain responds to speaking Klingon (or Dothraki, or Navi), the discovery of creepy preclassic Salvadoran puppets, the effectiveness of "dazzle camouflage," and how male blue-lined octopuses manage not to be cannibalized by their chosen mates.Wind Caves rocks fluoresce under black light Several fluorescence measurements of a zebra calcite in Wind Cave were taken using portable spectrometers. Credit: Joshua Sebree South Dakota's Wind Cave gets its name from the flow of air moving continually through its many passages and equalizing the atmospheric pressure between the air inside and outsidealmost like the cave is "breathing." Its rock and mineral formations also boast a unique chemistry that fluoresces when exposed to black light, according to talks presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. That fluorescence could shed light on how life can thrive in extreme environments, including that of Jupiter's moon, Europa.University of Northern Iowa astrobiologist Joshua Sebree and several students have been mapping new areas of Wind Cave (as well as other caves in the US), recording the passages, rock formations, minerals, and lifeforms they encounter in the process. They noticed that under UV light, certain parts of Wind Cave took on otherworldly hues, thanks to different concentrations of organic and inorganic fossilized chemical compounds. Those areas seem to indicate where water once flowed, carrying minerals into the cave from the surface 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, according to their analysis of the fluorescent spectra. Sebree et al. found that Wind Cave was likely carved out by waters rich in manganese, producing zebra stripes that glow pink under UV light, revealing the calcites that grew within as a result of those waters.The physics of swing-top beer bottles Three frames of a high-speed recording after popping a homebrewed bottle of beer. Credit: Max Koch So-called kitchen science is all the rage these days, with champagne, wine, and beer being particularly favorite subjects for experimentation. German physicist Max Koch of the University of Goettingen is as passionate about home brewing as he is about fluid dynamics. So naturally, Koch became fascinated by the distinctive "pop and slosh" sounds produced whenever he opened one of his home-brewed swing-top beer bottles. His experiments used a high-speed camera to capture the acoustics and underlying physics, augmented by audio recording and computer simulations.Rather than producing a single shockwave, Koch and his co-authors discovered that the unique sound occurs because popping the lid produces a vibrating standing wave, thanks to condensation within the bottleneck, according to a paper published in the journal Physics of Fluids. They were surprised to find that the frequency of the pop was significantly lower than the resonance produced by blowing across the open bottle top, which they attributed to the sudden expansion of the carbon dioxide and a strong cooling effect that reduces sound speed. The sloshing is due to the bottle's motion, and it's possible that the lid hitting the glass after popping could produce more bubbles and hence gushing.Physics of Fluids, 2025. DOI: 10.1063/5.0248739 (About DOIs).How effective was WWI dazzle paint? A painting by Norman Wilkinson of a moonlit convoy wearing the dazzle camouflage he invented, 1918. Credit: Public domain During World War I, ships were often painted with complex geometric shapes in contrasting and intersecting colors, dubbed "dazzle camouflage" and usually attributed to British marine artist Norman Wilkinson. The objective was to confuse enemy U-boat captains trying to determine the speed and direction of those ships, and a 1919 study seemed to support that hypothesis. Aston University researchers have revisited that original study and concluded that the horizon effectin which ships viewed from a distance seem to be traveling along the horizonis a more effective means of confusing enemy combatants, according to a paper published in the journal i-Perception.The author of the 1919 study was an MIT marine engineering student named Leo Blodgett, who painted model ships in those geometric patterns and observed them with a model periscope in a mechanical test theater to see if he could determine whether an observer's perception of the direction of travel was markedly different from the actual direction. He concluded that this was indeed the case and therefore dazzle paint was effective.But according to the Aston scientists, Blodgett's experiment did not have a solid control condition to warrant such a conclusion. So they revisited his 105-year-old data and ran their own version of Blodgett's experiment, comparing results from his photographs showing the original dazzle camouflage with versions that had the camouflage patterns edited out. The results: the dazzle camouflage did work via a twist on perspective, but it was a small effect. The horizon effect had a much stronger confounding effect.i-Perception, 2025. DOI: 10.1177/20416695241312316 (About DOIs).Early Salvadoran clay puppets These Bolinas figures were found in a Salvadoran pyramid. Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Archaeologists excavating the San Isidro pyramid in El Salvador have discovered five carved clay figurines dating back to around 400 BCE that may have been controlled with string like modern marionettes. Such "Bolinas" figures have also been found at a Mayan burial site in Guatemala, suggesting the two areas may have shared culture and civilization, according to a paper published in the journal Antiquity.Three of the puppets were about a foot tall, with the other two measuring about 18 centimeters. The larger ones had adjustable heads connected to their bodies via matching sockets. The carved faces feature tongues, tattoos, and facial expressions that shift depending on the viewing angle: fearful when viewed from below and grinning from above, for example. The authors suggest that these puppets weren't used as toys, but as "clay actors" in ritualistic funeral performances. "The universal impetus for creating scaled-down humanoid figures appears to be mimeticthat is, imbuing these handheld objects with deeper meanings that are readily decoded by the intended audience," they concluded, although the shared cultural "code" for interpreting those meanings has been lost.Antiquity, 2025. DOI:10.15184/aqy.2025.37 (About DOIs).This is your brain on Esperanto and Klingon Worf, son of Mogh, is surprised by new fMRI study. Credit: Paramount+ J.R.R. Tolkien invented two Elvish languages (Quenya and Sindarin) when writing The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Star Trek has Klingon, the Avatar films have Na'vi, and Game of Thrones boasts two constructed languages, or conlangs: Dothraki and High Valyrian. There are even hardcore fans who have diligently become proficient in those invented languages. And apparently conlangs activate the same parts of the brain as their native tongues, according to a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.MIT neuroscientist Evelina Fedorenko previously spearheaded studies on how the brain responds to stimuli that share certain language featuresmusic, gestures, facial expressions, and computer programming languages like Python. None seemed to engage the language-processing areas of the brain. Curious about what makes natural language unique, Fedorenko et al. turned to conlangs. They organized a weekend conference featuring conlang creators as speakers and invited people fluent in Esperanto, Klingon, Na'vi, Dothraki, and High Valyrian to participate. They scanned 44 conlang speakers with fMRI as they listened to sentences in both their chosen conlang and their native tongue, performing nonlinguistic tasks as a control.The results: The same language regions lit up regardless of whether they were speaking in their chosen conlang or native natural language. This helped the group determine that language responses appear to be driven in part by how they convey meaning about the interior and exterior worldobjects, properties of objects, events, etc. Python, by contrast, is highly symbolic and abstract, disconnected from the everyday "real" world we experience. The group next plans to study how the brain responds to a different conlang called Lojban, created in the 1990s, to learn more about which language features activate the brain's language centers.PNAS, 2025. DOI:10.1073/pnas.2313473122 (About DOIs).Venom as a protective strategy for male octopuses Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during sex to avoid being eaten. Credit: Wen-Sung Chung/University of Queensland Sexual cannibalismin which a female of the species consumes the male after copulatingis a very real thing in nature, seen in insect species like mantises and spiders, certain crustaceans and gastropods, and even certain species of octopus. Case in point: the blue-lined octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata), a tiny creature found in shallow waters whose venom can be quite deadly, especially to humans. The females of the species might be the size of golf balls, but they are nonetheless significantly larger than the males and have a tendency to eat their mates.Fortunately, the males have developed an effective defense strategy, according to a paper published in the journal Current Biology: They inject their chosen females with tetrodotoxin (a venom also produced by pufferfish) just before mating, temporarily paralyzing the females so the males can avoid being eaten. Scientists at the University of Queensland studied the behavior of mating blue-lined octopuses in the lab and noticed that males would bite the females near the aorta as the mating ritual commenced, flooding their systems with the venom.This immobilized the females for the duration of the mating sessions (which lasted between 40 and 75 minutes); they largely stopped breathing, turned pale, and did not respond to visual stimuli during that time. The males actually increased their respiration rate as they used a specialized mating arm to deposit their sperm into the females' oviducts to fertilize the eggs. The effects of the venom eventually wore off sufficiently for the females to push the males away without suffering any permanent effects. The authors suggest that female blue-lined octopuses may have evolved a tolerance to tetrodotoxin, ensuring they survive to lay their eggs and propagate the species.Current Biology, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.027 (About DOIs).Rubber hand illusion alleviates pain A rubber hand is perceived as part of your own body when you can't see your own. Credit: Damian Gorczany One of the many strange things to come out of 21st-century neuroscience is the so-called rubber hand illusion, in which a subjects hand is hidden and replaced by a rubber hand in the position where the real hand would be. When both the real and fake hands are stroked simultaneously, subjects respond as if the rubber hand were part of their body. Threaten the rubber hand by attempting to stab it with a dagger, for instance, and the participants exhibit an involuntary startle or fear response. Its the combination of visual and tactile feedback that does it, and it only takes a few seconds for the illusion to kick in. And it's not a purely psychological effect; there have been measurable physiological responses as well.Scientists in Bochum, Germany, have now shown that the rubber hand illusion can also alleviate pain, according to a paper published in the journal Pain Reports. They recruited 34 right-handed subjects, evaluated their individual pain thresholds, then placed the subjects' left hands behind a screen. A left rubber hand was placed in front of the subjects, which could be lit from below with red light. Then heat was applied at different temperatures to the hidden hand, while red light increased on the visible rubber hand. Subjects were asked to rate their pain in response.The results: subjects' perception of pain decreased noticeably when the rubber hand illusion was used, compared to control conditions. The authors don't yet know what the underlying mechanism might be but suggest it could be related to visual analgesia, in which pain is considered less intense if someone can see the part of the body that is being hurt.Pain Reports, 2025. DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001252 (About DOIs).Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 12 Comments

Vapes are so hot right now Lithium-ion battery waste fires are increasing, and vapes are a big part of it Tiny batteries and "disposable" e-cigs remain big risks for waste handlers. Kevin Purdy Mar 31, 2025 3:23 pm | 50 Fire Rover's automated suppression system soaks the area around a lithium-ion battery fire on a crowded tipping floor at a recycling and waste facility. Credit: Fire Rover/YouTube Fire Rover's automated suppression system soaks the area around a lithium-ion battery fire on a crowded tipping floor at a recycling and waste facility. Credit: Fire Rover/YouTube Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn more2024 was "a year of growth," according to fire-suppression company Fire Rover, but that's not an entirely good thing.The company, which offers fire detection and suppression systems based on thermal and optical imaging, smoke analytics, and human verification, releases annual reports on waste and recycling facility fires in the US and Canada to select industry and media. In 2024, Fire Rover, based on its fire identifications, saw 2,910 incidents, a 60 percent increase from the 1,809 in 2023, and more than double the 1,409 fires confirmed in 2022.Publicly reported fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities also hit 398, a new high since Fire Rover began compiling its report eight years ago, when that number was closer to 275.Lots of things could cause fires in the waste stream, long before lithium-ion batteries became common: "Fireworks, pool chemicals, hot (barbecue) briquettes," writes Ryan Fogelman, CEO of Fire Rover, in an email to Ars. But lithium-ion batteries pose a growing problem, as the number of devices with batteries increases, consumer education and disposal choices remain limited, and batteries remain a very easy-to-miss, troublesome occupant of the waste stream.All batteries that make it into waste streams are potentially hazardous, as they have so many ways of being set off: puncturing, vibration, overheating, short-circuiting, crushing, internal cell failure, overcharging, or inherent manufacturing flaws, among others. Fire Rover's report notes that the media often portrays batteries as "spontaneously" catching fire. In reality, the very nature of waste handling makes it almost impossible to ensure that no battery will face hazards in handling, the report notes. Tiny batteries can be packed into the most disposable of itemseven paper marketing materials handed out at conferences.Fogelman estimates, based on his experience and some assumptions, that about half of the fires he's tracking originate with batteries. Roughly $2.5 billion of loss to facilities and infrastructure came from fires last year, divided between traditional hazards and batteries, he writes.Ars previously covered a likely lithium-ion caused fire in a suburban Chicago truck that spread to the truck's compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks, causing an explosion that injured firefighters and damaged nearby homes. Fire Rover also adds a February 2025 fire in a Camden, New Jersey, scrapyard, caused by a battery "wrongly delivered to EMR and undetectably concealed within scrap metal," according to the company, requiring more than 15 fire companies' response and damaging the site and putting nearby residents out of their homes.The vape effectBatteries as a whole are a growing concern, but there's a reason Fire Rover's report has an image of an exploding electronic vape pen on its cover, with the superimposed message "We are at war 2024." Fogelman sees a notable shift in publicly reported fire datanot from Fire Rover's own detection, but from news and other reports and sourcesfrom the 20162021 period to 20222024. Something is causing this shift, and Fogelman's most likely culprit is e-cigarettes, vapes, and other battery-powered nicotine devices.But that safe, evenly distributed vape disposal network does not exist. As previously noted, you can make a rather powerful e-bike from the vapes left behind at a festival in the UK. In the US, the EPA directs people to bring their e-cigarettes to household hazardous waste (HHW) sites or pick-up events, which are "typically" free."Not only are their batteries being improperly discarded in waste and recycling bins, but the vape industry has done the bare minimum to invest in the technology needed to address the 1.2 billion vapes entering our waste and recycling streams annually," the report states.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 50 Comments

Jennifer McGuire gifted herself with a solo road trip for her 50th birthday. Jennifer McGuire 2025-04-01T00:14:01Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Jennifer McGuire, a single mom, gifted herself with a 21-day solo road trip for her 50th birthday.She drove through New England to visit places from the books and movies that shaped her childhood.With four sons in their 20s, the trip felt like a gentle push to become her own person again.To celebrate my 50th birthday, my four sons now, all in their 20s threw me a beach picnic party with friends, music, and a bonfire. It was the perfect party for who I am now. A few months later, in early October last year, I set off on my first solo road trip. It was a birthday gift to me. Unlike the party, this road trip was for someone else not for me as a mom, but for the different versions of my younger self along the way.The first thing I packed was my portable fan. I've always loved a fan but began relying on it more desperately after I became a single mom. I sleep with it on, as the sound helps anchor my brain. The second was pillows. This was to bring along the comforting scent of home. I had a car all to myself for three whole weeks, so there was space to make myself comfortable throughout the journey. More space than I had ever had in a car. More space than I had ever had in my own head.Revisiting the past along the wayThe plan for my 21-day trip was to drive from my hometown outside Toronto and head south across the border. I planned out stops across Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts to places I had never seen in real life but, as the narrative settings for some of my favorite books and movies, had shaped me nonetheless. They were, in a way, home to the girl I was before. Before kids, before marriage, before life made decisions for me. "Little Women" was set in Concord, Massachusetts. It's a book I have read about 10 times. I credit it for making me want to be a good friend, a good writer, and even a good mother. Martha's Vineyard, about 100 miles southeast of Concord, was, for me the land of "Jaws" the first movie I saw in the theater at just 3 years old. A movie I return to again and again. Maine was the setting for many of Stephen King's horror stories including "It," "Carrie," "Salem's Lot," plus, my personal favorite, "Needful Things." The books I kept under my bed as a preteen, reading through sleepless nights when my body was shifting and growing, and I was becoming something entirely new. Another me. The author visited Martha's Vineyard, where the movie "Jaws" was primarily filmed. Jennifer McGuire Over the years, I have evolved into many different types of women.And so, my goal for this trip was to visit each of them again. Most importantly, I wanted to revisit my pre-mom self. I had my first son when I was 21, my fourth when I was 28, and I was on my own with all four by 30. I was never an adult without being a mom, never alone in a car for longer than an hour. I never stopped to pee unless at least two others also needed to pee. I didn't get off the highway to explore. My life had been focused on the logistics of parenting.On my first morning drive, I let it in. The solitude, the choices I got to make for just me. I listened to the Spotify playlist from one of my sons titled "Good Country," songs by John Prine and Orville Peck, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline. Each of my boys curated their own playlist. They included songs from our life together and new music they knew I would like. It felt like a gentle push to become my own person again. Focusing on myselfAround day 10 of the trip, I settled into becoming me again. The sun was coming up, the fall leaves were at their brightest. I pulled off the highway and found a diner for breakfast. I took an entire hour to eat, drunk with the decadence of no schedule and a day full of my own time.This was the rhythm I discovered on my road trip. I drove on my days off and stopped when I had to work. A run-down hotel in Cape Cod gave me a discount for a waterfront room in the offseason, and here I walked on the deserted beach, drank coffee in my room, and wrote. I liked the solidity of working from the road. Sometimes, I stayed in an Airbnb, and sometimes, I splashed out a little on a fancy hotel room with nice towels. I liked lunch on the road and dinner sitting alongside interesting people at a bar. I met a woman in Concord who bought me a martini and told me to go to Sleepy Hollow cemetery to visit all the "good graves." Two men in Maine became friends and invited me to their house for brunch. I spent time with a local fisherman and his girlfriend in Martha's Vineyard. We ate potato skins, drank a beer, and talked about "Jaws" after a long day of my own personal location scouting. They told me that the bar was owned by a "Jaws" cast member, the boy who was eaten. I was introduced to extras from the movie, heard local lore, and a few good jokesI slept so happily that night. Alone but not lonely, not hobbled by silence. I almost didn't need my fan. Do you have a story about celebrating milestone birthdays? Contact this editor at akarplus@businessinsider.com.Recommended video

Sam Altman says OpenAI will roll out its first open-weight AI model in years Axel Schmidt/REUTERS 2025-03-31T23:08:14Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? OpenAI's CEO said it will release its first open-weight AI model since GPT-2, CEO Sam Altman said.The open-weight model strikes a middle ground between open-source and proprietary systems.On the same day, the company announced it raised $40 billion, including $30 billion from SoftBank.OpenAI is preparing to roll out its first open-weight language model with advanced reasoning capabilities since releasing GPT-2 in 2019, CEO Sam Altman announced on Monday."We've been thinking about this for a long time but other priorities took precedence," Altman said in a post on X. "Now it feels important to do.""We still have some decisions to make, so we are hosting developer events to gather feedback and later play with early prototypes," he added.OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comments and more details.Open-weight AI models offer a middle ground between open-source and proprietary systems by sharing only the pre-trained parameters of a neural network while keeping critical development details under wraps. This means developers can use the model for inference and fine-tuning, but they won't have access to the training code, original dataset, or specifics on the model's architecture and methodology.In February, during a Reddit AMA session, Altman said that OpenAI has been "on the wrong side of history" regarding open source and noted that while not everyone at OpenAI shares this perspective, internal discussions are ongoing. The company has generally favored a proprietary, closed-source development approach in the past.In the same Reddit session, Kevin Weil, OpenAI's chief product officer, also said that OpenAI is considering open-sourcing older models that are no longer state-of-the-art.OpenAI has previously said that DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that has rapidly gained attention with its AI model, R1, has misappropriated its technology through a process known as "distillation," where a smaller AI model learns from a larger one. In contrast to OpenAI's models, DeepSeek is entirely open-source and shows its full chain of thought.OpenAI has recently releasedGPT-4.5, known as "Orion," on February 27 and plans to launch GPT-5 in May. The AI giant is also involved in the Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative to build data centers announced by President Donald Trump.The company announced on Monday that it had closed the largest private tech funding round on record, including $30 billion from SoftBank and $10 billion from other investors, bringing the company's valuation to $300 billion with the new capital.Recommended video

It looks like the rumours were true (Asus/Microsoft)Rumours about an Xbox portable console made by a third party company appear to have come true, with a peculiar new teaser trailer from Asus.Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld console for a long time now but its never been clear exactly what theyre planning, with a recent rumour suggesting they have two devices underway: one a next gen console and the other a team-up with a third party, to be released this year.Who that partner might be was never named, but likely suspects included Lenovo, MSI, Razer, and Asus. And now it seems as if the latter is the one Microsoft has chosen to work with.The apparent confirmation comes from a new trailer from Asus, that shows the existing Asus ROG Ally and an Xbox controller being combined together into what is implied to be a new piece of hardware.The resulting console is not properly shown but the implication seems obvious, especially after Xbox replied to Asus tweet of the video with the side-eye monkey meme.None of this would make much sense without the previous rumour but now it seems very clear whats going on, with a 2025 launch suddenly seeming very likely.The Xbox portable is supposedly codenamed Project Kennan but its unclear how much it will differ from the existing ROG Ally or if, as seems likely, it will be a variant of the upcoming ROG Ally 2.Since the console is meant largely as an interim release, before the Microsoft-manufactured next gen device, it may be that its simple an existing Asus model with Xbox branding on it.More TrendingAlthough Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld for a while now, with Xbox boss Phil Spencer having frequently talked about how much he admires Steam Deck and similar hardware, a recent report revealed that none of them have seen any true mainstream success.The whole category of gaming portable has only sold a few million worldwide and putting this new Xbox-branded console up against the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is certainly a choice. Especially as even just the current model of ROG Ally costs around 570.However, It seems likely that Microsoft wants to establish itself in the handheld space before the Switch 2 completely takes over, so that by the time the next gen Xbox is ready they already have some experience in the market.Whether thats going to work out and how much effort will be made to promote the device this year is currently unknown, but it certainly implies a full reveal is likely to happen this summer at the latest. Is it just going to be an Xbox branded ROG Ally? (Asus)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

Trailer 2 could be a long time coming (Rockstar Games)The Tuesday letters page has 10 predictions for the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, as one reader is doubtful the Star Wars strategy game will be a hit.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukTrailer policyI guess Im glad to hear that the second trailer for GTA 6 is being purposefully kept back, rather than being a sign of a delay, but I cant pretend that I dont find it all a bit annoying. I know itll all be forgotten about the instant the game, or even just the trailer, is released but Im not sure I like this new idea of announcing a game and then waiting a year or more to get any details.Sony is doing it a lot lately, with Wolverine, Intergalactic, and Ghost of Ytei and I dont like it there either. Either announce the game early and give us constant updates or announce it close to its release date. Doing it half and half just feels like the worst of both worlds.If Rockstar is doing it though everyones going to copy it, because obvious GTA 6 is going to be huge and theres no way to prove the trailer policy didnt hurt it. My guess, based on these new comments, is that Trailer 2 wont happen till late summer at the very earliest. Im not happy about it, but it is what it is.DulacAcceptable AIJust have to give a bit of a positivity for one bit of AI in gaming. After last weeks update to Gran Turismo and the introduction of Sophy 2.1 to custom races I have to say it really is quite amazing. One thing to note is you have to set the Boost setting in the race to Weak, not Off, to get it to work but when you do it really is some of the closest and competitive racing I have had in a game ever.I would say this is likely going to take over me doing the daily races online, as it gives you that real competitive racing without the idiots! Certainly worth checking it out if you havent!SaintsStickman (PSN ID)GC: Interesting, but then we dont think anyone would object to using AI for something like that.Miracle workersOn the subject of the Metroid Prime 4 graphics, as nice as they looked Id be flabbergasted if it was running on anything other than the Switch. Pertinently, Digital Foundry just did a video on the Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch port and were remarking on how the Wii U original looked much better than pretty much every other open world game of that era, due to smart art direction and design.I think thats the case here good design, rather than fancy technology since the world looks great but I didnt see anything in terms of lighting, textures or particle effects that looked beyond the Switch (which lets not forget, has a lovely Doom Eternal port).It really shows the benefit of fixed hardware, as developers can make compromises where they need to and get a game looking and running as well as it can. Regardless, I think people will be impressed with a PlayStation 4-ish level Nintendo handheld, as Im sure theyll work wonders.MagnumstacheEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukCant beat emAfter watching last weeks Nintendo Direct (and eagerly awaiting this weeks to find out more on the Switch 2), the game that grabbed my attention was Marvel Cosmic Invasion.I love its art style and the idea of playing as one of 15 different, and niche in some instances, heroes but am wondering whether itll retain my interest. I remember loving Streets Of Rage and the X-Men and The Simpsons arcade games when I was younger but wouldve often been playing these in co-op, which I dont get a chance to do anymore.I re-read GCs reviews of Streets Of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge to remind myself of the calibre of these games, having not played them myself, and noted the concern around their replayability and maybe general sense of fun when playing them solo. Have any readers played either of these games solo and would recommend doing so?Obviously, Marvel Cosmic Invasion might be a different story when its released, and Ill be reading GCs review of it before making any decisions, but I thought Id look into testing the waters with Dotemus recent beat em-up hits ahead of this.HubertGC: Its a good point, as while we love seeing all these faux retro beat em-up it is frustrating that none of them make any attempt to do anything new. Shredders Revenge was particularly disappointing in this respect, as it looked amazing but was shallow and repetitive even by the standards of the genre. Streets Of Rage 4 is the best of the recent games but theres still more it couldve done.Out of stepHaving read the piece by Tom Meadows, Ive come to the conclusion that he is overexaggerating.Yes, some of Sonys IP is going to PC and Switch, but we are talking at least 12 months after onto PC and the Switch is getting some of the niche, dormant franchises from years gone by. Patapon and Everybodys Golf are hardly AAA system sellers, are they?I think Sony is taking the right approach, bring some games to other formats that suit the format in question, be it Switch or PC (I cant see them releasing anything on Xbox) and keep your AAA games for the PlayStation 5 and eventually PC.Thats if Sony actually want do release any first party games for me this gen has been a massive step down on the PlayStation 4 for output and quality.That focus on online games has really hurt them.StewWBA1980 (gamertag/PSN ID)Switch to strategyVery happy to think the new Star Wars game will be an XCOM clone, even if Im kind of surprised, because there doesnt seem much chance itll be a hit. Not because its not good but because none of these tactics games that I like ever seem to do well.Turn-based strategies are relatively popular with indie devs, which is where I get my usual fix, but I really wish XCOM 2 had been the mega hit it deserved to be. I guess its obvious why it wasnt complicated, thoughtful, no action but its such a good game.Weve already had a Marvel strategy game (by the XCOM team) be a flop and now were probably headed for the same with Star Wars, so if they cant make it work then what hope have we?Im pinning the last chance of strategy games going mainstream on the Switch 2 and its new mouse controls. Who knows what madness Nintendo is planning with that, but it seems impossible it wont involve at least some strategy games.If they make them a hit and people start copying them then maybe things will be looking up and strategy games will be getting bigger budgets and then, finally, XCOM 3.HalifaxSeparate worldsNow you mention it, it is odd that movies never have a game coming out close to them, for a bit of cross-promotion. The Last Of Us Part 1 was probably one of the closest and that was whatever.I am interested to see what will happen with Borderlands 4 though. I actually dont think the film being a flop and a laughing stock will affect its popularity. I think the reason theres never a tie-in game is because people just dont see games and movies as having any real connection, even when theyre adaptations. Im sure it doesnt help but I doubt its going to kill the franchise or anything.Gordon10 Nintendo Switch 2 predictionsBy synthesising console and handheld, Nintendo went horizontal with the original Switch. With the Switch 2 they appear to be going vertical, by fully leaning into the Apple business model.After the virtual cartridge reveal, which may have been the main incentive for the oddly timed Direct last week, my wager is that theyll make a big thing of cross-generation compatibility at the imminent Switch 2 Direct.This makes complete sense. With a huge userbase established with the Switch 1, theyll be keen to build an ecosystem that locks punters in the Apple way through each new console iteration. Through the virtual cartridge their peerless and massive back catalogue will help ensure sales for each new console remain robust. My suspicion is that, assuming the Switch 2 is successful, theyll be far more conservative than in the past.Each new console, Switch 3, 4, etc. or whatever will stick with the form factor, with additional novelty control mechanics. Thisll also help them dominate the market when eventually, through high-speed internet connections, games can be played without consoles, essentially through a subscription service.The rumour, then, that the Switch 2 will be able to play Wii U games seems entirely plausible. So, if Im right that theyll make a big thing of cross-generational gaming, I offer the following predications for the Switch 2 event.Confirmation that Wii U games can be played via the virtual console, maybe even showcasing asymmetrical gameplay on one game. The Wii U virtual console will not be available at launch though.Revealing a Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2-only iteration, providing a comparison to the Switch 1 version to showcase the systems power. Itll confirm that the footage was for the Switch 1, making the upgrade, which will be a notable improvement, more impressive. (Another reason for the Direct last week.)Showing how a game such as Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is boosted on the Switch 2.Reveal of a virtual GameCube console with the beloved F-Zero GX available at launch, to entice hardcore early adopters and prepare for an eventual new entry in the series.Mario Kart 9 will be shown but will not be a launch title. This would be consistent with the timing of previous iterations, as early adopters will buy the console regardless. Itd be the perfect holiday release, able to withstand the GTA 6 onslaught, given that the gameplay is radically different that aims at a different market and, more so than Super Mario, is a system seller. A reimagined Splatoon 4 will also launch during the holiday period. Itll cater to the Japanese market, selling in large quantities regardless of GTA 6.Super Mario Universe will be the big launch game and highlight reveal. Itll be a celebration of the entire back catalogue, either through Throwback Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy 2) style Easter eggs or a fully integrated experience wherein Mario Kart style beloved levels from every iteration will be redesigned from the ground up to work seamlessly with the control mechanism, with many 2D levels from the past now in 3D. Youll also be able to play as Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Captain Toad on particular levels (theyll work as a team to defeat Bowser at the end). In fact, therell be 3D levels of the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., with Bowser the adversary. Thisll be consistent with rumours of a Donkey Kong game.A Switch 2-only Metroid Prime 4 will also launch with the system.Therell be one other launch title from Nintendo, a new franchise that makes use of the mouse control but not a throwaway title like 1-2-Switch.Animal Crossing and either a remake of Zelda: A Link To The Past (in 3D) or Ocarina Of Time will both launch in early 2026, with an outside chance that one of the Zeldas will feature in the Direct. Animal Crossing wont.Therell be one major reveal and launch title from a third party publisher and a Switch 2 version of something like Elden Ring, again a launch title.Okay, so there are my predictions, all of which will probably be hopelessly off the mark.CiaraInbox also-ransI can honestly say I have never heard of Tomodachi Life ever, in my life. I dont feel Ive been missing out.CurlyI would so love Square Enix to do a trilogy remake of Final Fantasy 6, but Im afraid that theyll lose the enthusiasm for remakes once all of 7 is finished.PolarRoloMore 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

In a conversation with the Discourse Podcast from the Playlist, Tom Hardy looked back on his journey as Venom and revealed that the world very nearly got a Sony cross-over between his bumbling violent anti-hero and the heroic web-slinger. The process to bring Tom Hollands Spider-Man into Venoms world got as close as I could possibly imagine getting, according to Hardy. In fact, it couldnt have gotten any closer apart from doing a film together, Hardy explained, which I would have loved to have done because that just means so much fun. Ultimately, of course, Hardys Venom never did meet Hollands Spidey. The Discourse Podcast host, Mike DeAngelo, speculated it could have come down to studio politics; without fully conceding, Hardy affirmed carefully to the suggestions, for all the reasons that you explained ultimately in there. What got Hardy excited to make the cross-over happen was simple: Fundamentally, for me, it would be for the kids, he said. Because, you know, as much as adults love superhero films, as you can tell by the box office when theyre successful, I think Im constantly reminded by children how important these characters are. And they dont know why their favorite characters arent in films together, he said, adding that in the end he was just happy to have made his Venom movies. We were given a set of boundaries, and we were just really privileged to be able to play with a much-beloved IP like Venom in a way that we were allowed to play. As for the modest success in Venoms global reception, Hardy said it was all he could ask for. We did what we could and what we loved doing. We poured all of ourselves into it within the limits of what we were allowed to do with him, Hardy reflected. And so the enjoyment of the work outweighed the limits of our possibilities with him because we just focused on what we were allowed to do. And we loved doing it. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

The advent of streaming wars has built a physical media scarcity in a very specific medium: animation. One of the headaches of Disney+ is having to sit through copious credits from all over the world between episodes of Bluey, and then having to deal with the background ambient binge of episodes stopping abruptly. Then theres the matter of trying to restart the cycle-through of episodes when it just pops you back to the main series menu. And no, watching Disneys live cartoon stream so it can push other shows among Bluey episodes doesnt cut it. Its why I found myself going out and just buying season one and two on DVD. In the baby trenches, having something on in the background while feeding and nurturing a growing tiny human has been super important. After getting tired of the constant Are you still watching? messages, we switched over to live channels including PlutoTV. Quickly my kids attention was grabbed by Strawberry Shortcake on the free platform, and not being a part of that fandom I was excited to dive in with her. The ease of watching it on live television like we had growing up and carving out times to show it to her while feeding or to have her watch something with cute music and colors was so effortlessly freeing. It made us want to go out and buy the Y2K years of Strawberry Shortcake shows on physical media to add to her library and hunt down pop culture kids clothes from that era on resale sites like Depop. And thats when the scarcity struck yet again! Sure, you can find specials with episode bundles through re-sellers and limited online supply at retailers. But its once again adding more work, when before you could just go into Best Buy or Target and easily get your hands on the what you wanted. Whats even more surprising is that Strawberry Shortcake and her bitty world of magical friends and sentient fruit creatures is currently hugely popular. During PlutoTVs recent battle of fandoms bracket that included a pretty solid line-up of 16 free-to-watch shows from all television mediums, Strawberry Shortcake beat out Big Brother on probably the most accessible live streaming platform. And I cant go into the store and buy the season? Thats so weird. Even with the growth in production of animationwhich we saw get more interest during 2020 for entertainment thats been released sinceits still strange to see animated properties, even popular ones like Bluey, we only see DVD releases. There is the possibility that the Blu-ray format could deteriorate the animation coloring by pushing the presentation too much, and that studios see it as too costly to honor preservation of the art form. The intricacies of printing DVDs has recently hit the news with reports that disc rot is a very real thing. But the most recent culprit? Warner Bros. As the Verge has reported, WB Home Entertainment did make DVDs that were found to be deteriorating, and that its now replacing or offering titles of equal value in exchange for out of print movies. DVDs are supposed to last 100 years if taken care of, according to Ars Technica. But of course it had to be Warner Bros. specifically for certain DVDs released from 2006-2008. Then theres scarcity when it comes to a platform like Max, where Looney Tunes, another iconic cartoon, constantly gets pulled from the library in favor of adding more crappy reality shows to the streamer. The Looney Tunes cartoons have had a long history of being available in physical formats; years of the Golden Collection were made available on DVD as part of a six-case set individually sold to build your library over the years. The first Blu-rays were released as the Platinum Collection from 2011 to 2014; after that came the Collectors Choice re-issues, which ended last year. This year the vault (physical medias favorite word for gatekeeping, thanks Disney) box set is to be released this June. This scarcity is beginning to feel created in merchandise and physical releases all around.At least Looney Tunes is one of the few animated franchises to get Blu-ray releases like this, alongside the likes of The Simpsons, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty. But for the most part those shows are for adult audiences, and their releases in the format likewise are to serve that particular audience. Kids-focused media, classic or otherwise, still has a much more prevalent home on DVDa format that, while similarly prevalent, is increasingly playing second fiddle to the blu-ray standard. Companies have known for years at this point the lucrative power of nostalgia. But it shouldnt take the exploitative nature of nostalgic resurgences to get them to capitalize on re-emergent fandoms. Access to the classics (and the not-so-classics) on the best quality physical media shouldnt just be for the purview of premium collecting, but to maintain accessibility to these shows and these stories for generations to come in the best way possible. At least for now I can satisfy my daughters Strawberry Shortcake fix on a streamer that appreciates it. But as weve so often seen: just how long will that be the case? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

AUM Cabins / Arthur Kariev ArchitectsSave this picture! Ilya IvanovArchitects: Arthur Kariev ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:75 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2025 PhotographsPhotographs:Ilya Ivanov Lead Architects: Arthur Kariev, Gulnara Mukasheva More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The cabins are located 1,650 metres above sea level, just outside the Ile Alatau National Park, 25 kilometres south of Almaty, on the northern slope of Trans-Ili Alatau in Kazakhstan. The client's family decided to build two guest cabins for their friends in order to showcase the magnificent highland landscapes of the Kazakh Tien Shan. The idea behind the project was to create a warm and welcoming place while safeguarding nature.Today, global trends celebrate high-end comforts, but this Central Asian land preserves ancient nomadic traditions. The clients and the architect, Arthur Kariev, believe that for the modern urban dweller, true luxury lies in creating an opportunity to enjoy nature without disturbing the ecosystem, retrace one's roots in everyday life, and spend quality time with the near and dear ones.Save this picture!The selection of exterior material was paramount. The faades are lined with old larchwood found in East Kazakhstan, in the Altai Mountains, which are associated with the legendary Shambhala, entered supposedly near Belukha Mountain. The planks come from old, dilapidated houses. The designer and the client together collected the timber in order to clean the sacred lands and give new life to heritage materials.Save this picture!Save this picture!The architect selected each plank personally, having spent two summers in the Altai Mountains. He picked mostly roof timber as its texture is more distinctive, encapsulating all manner of traces left by time, moss, and mold over a century. The sundry planks were transported across the country to their new location, complete with their old nails, then sorted and installed on faades.Save this picture!Save this picture!The cabins themselves are made of timber-framed SIP panels on metal piles. This way, their construction did not require deep foundations and other aggressive interventions. In the future, the buildings can be dismantled, and the materials reused.An access track was built for the cabins, and communications were installed underground in order to protect the original natural landscape. Clear water is drawn from a nearby spring well. There are water heaters inside, so the guests can take a hot shower after their hikes.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The two cabins have different layouts and play different roles. The first one has two separate bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows facing east that share a small bathroom. The second one features a kitchenette, a living room with a library, and an airy bathroom with stunning views of the west-side mountainscape.The living room revolves around a wood-burning metal stove surrounded by textured emerald and dark-blue tiles. The guests can gather around the fireplace, enjoying their chiny bowls of herbal tea while sitting down on the syrmaq, a traditional felt carpet with ethnic patterns. Both the tiles and the carpet are handmade by local craftsmen.Save this picture!The interior blends traditional nomadic lifestyle with modern amenities: it is airy, flexible, austere, eco-friendly, and functional. The rooms, except the bathrooms, are finished with unpainted plywood with water- and fireproof treatment. There are no decorations or strict rules: the owners can make themselves at home in any way they choose by adding their personal treasures.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on March 31, 2025Cite: "AUM Cabins / Arthur Kariev Architects" 31 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028526/aum-cabins-arthur-kariev-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream