Reinforcement Learning: A Guide to Building Smarter Chatbots4 min readJust now--Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a type of machine learning where an agent learns to make the best decisions by interacting with its environment. This article explains RL step by step, discusses its advantages and challenges, describes its system architecture and flow, and shows a practical example in chatbot development. At the end, youll also find an explanation in very simple baby language for quick understanding.1. What Is Reinforcement Learning?Reinforcement Learning is all about learning by doing. Instead of being told what the right answer is, an RL agent learns by trying different actions and receiving rewards or penalties. The goal is to maximize the total reward over time.Key Idea:The agent explores the environment.It receives feedback (reward or punishment).It updates its strategy (policy) to perform better in the future.2. Pros and Cons of Reinforcement LearningProsAdaptive Learning: The agent learns and adjusts based on experiences.Autonomy: Once trained, the system can work on its own.Innovative Solutions: RL can sometimes find new strategies that are not obvious to human designers.Scalable: Suitable for both small tasks and complex problems like robotics or finance.ConsData Intensive: Requires many trials and interactions to learn effectively.Stability Issues: Learning can be unstable, needing careful tuning.Generalization Limits: An agent might perform well in one setting but struggle in new or varied environments.Exploration vs. Exploitation: Finding the right balance between trying new actions and using known successful ones is challenging.3. Architecture of a Reinforcement Learning SystemAn RL system usually consists of the following components:Agent: The decision-maker that interacts with the environment.Environment: The world or system the agent interacts with (e.g., a chatbot service).State: The current situation or context the agent is in.Action: The decisions or moves the agent can take.Reward Signal: Feedback provided by the environment after an action.Policy: A strategy that maps states to actions.Value Function: A measure of how good a particular state or action is over time.4. The Flow of Reinforcement LearningThe process typically follows these steps:Initialization: The agent starts with an initial, often random, strategy.Observation: It observes the current state of the environment.Action Selection: It picks an action based on its current policy.Feedback: The environment responds with a new state and a reward.Learning: The agent adjusts its policy based on the reward.Iteration: This cycle repeats until the agents strategy becomes optimal.5. Real-World Example: Building a ChatbotImagine you are building a chatbot to provide academic information at a university. Heres how RL can be applied:Step-by-Step Chatbot ExampleDefine the Environment:The chatbot interacts with students who ask questions.The environment consists of the database of academic procedures (e.g., how to apply for a scholarship or register for classes).Set Up the Agent:The agent (chatbot) starts with a basic set of responses.It uses an RL algorithm (e.g., Q-learning or a Deep Q-Network) to improve over time.2. Initial Interaction:When a student asks a question, the chatbot selects an answer based on its current policy.For example, if a student asks, How do I apply for a scholarship? the chatbot gives its best guess3. Receive Feedback:If the student finds the answer helpful, the chatbot receives a positive reward.If the answer is not helpful, a negative reward is given.4. Policy Update:The chatbot uses this reward information to adjust its strategy.Over time, it learns to provide more accurate and helpful responses.5. Continuous Improvement:With each interaction, the chatbot refines its responses, leading to a better user experience and more effective academic information delivery.6. Explanation in Baby LanguageImagine you have a little robot friend who learns by playing a game.Robot Friend: This is like our RL agent.Playground: The playground is the environment where the robot plays.Try and Learn: Every time the robot tries a new move (action), someone claps (reward) if its good, or shakes their head (punishment) if its not.Getting Better: The robot listens to the claps and head shakes. Soon, it learns which moves make people clap a lot!Chatbot Example: Now, imagine the robot is a talking friend who helps answer questions. At first, it might say funny things, but as it hears more claps (good responses) and head shakes (bad responses), it learns to give better answers.7. ConclusionReinforcement Learning is a dynamic and powerful method that enables systems such as chatbots to learn from their interactions and improve over time. While it has challenges like requiring many interactions and careful tuning, its ability to adapt and find innovative solutions makes it a promising approach for a wide range of applications. In the context of chatbot development, RL helps create systems that not only respond to queries but also continuously learn to provide more accurate and helpful information.By understanding the architecture and flow of RL, and seeing a real-life application in building an academic chatbot, you can appreciate both the complexity and the potential of this technology. And if you ever need a really simple explanation, just remember: its like a little robot friend learning from claps and head shakes to become super smart!BonusRelateable Meme Right Now . Source : https://medium.com/nybles/understanding-machine-learning-through-memes-4580b67527bf

Idea Universes in AI Image Generation: What You Need to Know3 min readJust now--What is An Idea Universe?An idea universe is a conceptual space that encompasses a diverse range of interpretations and associations related to a specific theme or concept. It allows for creative exploration and artistic expression by connecting various facets of the theme, drawing from different cultural and historical contexts.In contrast, knowledge graphs and entity graphs focus on the relationships and attributes of specific entities or pieces of information, representing structured data and their interconnections. While knowledge graphs aim to depict factual relationships within a specific domain, and entity graphs visualize entities and their attributes, an idea universe is more fluid and imaginative, emphasizing the expansive and multifaceted nature of concepts and the creative potential that arises from their exploration.Why Do they Matter?Idea universes matter in AI image generation because they serve as foundational concepts that shape the creative trajectory of AI-generated art. By providing diverse themes, styles, and ideas, they allow AI algorithms to draw from a rich pool of inspiration, resulting in unique artworks that can resonate with a broad audience. This is essential for pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, enabling artists and creators alike to explore new possibilities. If pAt Asycd, we recognize the significance of idea universes in enriching our artistic endeavours. Our TEV1 AI art generator operates fundamentally using the concept of idea universes. Given an input theme or phrase, several AI agents work together to explore said theme and its various visual interpretations. The result is AI-art that feels authentic and intriguing.Combining real-world understanding of these themes with this approach is key to ensuring generated content reflects the views of real people.An ExampleThere are various ways to do this. Here is a method involving an AI agent with the role of generating related visual concepts to an input theme. This will form part of the regular artwork generation process discussed in this article.Prompt:Given a theme as input, generate up to 10 distinct visual concepts that exist within its idea universe. The idea universe should encompass a diverse range of interpretations, drawing from nature, art, science, culture, and abstraction. Each concept should include a short description explaining how it visually expresses the theme in an organic, unplanned, or probabilistic manner.Example Output for the Theme: Beautiful RandomnessPaint Splatter Canvases The uncontrolled flicks of paint create intricate, chaotic compositions with no two results alike.City Traffic Light Trails Long exposure photography captures the spontaneous, ever-shifting flow of cars and movement.Cracked Surfaces and Weathered Walls The natural, unpredictable cracking of paint or dried earth forms intricate, uncontrolled patterns.Oil Slicks on Water Floating, iridescent films of colour shift unpredictably with movement and light.Lightning Bolts Across the Sky A chaotic web of jagged lightning beams tearing through the darkness, each bolt following an unpredictable path dictated by atmospheric conditionsThese concepts can be fed into an image generation algorithm directly or provided to another agent.Method 2: Dynamic System PromptingThe second method involves utilizes a dynamic system prompt which analyses the users theme for certain keywords or themes.The dynamic system prompt will allow the explorer agent for example to embody the input theme more instead of having a fixed configuration for all themes. The details and explanations of how dynamic system prompting works can be found here.Before: Wine Rain

The Last of Us Part 2 has always been an excellent game. Look no further than our reviews of the original PS4 release from way back in 2020, and the more recent PS5 Remastered release from last year. Personally, Ive always felt that the weakest part of The Last of Us Part 2 was the fact that it felt a bit limited by the constraints of the PS4 back when it first came out. With the PC release, we now potentially have the definitive way to experience a game weve repeatedly referred to as a masterpiece. It all comes down to how well Naughty Dog, along with Nixxes and Iron Galaxy have been able to bring the game to PC. So lets get the most important things out of the way first. The PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is quite excellent. As the reasonable hardware requirements that the studio had previously announced would imply, the game is able to make fantastic use of the resources a modern gaming PC can give it. During my time with the game for this review, I played on a PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, an AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT GPU, and 32 GB of RAM. This, paired with the fact that I had it installed on an NVMe M.2 SSD, meant that I never really experienced any technical hiccups. Throughout my time with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, I was able to max out the graphics without having to switch on any of the image upscaling tools like FSR, while still being able to maintain frame rates of anywhere between 90 and 120. All of this while playing on a 1440p display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. Running it on the Steam Deck was also quite fruitful, delivering good enough performance with some of the graphics settings dialed in to get me just under 60 FPS. While this may not sound that good, it is worth noting that Steam Deck games often tend to run fantastically with a frame rate of 40 FPS for a good balance between performance, visuals, and battery longevity. "The PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is quite excellent." All of this good news also carries over into some of the smaller aspects of the game, like how it actually plays. Turns out the keyboard and mouse combination is a rather excellent way to play The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. It offers players a lot of control and accuracy when you really need to nail that headshot, while also providing more versatility when it comes to doing things like needing to craft a quick molotov in the heat of battle. The only real downside to the control schemeone I didnt experience while briefly using a DualSense controllerwas what felt like a strange rendering issue. Essentially, when youre in-game, Any UI element involving the mouse tends to tank the frame rate. I experienced this multiple times with my frame rate going from the high 90s all the way down to 40. Overall, this strange bug didnt really have much of an effect on my enjoyment of the game, since you rarely need to use the mouse outside of crafting and upgrading abilities anyway, and the moment you leave the UI and your mouse disappears, the frame rate tends to shoot back up. While I am far from a technical expert on the matter, the issue feels like it might have something to do with how the mouse is being rendered. These dips in the frame rate are basically non-existent just about anywhere else in the game. Generally speaking, the PC release of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a big step upnot just from the state of the PC port of The Last of Us Part 1, but also the more recent PC release of Marvels Spider-Man 2. Aside from the minor bug involving frame rates dropping in UIs with a mouse, there hasnt really been much to complain about. Even the controls have transferred over to mouse and keyboard quite well, with the minute-to-minute gameplay involving both stealth as well as action feeling better than ever. The fact that the title is also Steam Deck Verified is definitely a sweet cherry on top of an already-excellent sundae. "Even the controls have transferred over to mouse and keyboard quite well" When it comes to the game itself, even five years after its original release, The Last of Us Part 2 can still be considered a certified masterpiece. The game tells an incredible, epic tale of how the cycle of violence tends to hurt those closest to you, and how revenge is ultimately never really worth it. It also does an incredible number of smaller things to make sure that the overall narrative hits hard. The narrative trick here has been executed incredibly well; while you start off the game hating Abby as a character and spend quite a bit of time as Ellie in her quest for revenge, the script is essentially flipped at one point. You go back in time and take on the role of Abby, and you start to learn why she did the things that kicked off the plot of the game. You also get to see just how horrifying Ellies actions have been from an outside perspective, with her kill count getting higher and higher as you progress through the game. Interestingly, while many players will appreciate Ellie largely because they grew attached to her thanks to the events of the first game, in The Last of Us Part 2, I found Abbys parts to be much more fun from a gameplay standpoint. While both characters play the same (albeit with separate upgrade paths and weapons), Abbys gameplay felt a lot more interesting because of the kinds of enemies you get to take on, thanks to some of the best boss fights that Naughty Dog has ever made. "You also get to see just how horrifying Ellies actions have been from an outside perspective" I also have to make special mention for one of the strangest encounters in the entire game: the Rat King. Feeling like an enemy straight out of a Resident Evil game, the Rat King is an amalgamation of incredibly strong cordyceps infected enemies, including clickers, stalkers, and even a bloater. The entire encounter is an intense one, forcing you to use up just about every resource you can to take it down. In a fun twist, players also experience a separate battle against a stalker that broke off from the Rat King during your fight with it. The whole fight, along with others you get to encounter as Abby, such as the memorable ones against Tommy and Ellie, are some of the highlights of the entire game, really showcasing how well its intense action gameplay works. The core story of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is excellent, but special mention has to go to its gameplay. The general gunplay and stealth both feel so good to use in the game, that the Remastered release on the PS5 brought with it an entirely new game mode with it in the form of No Return. Essentially a roguelite mode that allows players to fully experience the depth of The Last of Us Part 2s stealth and combat mechanics, No Return has been a generally great addition since its debut. The PC release brings in some more content for the mode, including new playable characters like Marlene. The mode continues to be an excellent way to re-experience the downright fantastic gameplay of The Last of Us Part 2. The Last of Us Part 2s story choices remain divisive to this day, but regardless of where you stand, its gameplay is undeniably top-notch. Playing it on a high-end PC with excellent performance makes this version the definitive way to experience the game. This game was reviewed on PC.

South of Midnight is an interesting case study, because of how very much it seems like a game of two halves. On one hand, it boasts a distinct and incredibly well-realized setting, a gorgeous and memorable aesthetic, and strong storytelling chops that help bring its unique world and premise to life. On the gameplay front, meanwhile, Compulsion Games latest delivers a fairly standard action-adventure experience, one that weaves in a number of familiar elements and puts them together in what is a solid, if somewhat expected gameplay experience. The end result, then, is a game that manages to stand out with unique ideas while also delivering a no-frills, straightforward, lean and mean gameplay experience that anyone with a fondness for the Xbox 360 era of linear action-adventure titles will find very familiar. You play as Hazel, a young woman living with her mother in the American Deep South town of Prospero, which finds itself caught in the middle of a raging hurricane. Disaster strikes early on in the game, and Hazel soon awakens to a mysterious magic known as Weaving, which she must put to use as she embarks on a quest to rescue and reunite with her mother, and heal the decaying land around her with her newfound powers. South of Midnightmakes a strong impression with its setting and storytelling right off the bat, and there continue to lie some of its biggest strengths well past those early moments. "South of Midnightmakes a strong impression with its setting and storytelling right off the bat, and there continue to lie some of its biggest strengths well past those early moments." Most impressive is the incredibly distinctive identity it carves out for itself. Blending its contemporary Deep South setting with local folklore and mythology, it crafts a gothic modern-day fairytale that instantly sets itself apart from anything else out there. From the gorgeous and highly detailed environments that you find yourself on throughout the course of Hazels journey to the wonderfully eccentric and quirky cast of characters, each of whom shines thanks to sharply written dialogue and excellent acting performances; from the monsters that you cross paths with to the storybook framing device the game adopts-South of Midnightkeeps finding ways to highlight its key strengths, and more often than not, does so in a way that feels very different from most other story-driven action adventure games. Games inspired by the Deep South that highlight its folklore, culture, and everything about it this constantly and proudly are few and far in between, which meansSouth of Midnightmanages to stand out from the crowd in this department. It does still have some flaws of note- Hazel, for instance, clearly got the Im an action-adventure protagonist who has to comment on everything in sight memo. Shes talking to herselfconstantlyand refuses to shut up, which means she got on my nerves more than a few times, even though she is otherwise a fun and charming protagonist. Even so, with its many notable storytelling strengths, it more than makes up for its few writing-related flaws. Another area whereSouth of Midnightinstantly catches the eye is with its visuals. It uses a highly stylized art style that fits perfectly with its modern fairytale framework and folklore-infused setting, and combines it with a stop-motion animation style that helps it stand out even more. Whether youre moving through its stunningly crafted environments or watching its lovingly directed cutscenes, South of Midnightis wonderful to witness, both in motion and otherwise. Its stop-motion animation style might prove distracting to some in gameplay personally, I didnt mind it once Id gotten used to it but the gamedoesgive you the option to turn that effect off outside of cutscenes. "South of Midnightuses a highly stylized art style that fits perfectly with its modern fairytale framework and folklore-infused setting, and combines it with a stop-motion animation style that helps it stand out even more." Where it shows ambition and unbridled creativity in the narrative and visual departments, on the gameplay front, South of Midnightis happy to chart a well-trodden path. Close your eyes and picture a linear, third-person action-adventure game with a mix of melee and magical combat, some light exploration and progression mechanics, and a focus on nimble and parkour-based traversal, and you probably already have a pretty good idea of what youre signing up for.South of Midnightdoesnt reinvent the wheel, but ends up being anywhere between serviceable and forgettable to legitimately fun and solid in most areas of note. When the game starts out, the gameplay feels maybe a little bittoosimplistic and straightforward, but over the course of its opening a couple of hours, it briskly introduces one simple gameplay mechanic on top of another that are all fairly simplistic tropes by themselves, but are used in combination pretty effectively. Light and heavy attacks in combat, dodges rolls and perfect dodges, telekinetic abilities that let you push and pull enemies and things in the environment- mechanics like these (and others) are the kind that you have seen in a multitude of games in the past, but though South of Midnightdoesnt use them in any way that feels too different or extraordinary, it doesget the basics right. What that means is that gameplay, though its never breathtaking by any means, can often be more engaging than you might expect if all you had played of the game was its first hour or so. Levels are pretty condensed and the environments you find yourself in are never too sprawling, butSouth of Midnightslight exploration elements remain fairly compelling throughout. Progression is pretty standard and, if Im being blunt, unimaginative, but it does just enough to make you care at least a little bit about the next upgrade youll unlock, if not the one after that. "More than a few times in recent years, weve collectively lamented the death of the so-called AA action-adventure game, so to see one as distinct asSouth of Midnightis heartening." Combat can be surprisingly fun when youre taking on multiple enemies of different types at once, weaving together different abilities while dishing out your own attacks. Particularly enjoyable is the traversal. Once again, it brings together familiar elements like ledge climbing, wall running, and what have you, and that moveset remains largely fun to use across the games runtime. Both combat and traversal can sometimes feel a bit rough around the edges at times due to the occasional instance of clunky movement, unresponsive inputs, or iffy hit detection, but by and large, South of Midnightis a fun and well-functioning gameplay experience. In the gameplay department, what stands out most aboutSouth of Midnightis how much it feels like a throwback game, specifically where its design style and sensibilities are concerned. More than a few times in recent years, weve collectively lamented the death of the so-called AA action-adventure game, so to see one as distinct asSouth of Midnightis heartening, to say the very least- not least because its coming from a major AAA first-party publisher. Its not often that we get a dozen-hour-long single-player story-driven game that wastes no time with semi-open world maps, skill trees, multiplayer elements or what have you, andSouth of Midnightdeserves recognition not just for being just that, but being a really good version of that. With strong writing, memorable characters, stylish visuals, great music, and an excellent setting,South of Midnightpumps itself full of personality and carves out a unique identity for itself, while with its combat mechanics, progression system, traversal, and light exploration, it sticks largely to the status quo, perhaps even to the point of being unambitious. In the end, when those two halves combine, what we get is a brisk and enjoyable game that leaves a stamp on you one way or another. South of Midnightis the sort of game that feels like a victory for the medium simply by existing in exactly the form that it does. This game was reviewed on the Xbox Series X.

nicoreeseMemberJan 18, 20181,388Just saw this and could not believe it. This game is 10 years old. What's going on at Ubisoft? Is this a part of the Tencent buy in already?They force you to update the game or you cannot play online. They at least have changed some male nudity, gave a female character smaller breasts and a bra when it was previously a topless scene.https://www.reddit.com/r/farcry/comments/1jqthqe/far_cry_4_censored_update_pc/Changes were also made to the audio files, but only the English ones. I'm looking into what else might've changed.EDIT: They didn't change the Yuma model in any capacity. If I had to guess? They just went the Far Cry 6 route and covered all the nipples. Hers were covered by her jacket to begin with, so there was nothing to change. Kalinag's model is also unaffected.EDIT 2: They also patched Far Cry 3 on March 31st. I haven't seen anyone talk about that yet. They may have done something similar with Citra. Anyone want to find out?Edit 3: Just went back to the Shanath Arena mission. Ajay is no longer naked. They gave him a loincloth to cover his genitals.The Boobs are coverd and smaller, build in uplay installer and uplay relativ changesClick to expand...Click to shrink... nsilviasMemberOct 25, 201729,306>They also patched Far Cry 3 on March 31stdid they at least fix far cry 3? it has issues on pcZodiacWolveMemberMay 22, 2022427OddDrScruffletonMemberOct 26, 201714,574thats weird. Maybe going to try to push the series to a wider audience before the next one is out?BrannonOne Winged SlayerAvengerOct 25, 20171,686Wish they would put this effort into Farcry 2 and fix the insane respawn and way-too-fast dialogue.DanarchyReignsMemberOct 25, 201736,579What a strange thing to do...DrScruffleton said:thats weird. Maybe going to try to push the series to a wider audience before the next one is out?Click to expand...Click to shrink...I feel they tried to do that with Far Cry 6 by putting Giancarlo Esposito front & center.AcebaldwinMemberOct 28, 2017181Does it matter though.CrissaegrimMemberMay 23, 20181,612DrScruffleton said:thats weird. Maybe going to try to push the series to a wider audience before the next one is out?Click to expand...Click to shrink...But sex sells, right? I can't even imagine the sales numbers for GTA 6 and that shit's gonna have all kinds of nudity.PinkCrayonMemberOct 25, 20171,401goofyDrScruffletonMemberOct 26, 201714,574Crissaegrim said:But sex sells, right? I can't even imagine the sales numbers for GTA 6 and that shit's gonna have all kinds of nudity.Click to expand...Click to shrink...my mom wouldnt buy me games with nudity when I was younger lol All the violence was ok though PlasmaMemberOct 25, 20176,954Thank god, this was keeping me from playing.dex3108MemberOct 26, 201724,429Brannon said:Wish they would put this effort into Farcry 2 and fix the insane respawn and way-too-fast dialogue.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Mods fixed some of those Far Cry 2 - Realism Plus ReduxTotal overhaul of Far Cry 2. This is a combination of Realism+ and Redux, tuned to provide the ultimate FC2 experience.www.nexusmods.comSirKaiMemberDec 28, 20179,855WashingtonDrScruffleton said:thats weird. Maybe going to try to push the series to a wider audience before the next one is out?Click to expand...Click to shrink...Far Cry is already extremely wide audience and mass market. Shit like The Boys, Walking Dead, and Games of Thrones is wide audience. I dunno what motivates stuff like this.DestHas seen more 10s than EA ever willCowardJun 4, 201815,818WorkGonna assume this has to do with the whole Tencent deal. Probably? China has a lot of stipulations regarding that kind of content, religion, etc.AnimeJesusMemberOct 27, 20175,306prepping for Switch 2 versionsThe_R3medyMemberJan 22, 20183,643WisconsinWas this a weird requirement of the Tencent investment or something? There *has* to be a story to thisturbobuttsMemberOct 25, 2017659i thought wokeness was dead NintendoProphet of RegretMemberOct 27, 201713,881Dest said:Gonna assume this has to do with the whole Tencent deal. Probably?Click to expand...Click to shrink...The_R3medy said:Was this a weird requirement of the Tencent investment or something? There *has* to be a story to thisClick to expand...Click to shrink...Did they also remove nudity from AC games too? If not, then this can't be it.Extra SauceMemberOct 27, 20176,881killing thousands of people is cool as long as you don't show the human bodyDestHas seen more 10s than EA ever willCowardJun 4, 201815,818WorkNintendo said:Did they also remove nudity from AC games too? If not, then this can't be it.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Time will tell I would imagine not all of them would be updated simultaneously

President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on foreign goods Wednesday, with the reportedly arbitrary levies exceeding 60% in some cases. While the tariffs were long expected, one business analyst told CNBC that the administrations plans are worse than the worst case scenario. With most tabletop games produced overseas, many in China, the impact could be devastating. Developers and publishers are sounding the alarm.The games you play are likely to become much more expensive. Nearly 20 organizations that Polygon spoke with said that profits will be severely impacted. Many said jobs will be lost, companies shuttered, and games that have been in development for years may simply never come to market.Tabletop gaming, which includes board games, card games, and role-playing games, has enjoyed a roughly two-decade renaissance brought on in part by crowdfunding. Nevertheless, much of the industry consists of individual creators, sole proprietors, small family businesses, and remote teams of creatives. The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) said Thursday that the impact of these tariffs will be nothing short of a disaster.The latest imposition of a 54% tariff on products from China by the administration is dire news for the tabletop industry and the broader US economy, GAMA said in a news release. As an industry highly dependent on producing goods overseas and importing them into the US, this policy will have devastating consequences.Tariffs are essentially taxes on consumers, not on the countries where the products are produced, it continued. Publishers will be forced to pass these costs along to their customers or face the prospect of ceasing operations. Nearly a third of all US consumer goods including clothes, food products, appliances, cars, and entertainment items like games are imported. This means higher prices across the board as all these products will need to increase prices to compensate for these new Trump Taxes.Tariffs are essentially taxes on consumers. [] Publishers will be forced to pass these costs along to their customers or face the prospect of ceasing operationsIt went on to add that as prices rise domestically, discretionary spending will necessarily decrease, further constraining consumer spending on games.This one-two punch is likely to put many of our members out of business or force them to downsize and lay off employees to survive, GAMA concluded.The U.S. has a very small industrial capacity for manufacturing tabletop games especially board games. That was made clear in a statement issued Thursday by Steve Jackson Games CEO Meredith Placko.Some people ask, Why not manufacture in the U.S.? Placko said in an impact statement. I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale boardgame production specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and wood components doesnt meaningfully exist here yet. Ive gotten quotes. Ive talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor, and timelines simply arent.Nearly a dozen organizations expressed dismay in emails to Polygon. A member of the leadership team at an established tabletop role-playing publisher said uncertainty instigated by the incoming administration had impacted their revenues since at least January. Now the tariffs are poised to deliver a knockout blow. They asked for anonymity, citing concerns over reprisals from other U.S.-based businesses.The news is bad from every angle, but especially so for card games and RPGs printed in China, they said. The choice seems to be either 1) a massive price hike to pay the new import taxes, or 2) go to a direct sales model that removes the hobby distributors from the equation.Distributors are the connective tissue that helps keep GAMAs nearly 5,000 independent member retailers stocked with the latest games. Without their involvement there may be fewer titles on store shelves, causing further stress on an industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.The situation is especially problematic for companies that have used crowdfunding. Their products were bought and paid for years ago with backer dollars on platforms like Kickstarter, Gamefound, and BackerKit. Now as they near the final push to manufacturing, through overseas logistics networks, and into the hands of eager consumers, what little margin was available has all but vanished.In the short term, I just have to eat these costs to fulfill the Kickstarter, said Joshua M. Simons, founder of Broken Door Entertainment, who baked in an extra margin in anticipation of the tariffs. He says it wasnt enough. In the short term, I just have to eat these costs to fulfill the KickstarterThe tariffs will erase 20% of my expected profits off this initial print run, making it much harder to get my next round of products developed, Simons said. That hit to my budget means I will probably only be able to afford making one product instead of two for the rest of this year.As spreadsheets begin to bleed red, its the capricious nature of the Trump administration that continues to bedevil small businesses like Hit Point Press.Right now, HPP is prepping for our next Humblewood Kickstarter campaign launch next week, said CEO and founder Ricardo Evangelho. This news has me revising everything in advance of the campaign. But even then, with how things are going, we cant be sure that even this adjustment is correct. Trump could come out tomorrow with additional tariffs which makes everything uncertain.We have high hopes for this next campaign, Evangelho continued, but if everyone is afraid of buying because they dont know the final cost, I have concerns well raise what we need to continue building to the scale we currently are.Still other publishers are literally stopping the presses, terminating the production of games already promised to consumers.I had to cancel a print run of one of our board games this morning, said Michael Addison, whose Nerdy Pup Games is currently supporting the TTRPGs for Trans Right Bundle with the inclusion of Rebels of the Outlaw Wastes. Were basically putting all manufacturing on hold. We currently make both board games and TTRPGs. Theres a chance we are simply done making board games for the foreseeable future.Tariffs on China arent the only problem. Dozens of other international trading partners have also had tariffs levied against them.We had been looking at printing in either South Korea or Vietnam instead of China but with the all encompassing nature of the planned tariffs, I have no idea how feasible that would be, said Liana MacKenzie, owner of Valorous Games. She said the company may be forced to begin publishing digital-only content in the short term. Were entirely self-funded through my day job and whatever we can earn through conventions, so not having a physical book is not at all ideal but that may just be where were at.Others, like Coyote & Crow founder Connor Alexander, say this might simply be the end for now.[The proposed tariffs on China] will essentially kill my company, Alexander wrote in a deeply pessimistic post on Bluesky. In a follow-up email to Polygon, he sounded only slightly more hopeful: Im not panicking yet. Emphasis on yet.[The proposed tariffs on China] will essentially kill my companyIn its statement, tabletop trade organization GAMA was clear that the time to act is now before the tariffs have been firmly locked into place, and before more game publishers bow out of the industry entirely.GAMA will continue to oppose this policy and calls on Congress to show common sense and work together to avoid wrecking the US economy in a misguided tariff war that is neither necessary nor needed, the trade organization said in its news release. We urge all US members to contact their representatives and senators to step in and vacate this damaging policy. You can find your representative and senators contact information at house.gov and senate.gov. Please write or call them to express your concerns and demand action to protect our industry and the broader economy.See More:

After many months, if not years, of leaks and speculation, its finally official: Nintendo has announced and fully revealed its next console. Its called Nintendo Switch 2, and as the name implies, its a very similar design to the Switch a hybrid handheld console with detachable controllers that can be connected to a TV via a dock.While it may seem an obvious move, the iterative system is an unusual strategy for Nintendo, which has often chosen to innovate with its new hardware, finding new control systems and new forms of play. But, with 150 million units sold after eight years on the market, the Switch is Nintendos second most successful gaming system ever (after the Nintendo DS), and the third-best-selling console of all time. So perhaps its not surprising that the company decided, for once, that its previous console design wasnt broken and didnt need fixing. Switch 2 also launches into a changed market, where players have come to expect that they will be able to carry their game libraries forward from one machine to another, which precluded a radical change.Whether the Switch-owning masses will move over to Switch 2 is now less clear. Nintendos announced price for Switch 2, which starts at $449.99 ($150 more than the original Switch), and marquee games like Mario Kart World, which costs $79.99, means that upgrading could be prohibitively expensive for Nintendo fans (and parents of Nintendo fans).Heres everything we know and everything we think we know about Nintendos next console.What is the latest Switch 2 news?Nintendo announced key details like pricing, a release date, and a lineup of Switch 2-exclusive games in April during a Nintendo Direct showcase dedicated to its new console. The company also revealed a new Zoom-like video communication feature, GameChat, which is accessed by a new C button on the Joy Con 2 controllers and powered by a video camera and the Switch 2s built-in microphone.Those controllers also function like computer mice. Mouse controls be used in certain games like Drag x Drive, a wheelchair rugby sports game; Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a first-person shooter-adventure; and strategy game Sid Meiers Civilization 7.Nintendo also announced a handful of new Switch 2 exclusive games, like 3D adventure Donkey Kong Bananza; Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a hack-and-slash prequel to Tears of the Kingdom; the virtual exhibition Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour; and something new from Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, The Duskbloods.The company also confirmed enhanced versions of original Switch games for Switch 2. These Switch 2 Edition games offer improved visuals and, in some cases, new game content. Some Switch games will also just run better on Switch 2 by dint of the successors more powerful hardware.Finally, Nintendo Switch Online is getting classic GameCube games, but only for subscribers of the premium Expansion Pack tier and only on Switch 2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX have been confirmed for the classic game subscription service.What is Switch 2s release date?Nintendo will release Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, the company announced in April.What is Switch 2s price?Nintendo Switch 2 starts at $449.99. That price includes the system, a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, an ultra high-speed HDMI cable, an AC adapter, and controller accessories. Nintendo is also selling a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World for $499.99.International pricing for the base Switch 2 SKU is set at 469.99 for Europe, 395.99 in the U.K., and 49,980 yen in Japan.At $449.99, that makes Switch 2 the most expensive Nintendo console at launch, not accounting for inflation. The Switch launched at $299 in 2017, and its official sticker price hasnt dropped since. This is in line with the changing trends in pricing for many consumer electronics. Due to chip shortages, inflation, and the slowing pace of advances in tech, this generation of consoles has not come down in price the way previous generations did so dont expect big price drops for Switch 2, either.With the Switch 2s higher price, Nintendo will face uncomfortable comparisons to the new wave of PC handhelds (a Steam Deck OLED is $549; an Asus ROG Ally is $499) and risk pricing itself out of its traditional family market.There is also the question of whether the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on many countries could impact the price of the Switch 2. The same day that Nintendo announced the Switch 2s price and release date, the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on a number of countries, including Vietnam. Nintendo began manufacturing the Switch in Vietnam in 2019, during the last Trump administrations trade feud with China, and has plans to ramp up production at a new factory there. Based on the brief, hourslong window between Nintendos announcement and the U.S. presidents massive new tariffs, Nintendo hasnt had much time to respond to the proposed tariffs.What games will Switch 2 have?Nintendo announced a handful of first-party games and showcased an even longer list of Switch 2 games from third-party partners during a Nintendo Direct showcase in April.Mario Kart World is Nintendos flagship launch game for Switch 2. The follow-up to the bestselling Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will feature a huge roster of racers, up to 24 competitors per race, and a more open-world design, letting (and encouraging) racers to go off-track.Donkey Kong Bananza, coming to Switch 2 in July, stars Donkey Kong in a new 3D action-adventure game thats all about digging and destruction.Kirby Air Riders is a sequel to GameCube game Kirby Air Ride and is, once again, directed by Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai.Drag x Drive is a sports game based on wheelchair rugby (aka murderball) that shows off the mouse- and motion-control capabilities of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a virtual tour of the Switch 2 hardware, presented like a teeny tiny museum.The Duskbloods is a new multiplayer action game from developer FromSoftware, and exclusive to Switch 2. It has strong Bloodborne vibes.Nintendo also announced upgraded Switch 2 Edition versions of Switch games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Pokmon Legends Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Metroid Prime 4 will also get a native release on Switch and Switch 2.Third parties will bring a long list of games, both new and old, to Switch 2. Big names coming to Switch 2 include Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Fortnite, Street Fighter 6, Star Wars Outlaws, Madden NFL, and NBA 2K.RelatedWill Switch 2 be backward-compatible?Yes, the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible! Before it even officially announced the Switch 2, Nintendo confirmed that Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. It added that Nintendo Switch Online the online multiplayer service that also includes a large catalog of retro games will be available on the Switch 2, too. With many users hoping or outright expecting to carry forward their game libraries to Nintendos next console, as has become the norm with the latest generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the news comes as a big relief.That said, Nintendo did warn that certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendos compatibility list shows that more than 180 Switch games may not play properly on Switch 2. The company also says that free updates to improve playability on the Nintendo Switch 2 system will be released for select Nintendo Switch games, so things could change before launch.Nintendo Accounts will carry over to the new console, and Switch 2 owners should have access to original Switch software they currently own. Following Nintendos announcement of the new Virtual Game Card system, it now appears that the Switch 2 will support swapping Switch games with original Switch using this system.Regarding hardware backward compatibility, Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with some Switch accessories, including the Pro Controller and Joy-Cons.What new features does Switch 2 have?As previously reported and now confirmed by Nintendos video, the Switch 2 features detachable Joy-Con controllers like the Switch. The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically, as opposed to sliding into rails on the Switch 2 body. It has been reported that the Joy-Con 2s also have more reliable Hall-effect sticks, something Nintendo has yet to confirmed. Theres a new square button on the right Joy-Con 2, the C button. The Joy-Con 2s also feature a small optical sensor on their inner edge that allows for mouse-like controls.The console features a second USB-C port on its top, like the one on its lower edge for charging and connecting to its dock. This will allow it to be charged while its being used in tabletop mode, propped up on its new, U-shaped stand. But it could potentially be used to connect new accessories, like a camera or even a second screen.How powerful will Switch 2 be? What are its tech specs?Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by a custom processor made by Nvidia, Nintendo says. According to leaked details gleaned from the consoles motherboard, its supposedly utilizing a custom Tegra T239 processor which should put the system on par, power-wise, with consoles like Sonys PlayStation 4 and Microsofts Xbox One.Switch 2s new screen is 7.9 inches, bigger than both the original Switch (6.2 inches) and the Switch OLED (7 inches). The new display also got a bump in resolution to 1080p (from 720p) and supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz. The system supports HDR10 support. When docked, Switch 2 can output resolutions up to 1440p at 120 Hz, and 4K at 60Hz.Switch 2 has 256 GB of flash storage, considerably more than the original Switchs 32 GB. Storage can be expanded with an SD card; Switch 2 supports up to 2 TB microSD Express cards, which offer much faster read speeds.Switch 2s battery will last around 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the games you play. Thats actually a tiny bit less than the launch Switch 1 models, which can run from 2.6 to 6.5 hours, and considerably less than the updated models that last 4.5 to 9 hours. RelatedInside the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware specsCan you pre-order Switch 2?You will be able to pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 starting April 9.Nintendo will hold another Nintendo Direct presentation on April 17, an event dedicated to Switch 2 launch game Mario Kart World.While it hasnt announced one yet, Nintendo also typically holds a Nintendo Direct in mid-to-late June. If it follows tradition, there could be more Switch 2 games revealed this summer.Nintendo will also hold Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events around the world throughout April, where members of the public will be able to go hands-on with the machine. These events will take place cities around North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.Polygon will continue to update this story as new details develop.See More:

The Nintendo Switch has exceeded most everybodys wildest expectations, moving over 150 million units on the way to (most likely) breaking console sales records set by Sonys PlayStation 2. Following up on that sort of success is no simple or easy feat, and Nintendo has taken what some have deemed the safe route by simply delivering a more powerful, feature-enhanced Nintendo Switch 2. Of course, sometimes the appeal of new hardware isnt obvious at first glance. You need to actually go hands-on to get that exciting new console feel.I recently had the opportunity to do just that, going hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 for several hours at a press event in Paris, tackling recently-announced games, such as Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. While Ill have deeper thoughts to share about individual Switch 2 games in the near future, were going to focus on the hardware itself in this article. Has Nintendo delivered a new level of Switch splendor or should you keep your expectations docked? Scroll on for my early hands-on impressions2 of 9Form FactorThose who have had a Nintendo Switch rattling around in their backpack for the past eight years will find themselves on familiar ground with the Switch 2 in terms of basic form and function, although almost everything about the new system feels a bit more polished and cohesively designed. While slightly larger than its predecessor, the Switch 2 still feels manageable to hold, and despite packing a lot more processing power, the system remains surprisingly thin and light (perhaps even lighter than the original Switch). The matte plastic the system is made of feels nice to the touch, and, hopefully, wont be a magnet for palm sweat.Various small tweaks to the Switch 2 make it feel like a more modern, deluxe device, including a sturdy new flexible kickstand and dual USB-C ports, which could open the way for a broader range of accessories, like the newly-announced Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. I didnt spend a lot of time examining the new Switch 2 dock closely as they were almost all hidden behind glass, but Nintendo has said it has a fan to actively cool the system now, boosting performance gains when playing docked.The Switch 2 offers up a larger (approximately 8-inch) 1080p screen, with a slimmer bezel. The screen looked quite sharp, lacking the jagginess often seen when playing the OG Switch in handheld mode, although it is noticeable that the screen is a touch less bright and vibrant than the Switch OLEDs screen. For now, greater sharpness in exchange for a bit less brightness is a trade-off youre going to have to make (as somebody who only plays Switch in handheld mode on occasion, I dont mind, but your mileage may vary).Overall, the Switch 2 is a handsome little devil that you may want to spend a few minutes just admiring in your hands before you jump into a game, although Id be lying if I said the design upgrades are truly transformative. This is the Switch you know, just polished up a bit.The Joy-Con Grows UpArguably the lions share of the Switch 2s design upgrades have gone towards improving the detachable Joy-Con controllers. The OG Switchs Joy-Cons always felt like a good idea that hadnt been fully realized too small, too finicky, too flimsy and prone to stick drift and other failures. While the Switch 2s new Joy-Cons have been extended less than an inch compared to the original models, they do feel more substantial in the hand. The sticks feel less flimsy, and a Nintendo rep present at the preview hinted theyve been re-engineered to head off drift (something the NY Times got hints about too). Whether the new Switch 2 Joy-Cons will be more resilient in the long term remains to be seen, but they felt sturdier to me.The Switch 2 Joy-Cons also come with some new functionality, including an IR sensor that allows the player to use a Joy-Con like a mouse. I had a chance to test the mouse functionality with several games, including Metroid Prime 4 and the updated Switch 2 version of Mario Party Jamboree and the controls were perfectly responsive and holding the Joy-Con on its edge felt surprisingly comfortable. That said, Nintendo may still have to hone their approach to mouse controls, as some games, particularly Metroid Prime 4, still require you to press the face buttons on the Joy-Con youre using as a mouse, which doesnt feel intuitive. The new Joy-Cons HD Rumble also feels as though its been subtly updated.Oh, and yes, as somebody who likes messing around with anything magnetic, the way the new Joy-Cons satisfyingly snap onto the side of the Switch is an immense improvement over the old janky rail system. Once connected to the main Switch 2 unit, the Joy-Cons felt fully secure, but again, well have to wait and see regarding long-term durability.Nintendo PowerNintendos developers are a talented lot, but theyve been working with more or less the same toolbox for well over a decade, given the Switch was only marginally more powerful than the Wii U. While Nintendo remains largely mum about the Switch 2s under-the-hood improvements, its clear the toolbox has finally received an upgrade. That said, its also clear it will likely take Nintendo devs a while to adapt to the new power at their fingertips. Much like the earliest crop of Wii U titles, which marked Nintendos first foray into HD gaming, Switch 2s first games look better than most of what weve seen from the company before, but it also feels like theyre leaving a lot of potential on the table.Most of the first-party content shown by Nintendo at the hands-on event can be roughly sorted into three piles new big AAA-style experiences (Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4), enhanced Nintendo Switch 2 Edition versions of older Switch games (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, Super Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV), and quirky stuff designed to show off the systems new control features (Drag x Drive, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and, uh, Super Party Jamboree again).The most successful group were the big headline games. Mario Kart World very much feels like a direct follow-up to Mario Kart 8, and thats not a bad thing. While Mario Kart World doesnt necessarily stand out that much visually next to MK8, Nintendo is undoubtedly putting the Switch 2s power to some use with the games higher 24 racer playercount and interconnected open world. Donkey Kong Bananza offers up a bold reboot of the Kongiverse and looks to provide all the varied challenges, collectibles, and hidden extras youd expect from a major Nintendo release. The slice of Metroid Prime 4 I got to play left me with some questions, but there was no denying its technical prowess, running an impressive 120fps in Performance mode, with none of the rough un-aliased edges we've become used to seeing from some Nintendo games.The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades didnt land with quite as much impact. While playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom with 4K visuals and a smooth framerate was certainly nice, it wasnt the transformative experience I expected it to be. Perhaps my favorite upgraded Switch experience was Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which looks better than ever (it was already one of the prettiest Switch titles) and adds the new Star-Crossed Worlds content, which promises to be just as fun as the original game.The Quirky Stuff bag was a bit more mixed. The additions to Mario Party Jamboree were all quite entertaining, but Im not sure how much theyll extend the life of the game. Drag x Drive was, frankly, a bit of a drag. Perhaps the best of the quirky crew was actually Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which features some fun diversions and ought to come at a nice price.Each individual games pros and cons aside (again, I'll have more to say about that in the future), it really does have to be stated how refreshing the technical polish of all of them were. Almost every game I played, from Mario Kart World, to Donkey Kong Bananza, to Metroid Prime 4 ran at an unblemished 60fps (or more). The OG Switch has been showing its age for some time now, so just the clarity, smoothness, and general technical prowess of most of the games I played felt revelatory in its own small way. Im particularly excited to see what Nintendo might do with the hardware a few years down the line.Current Thoughts on Nintendo Switch 2Its been a long time since Nintendo last chose to simply iterate on a successful formula with a new console. Since the 90s with the Super Nintendo, arguably. Theyve been so dedicated to throwing the baby out with the bathwater for so many successive generations, that the Switch 2 ends up feeling rather refreshing in a way. That said, theyre also asking quite a bit for this Super upgrade $450 for the console itself, with games perhaps as much as $80. That may complicate the Should I buy this right away? math for some people.If youre one of the sizable number of folks who have affection for their trusty Switches, it seems quite likely youll enjoy the Switch 2. The system looks better, feels better, the Joy-Cons are sturdier and more versatile, and playing Nintendo games with some decent hardware grunt behind them is a nice change of pace. Whether the Switch 2 reaches the commercial heights of the OG Switch will largely depend on its library of games, but titles like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza show Nintendo can still deliver fun, and sometimes unexpected, experiences with their long-running franchises. While I need more time with the Switch 2 to render a final verdict, it feels like the pieces are there for another hybrid hit.Keep an eye out for my hands-on impressions of Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and more over the coming days. The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5 with pre-orders going live on April 9.Deal of the Day

The Starship Flight 7 booster during its static fire for Flight 9 earlier today. Image: SpaceXSpaceX has confirmed that it will reuse a booster for the first time on the next Starship test flight. The firm shared details about a static fire of the Super Heavy booster that flew on Starship Flight 7 earlier today and added that the rocket will fly on Starship Flight 9. Flight 9 will be perhaps the most critical test flight of the program so far as SpaceX will attempt to successfully fly its second-generation upper-stage rocket for the third time after consecutive failures on Starship Flights 7 and 8 earlier this year.SpaceX Asserts Starship Super Heavy Reuse Will Enable It To Fly Rockets Through A No-Touch ProfileSpaceX's latest update about the Starship program comes as the firm lifted the 232-feet-tall rocket to the launch pad earlier this week. As SpaceX geared up for its tests, officials in Boca Chica, Texas, sent out non-flight testing notices to the general public. True to form, SpaceX tested the Super Heavy booster earlier today and confirmed it through a social media update.The firm revealed that 29 out of the 33 engines on the rocket are flight-proven, or, in other words, flew for the first time on Flight 7. It also confirmed that the booster tested earlier today will fly on Starship Flight 9. As a result, Flight 9 will be the first test in the Starship program where SpaceX attempts to reuse a rocket booster. It will also be a first in aerospace history for a rocket with more than two dozen engines to attempt re-flight.2 of 9Successful re-use of a Super Heavy booster will mark a key step for SpaceX when it comes to Starship's progress as it will pave the way for the firm to upgrade its booster design and focus on the upper-stage ship. Unlike the booster, which has been recovered multiple times through the launch tower, SpaceX is yet to successfully recover the upper-stage ship.During all Starship flights so far, the ship has either disintegrated during flight or successfully and softly splashed down in the water. Ahead of Starship Flight 7 in January, SpaceX was gearing up to catch the rocket with the tower as it introduced catch hardware to evaluate it ahead of a potential attempt.However, during Flights 7 and 8, the ship failed to complete the mission and exploded soon after separating from the first stage. For Flight 7, SpaceX explained that vibrations in the rocket's propulsion system led to its engines shutting down. While the FAA has closed SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 investigation, neither SpaceX nor the agency have shared any updates for the Flight 8 mishap.A booster static fire isn't any indication of an upcoming launch either, as SpaceX has previously tested the booster more than a month ahead of liftoff. It also didn't share details about engine performance, making it likely that today's static fire was to evaluate the rocket's systems for re-use and to make potential corrective actions ahead of Flight 9.Deal of the Day

Mother Jago is a quest you can add to your investigations fairly early on in Atomfall. At first, it seems like your run-of-the-mill side quest that requires you to visit an NPC on the map, do a job for them, and get some kind of reward. However, Mother Jago isn't just any old NPC in the Quarantine Zone. She's one of the more important characters in the entire story, and she even has a way out of the Quarantine Zone if you follow her instructions. The question is, how do you complete the entire Mother Jago quest in Atomfall, and is her ending worth it? Find out everything you need to know in the walkthrough below. Finding Mother JagoThere are a few ways you can come across Mother Jago in Atomfall. Just like any other character in the Quarantine Zone, she's at a designated location, allowing you to easily stumble upon her location just by exploring the map.Mother Jago is located in the top northeastern part of Casterfell Woods, and she remains there for the duration of the game up until the very end. Specifically, you can find Mother Jago at the "Old Mine" location that's east of the Dam Data Store and northeast of the Sewer Tunnels entrance, which is the easiest route to get to and from Casterfell Woods. The coordinates for the Old Mine are 27.2 E, 92.2 N.If you didn't stumble across Mother Jago's position, you likely found a leaflet that told you to visit the Old Mine and find the character. Whether you find the leaflet or not doesn't change much, but having the leaflet does allow you to access a new dialogue option when speaking to Mother Jago. Either way, once you find the character, speak to her to begin the Mother Jago investigation in Atomfall. Going to the Druid's CampAfter speaking with Mother Jago, she'll tell you a little bit about herself and ask a favor of you. The favor is to go and fetch a book on herbalism that the local Druid faction stole from her possession. Mother Jago says the book is located inside the Druids' castle at the center of their area of operations.Specifically, you need to travel to the "Druid's Camp" location found at the very southwestern part of the Casterfell Woods map. Here, the Druids have erected a large, wooden statue of some deity up on a cliff. There also happen to be dozens of Druids in and around the entire area, so you have to choose whether to be stealthy or go in with a full frontal assault in mind. The easiest method I found was to use a bow and silently pick off Druids.Regardless of your tactics, you need to reach the "Castle Ruins" entrance inside the Druid's Camp. This is located on the eastern side of the camp, and it requires you to ascend a couple of stories via the walkways along the cliff. The coordinates for the Castle Ruins are 20.6 E, 83.7 N.Inside the Castle Ruins, you'll find a number of Druids all worshipping someone called the "High Priestess." They're all mostly standing around a large, blue glowing hole in the ground that the High Priestess is making sacrifices to from a high-up perch. You can find an Atomic Battery lying at the base of this blue hole in the ground. Retrieving Mother Jago's BookInside the Castle Ruins, you'll find a number of Druids all worshipping someone called the "High Priestess." They're all mostly standing around a large, blue glowing hole in the ground that the High Priestess is making sacrifices to from a high-up perch. You can find an Atomic Battery lying at the base of this blue hole in the ground. From just looking at the initial area of the Castle Ruins, it doesn't look too large. You can kill the Druids around the blue hole along with the High Priestess, but Mother Jago's Book is nowhere to be found. Instead of staying around the blue hole in the ground, you need to locate a bridge that's off to the side of the opening area. Go across the bridge and keep ascending the various ladders, staircases, and hills that are found along the path set out for you. Eventually, after climbing a hill with grassy weeds and crumbling castle walls, you'll come to a larger area with a hole in the ceiling that's causing light to shine in. From this area, head up a staircase into a library, where you can find Mother Jago's Book sitting on a back table surrounded by candles. With the book in hand, head out the way you came in and return to Mother Jago with it. Explore the Speaking CaveAfter delivering Mother Jago's Book to her at the Old Mine, she'll say that she actually has a good relationship with the Druids and her book wasn't actually stolen. Retrieving the book was a test of trust, which you passed. Mother Jago now says she has a way out of the Quarantine Zone, but before you can escape, you need to visit the Speaking Cave and leave an offering there.The Speaking Cave is located in the southern part of Casterfell Woods at coordinates 23.0 E, 85.4 N. Here, you can enter the cave freely, as Mother Jago has given you an item that makes you a friend to the Druids. Inside the Speaking Cave, follow your quest marker to head up to the end of the winding paths. The paths culminate in front of a large, wooden structure with a bowl placed on a table under it. Approach the bowl, interact with it, and place an offering inside of it.Once this is done, you'll hear a voice come out of a detached head from the wooden structure that looks to be the "Voice in the Soil" that's been causing so much panic in the Quarantine Zone. You'll also have to make a dialogue choice that pledges your loyalty to the Voice in the Soil and the Druids going forward. If you choose the "Confrontational" option, you have to fight your way out of the cave, and the Mother Jago quest can't be fully completed.If you head past the wooden structure, you'll find a small room with some valuable items, including a recording from Captain Sims. If you haven't already, this begins the Captain Sims quest in Atomfall.After the offering is placed and you've explored the Speaking Cave, return to Mother Jago once more at the Old Mine. Find the Growth StimulantWhen you return to Mother Jago, tell her you made the offering. If you didn't choose the confrontational dialogue option, you can proceed with the quest. Mother Jago now tells you of a Growth Stimulant that she wants you to "feed" to Oberon. Oberon is the large meteor in the Interchange that caused the Quarantine Zone to be put up. Mother Jago and the Druids want Oberon to grow and continue to effect change throughout the surrounding lands. To find the Growth Stimulant, you have to head into the Interchange and visit the Medical facility. The entrance to the Medical facility is located to the west of Data Store C. The entrance is on the ground floor of the Interchange. When you enter the Medical facility, you then have to find the entrance to the Medical Tunnels, which is found further west. You'll have to head past several thrall enemies as well as a large plant enemy in the middle of a large cavern.Go past the plant on its left side to head up a new path and find the Growth Stimulant sitting on the ground next to a dead scientist. With the Growth Stimulant, head out the way you came in, making sure to avoid the plant as best as possible, and stay in the Interchange. Feed the Growth Stimulant to OberonWhen you have the Growth Stimulant, you have everything you need to enter the Oberon facility in the Interchange. To do that, you need to power up every single Data Store Room in the Interchange and then turn on the Central Processing Unit located in the central room. Once the CPU is powered on, a new entrance to the Windscale Plant will become available.Take the Windscale Plant entrance to access the new area with Oberon. You have to go through the Windscale Plant before reaching Oberon, which is full of thrall enemies. But after you get through the plant, you'll be in the Oberon Digsite area. Here, you need to take the Growth Stimulant and head to the large building located to the immediate left of the digsite entrance. This is found before you reach the purple-glowing Oberon rock.Inside this building, you have to navigate through a series of hallways, sometimes defeating enemies in haz-mat suits, until you reach the command center of the digsite. On one of the command center consoles, you'll find the "Fire Safety Fluid Input Terminal." You need to insert the Growth Stimulant into this terminal.Once that happens, head down to Oberon itself, being careful to avoid the patrolling robots on the ground level, and find two "Fire Safety Valves." These are located on either end of the digsite and require a simple interaction to use. Now, you can head back up to the command center in the building and turn on the "Fire Safety Valves."After these are activated, head back down to the digsite once more. Exit the Oberon Digsite area, make your way back through the Windscale Plant, and go to the Castle Ruins at the Druid's Camp in Casterfell Woods. There, jump into the blue glowing hole in the ground at the command of the Voice in the Soil. This ends Atomfall.