This edition of Bustler'scurated picksof noteworthy architecture and design competitions features four calls seeking proposals for the revitalization of Yeosu City Hall in South Korea, standout products and designers that reflect forward-thinking design, student-driven urban solutions for the reimagining of a site along the Cai River inNha Trang, Vietnam, and innovative lighting designs.For the complete directory of newly listed competitions, clickhere.

While FromSoftwares Elden Ring Nightreign feels like a novel concept for the studio with its multiplayer, The Duskbloods sees it introducing several new features for the format. Speaking to Nintendo in a new Creators Interview, director Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed how players can further shape their interactions with other players via roles.In online play, roles give players special responsibilities and objectives that often lead to unique interactions and relationships between players based on their corresponding roles.Some examples include a player with the Destined Rivals role who must locate another player who is their rival and defeat them. Conversely, Destined Companion involves finding a player designated as your companion. While completing them doesnt guarantee winning the match, they count as personal goals and confer rewards.Note that these names arent final, but roles add an extra layer of role-playing since theyre assigned by customizing ones blood history and fate. Interestingly, Miyazaki admitted this was akin to a tabletop RPG, even if it wasnt entirely intentional.It may reflect my own interests a bit. It might seem a little unorthodox at first, but I hope players will give it a try.The Duskbloods is a PvEvP title where the Bloodsworn battle for the First Blood during humanitys twilight (read: demise). Its out next year for Nintendo Switch 2 and offers a dozen playable characters with unique abilities and weapons. Head here for more details.

Researchers Develop the Worlds Smallest Pacemaker, and It Could Be Revolutionary for Newborn Babies With Heart DefectsThe new device is smaller than a grain of rice and gets absorbed by the patients body when its no longer needed, eliminating the risks of an extraction surgery A new, temporary pacemaker is smaller than a grain of rice. John A. Rogers / Northwestern UniversityResearchers have developed the smallest temporary pacemaker ever created. Its littler than a grain of rice and is naturally absorbed by the body after serving its function. As detailed in a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the technology eliminates the risk of complications associated with surgically removing standard pacemakers, and it could be a game-changer for newborns with congenital heart defects.The innovation marks a significant leap forward, Bozhi Tian, a researcher whose lab at the University of Chicago develops light-powered bioelectronics, tells the Agence France-Presses Daniel Lawler. Tian, who was not involved in the recent study, adds that this new pacemaker is a transformative breakthrough in medical technology.Pacemakers are small implants that help the heart maintain a normal beat via electrical pulses. Temporary pacemakers are often required after heart surgery or while waiting for a permanent pacemaker. Today, patients who need one undergo an invasive operation during which surgeons attach electrodes, devices that conduct electricity, to the heart muscle. The electrodes are attached to an external pacing box, which delivers the electricity through wires that come out of the patients chest. When the patient no longer needs the pacemaker, a healthcare professional pulls the wires out.World's smallest pacemaker is activated by lightWatch on The old technology, though, can cause infections, because you have something inside the body that is now exposed to the outside environment through this wire, Christopher Mehta, a cardiac surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, explained toFred de Sam Lazaro and Sarah Clune Hartman atPBS in 2021, when the team first developed a dissolvable pacemaker. Mehta didnt participate in either study.Other risks associated with the procedure include infections, damaged tissue, dislodgment of the device, blood clots and bleeding. In fact, Neil Armstrongthe first person to walk on the moondied from internal bleeding in 2012 after his temporary pacemaker was removed.The novel pacemaker, however, is so small that it can be injected into the body with a syringe, meaning no wires are involved. And when the device is no longer needed, the body naturally absorbs it, so theres no risky removal procedure, either.The patient will be more free to move around after the surgery, Moussa Mansour, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told STATs Kevin Lin in 2021. Thats important, because the more you keep the patient in bed, the more likely they are to develop clots in their legs or pneumonia, as well as other complications, he adds.The new, tiny pacemaker comes with a small, soft wireless device worn on the chest. When the external device registers irregular heartbeats, it automatically emits light pulses that activate and control the pacemaker. The miniature pacemaker is composed of two electrodes that, when in contact with the bodys fluids, form a type of battery called a galvanic cell, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy used to stimulate the heartbeat. The external, wearable device activates the pacemaker with light. John A. Rogers / Northwestern UniversityThanks to its size, the technology also has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of heart defects in newborns. In fact, our major motivation was children, Igor Efimov, a Northwestern University experimental cardiologist who co-led the study, says in a statement. He adds that 1 percent of children are born with heart defects, regardless of where they live. After surgery, the tiny patients only need a pacemaker for about a week, but those seven days are absolutely critical. Now, we can place this tiny pacemaker on a childs heart and stimulate it with a soft, gentle, wearable device. And no additional surgery is necessary to remove it.The researchers have tested the technology on lab animals and hearts from deceased organ donors. John Rogers, senior author of the study and a physical chemist at Northwestern University, suggests that human trials could take place in two or three years, according to the Agence France-Presse.Its a paradigm shift in temporary pacing and bioelectronic medicine, opening up possibilities far beyond cardiologyincluding nerve regeneration, wound healing and integrated smart implants, he adds.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

The structure of the game business has changed. And one of the essential new kinds of companies in that structure is Keywords.Read More

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. over Trump tariffsNintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. over Trump tariffsThe Japanese company has explained it must 'assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.'Chris Kerr, News EditorApril 4, 20252 Min ReadImage via Nintendo Nintendo has delayed Switch 2 pre-orders in the United States in response to tariffs rolled out by the Trump administration.Pre-orders for the $449 console were scheduled to begin on April 9, 2025, but have been delayed until further notice."Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions, said Nintendo in a brief statement first spotted by GameSpot reporter Tamoor Hussain. "Nintendo will update timing at a later date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged."The news comes around 48 hours after Nintendo shared more details about the console during a special Switch 2 focused Nintendo Direct, revealing a device laden with new multiplayer and social features such as GameChat and GameShare and more robust innards.The grand reveal took place just before President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs on imports to the countrymeaning it will now cost more for companies to bring goods into the United States.As noted by The BBC, the United States has imposed a 10 percent tariff as a baselinebut will hit some countries with rates of up to 50 percent. Nintendo's home country of Japan has been hit with a 24 percent tariff.Nintendo hardware production hubs hit by some of largest U.S. tariffsRelated:The company had been working to shift hardware production away from China to regions such as Cambodia and Vietnam (thanks Forbes).The rub, however, is that Vietnam and Cambodia have been hit with 46 percent and 49 percent tariffs, respectively. Two of the highest rolled out by Trump's administration.It remains to be seen how Nintendo will deal with the situation. But the big question is whether the company will eat the cost or pass on the outlay to customers.The Switch 2's RRP of $449 has already caused some sticker shock online, with players recently bombarding a Nintendo Treehouse live broadcast with repeated (and rather blunt) calls for the company to "drop the price." Good spot, NintendoLife.The price of first-party software such as Mario Kart World has also raised eyebrows, with Nintendo revealing the title will cost $80 at launchalthough it will be available in a Switch 2 launch hardware bundle that effectively knocks $30 off that RRP.Read more about:NintendoNintendo Switch 2Top StoriesAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Donald Trumps initial 75-day delay against enforcement of the TikTok ban law wouldve expired this weekend, but on Friday, he announced on Truth Social that I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days. This week, Trump announced new taxes on products coming into the US, including a 34 percent tariff rate against China. He has said that he would consider lowering that rate in exchange for China agreeing to a TikTok deal, but with the deadline closing in, its Trump who decided to extend the delay instead of having TikToks app shut down again. Despite several publicly announced bids to buy TikTok, its Chinese owner, ByteDance, has shown no inclination to sell or reduce its stake in the company as required by the law passed last year.When the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act took effect just ahead of Trumps inauguration, TikTok voluntarily turned its service off for a day. At the same time, Google, Apple, and others removed it and other ByteDance-owned apps from their stores as required. After his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order telling the Attorney General and Department of Justice to take no action to enforce the Act or impose any penalties against any entity for any noncompliance with the Act. But with the law still on the books after the Supreme Court declined to delay it and with the risk of billions of dollars in penalties, the app took nearly a month to return to US app stores.Trump:My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days. We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security! We do not want TikTok to go dark. We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal. Thank you for your attention to this matter!Developing

The future of robotics has advanced significantly. For many years, there have been expectations of human-like robots that can navigate our environments, perform complex tasks, and work alongside humans. Examples include robots conducting precise surgical procedures, building intricate structures, assisting in disaster response, and cooperating efficiently with humans in various settings such as factories, offices, and homes. However, actual progress has historically been limited.Researchers from NVIDIA, Carnegie Mellon University, UC Berkeley, UT Austin, and UC San Diego introduced HOVER, a unified neural controller aimed at enhancing humanoid robot capabilities. This research proposes a multi-mode policy distillation framework, integrating different control strategies into one cohesive policy, thereby making a notable advancement in humanoid robotics.The Achilles Heel of Humanoid Robotics: The Control ConundrumImagine a robot that can execute a perfect backflip but then struggles to grasp a doorknob.The problem? Specialization.Humanoid robots are incredibly versatile platforms, capable of supporting a wide range of tasks, including bimanual manipulation, bipedal locomotion, and complex whole-body control. However, despite impressive advances in these areas, researchers have typically employed different control formulations designed for specific scenarios.Some controllers excel at locomotion, using root velocity tracking to guide movement. This approach focuses on controlling the robots overall movement through space.Others prioritize manipulation, relying on joint angle tracking for precise movements. This approach allows for fine-grained control of the robots limbs.Still others use kinematic tracking of key points for teleoperation. This method enables a human operator to control the robot by tracking their own movements.Each speaks a different control language, creating a fragmented landscape where robots are masters of one task and inept at others. Switching between tasks has been clunky, inefficient, and often impossible. This specialization creates practical limitations. For example, a robot designed for bipedal locomotion on uneven terrain using root velocity tracking would struggle to transition smoothly to precise bimanual manipulation tasks that require joint angle or end-effector tracking.In addition to that, many pre-trained manipulation policies operate across different configuration spaces, such as joint angles and end-effector positions. These constraints highlight the need for a unified low-level humanoid controller capable of adapting to diverse control modes.HOVER: The Unified Field Theory of Robotic ControlHOVER is a paradigm shift. Its a generalist policya single neural network that harmonizes diverse control modes, enabling seamless transitions and unprecedented versatility. HOVER supports diverse control modes, including over 15 useful configurations for real-world applications on a 19-DOF humanoid robot. This versatile command space encompasses most of the modes used in previous research.Learning from the Masters: Human Motion ImitationHOVERs brilliance lies in its foundation: learning from human movement itself. By training an oracle motion imitator on a massive dataset of human motion capture data (MoCap), HOVER absorbs the fundamental principles of balance, coordination, and efficient movement. This approach utilizes human movements natural adaptability and efficiency, providing the policy with rich motor priors that can be reused across multiple control modes.The researchers ground the training process in human-like motion, allowing the policy to develop a deeper understanding of balance, coordination, and motion control, crucial elements for effective whole-body humanoid behavior.From Oracle to Prodigy: Policy DistillationThe magic truly happens through policy distillation. The oracle policy, the master imitator, teaches a student policy (HOVER) its skills. Through a process involving command masking and a DAgger framework, HOVER learns to master diverse control modes, from kinematic position tracking to joint angle control and root tracking. This creates a generalist capable of handling any control scenario.Through policy distillation, these motor skills are transferred from the oracle policy into a single generalist policy capable of handling multiple control modes. The resulting multi-mode policy supports diverse control inputs and outperforms policies trained individually for each mode. The researchers hypothesize this superior performance stems from the policy using shared physical knowledge across modes, such as maintaining balance, human-like motion, and precise limb control. These shared skills enhance generalization, leading to better performance across all modes, while single-mode policies often overfit specific reward structures and training environments.HOVERs implementation involves training an Oracle policy followed by knowledge distillation to create a versatile controller. The oracle policy processes proprioceptive information, including position, orientation, velocities, and previous actions alongside reference poses, to generate optimal movements. The oracle achieves robust motion imitation using a carefully designed reward system with penalty, regularization, and task components. The student policy then learns from this oracle through a DAgger framework, incorporating model-based and sparsity-based masking techniques that allow selective tracking of different body parts. This distillation process minimizes the action difference between teacher and student, creating a unified controller capable of handling diverse control scenarios.The researchers formulate humanoid control as a goal-conditioned reinforcement learning task where the policy is trained to track real-time human motion. The state includes the robots proprioception and a unified target goal state. Using these inputs, they define a reward function for policy optimization. The actions represent target joint positions that are fed into a PD controller. The system employs Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) to maximize cumulative discounted rewards, essentially training the humanoid to follow target commands at each timestep.The research methodology utilizes motion retargeting techniques to create feasible humanoid movements from human motion datasets. This three-step process begins with computing keypoint positions through forward kinematics, fitting the SMPL model to align with these key points, and retargeting the AMASS dataset by matching corresponding points between models using gradient descent. The sim-to-data procedure converts the large-scale human motion dataset into feasible humanoid motions, establishing a strong foundation for training the controller.The research team designed a comprehensive command space for humanoid control that overcomes the limitations of previous approaches. Their unified framework accommodates multiple control modes simultaneously, including kinematic position tracking, joint angle tracking, and root tracking. This design satisfies key criteria of generality (supporting various input devices) and atomicity (enabling arbitrary combinations of control options).HOVER Unleashed: Performance That Redefines RoboticsHOVERs capabilities are proven by rigorous testing:Dominating the Specialists:HOVER outperforms specialized controllers across the board. The research team evaluated HOVER against specialist policies and alternative multi-mode training approaches through comprehensive tests in both IsaacGym simulation and real-world implementations using the Unitree H1 robot.To address whether HOVER could outperform specialized policies, they compared it against various specialists, including ExBody, HumanPlus, H2O, and OmniH2O each designed for different tracking objectives such as joint angles, root velocity, or specific key points.In evaluations using the retargeted AMASS dataset, HOVER consistently demonstrated superior generalization, outperforming specialists in at least 7 out of 12 metrics in every command mode. HOVER performed better than specialists trained for specific useful control modes like left-hand, right-hand, two-hand, and head tracking.Multi-Mode Mastery: A Clean SweepWhen compared to other multi-mode training methods, they implemented a baseline that used the same masking process but trained from scratch with reinforcement learning. Radar charts visualizing tracking errors across eight distinct control modes showed HOVER consistently achieving lower errors across all 32 metrics and modes. HOVER achieved consistently lower tracking errors across all 32 metrics and 8 distinct control modes. This decisive victory underscores the power of HOVERs distillation approach. This comprehensive performance advantage underscores the effectiveness of distilling knowledge from an oracle policy that tracks full-body kinematics rather than training with reinforcement learning from scratch.From Simulation to Reality: Real-World ValidationHOVERs prowess is not confined to the digital world. The experimental setup included motion tracking evaluations using the retargeted AMASS dataset in simulation and 20 standing motion sequences for the real-world tests on the 19-DOF Unitree H1 platform, weighing 51.5kg and standing 1.8m tall. The experiments were structured to answer three key questions about HOVERs generalizability, comparative performance, and real-world transferability.On the Unitree H1 robot, a 19-DOF humanoid weighing 51.5kg and standing 1.8m tall, HOVER flawlessly tracked complex standing motions, dynamic running movements, and smoothly transitioned between control modes during locomotion and teleoperation. Experiments conducted in both simulation and on a physical humanoid robot show that HOVER achieves seamless transitions between control modes and delivers superior multi-mode control compared to baseline approaches.HOVER: The Future of Humanoid PotentialHOVERunlocks the vast potential of humanoid robots. The multi-mode generalist policy also enables seamless transitions between modes, making it robust and versatile.Imagine a future where humanoids:Perform intricate surgery with unparalleled precision.Construct complex structures with human-like dexterity.Respond to disasters with agility and resilience.Collaborate seamlessly with humans in factories, offices, and homes.The age of truly versatile, capable, and intelligent humanoids is on the horizon, and HOVER is leading the way. Their evaluations collectively illustrate HOVERs ability to handle diverse real-world control modes, offering superior performance compared to specialist policies.Sources:Thanks tothe NVIDIA teamfor the thought leadership/ Resources for this article.NVIDIA team has supported and sponsored this content/article. Jean-marc MommessinJean-marc is a successful AI business executive .He leads and accelerates growth for AI powered solutions and started a computer vision company in 2006. He is a recognized speaker at AI conferences and has an MBA from Stanford.Jean-marc Mommessinhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/jean-marc0000677/Speech-to-Speech Foundation Models Pave the Way for Seamless Multilingual InteractionsJean-marc Mommessinhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/jean-marc0000677/Lowes Revolutionizes Retail with AI: From Personalized Shopping to Proactive Customer AssistanceJean-marc Mommessinhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/jean-marc0000677/Google DeepMinds Gemini Robotics: Unleashing Embodied AI with Zero-Shot Control and Enhanced Spatial ReasoningJean-marc Mommessinhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/jean-marc0000677/Aya Vision Unleashed: A Global AI Revolution in Multilingual Multimodal Power!

Considering what it offers, Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows and Star Wars movies, excellent kids' programming like Bluey, and so much more, Disney Plus puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. And with so much to check out, including season 2 of Andor on April 22, you'll want to find a plan that best suits you. We're here to help. At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. This starts at $16.99/month to get you all three streaming services with ads. It's one of the best bundles available at the moment, but we've included more Disney Plus bundle deals worth exploring below. If you're looking for more streaming deals from other services, check out the best Hulu deals and bundles and the best Max deals.How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max Streaming BundleThe Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across the three platforms. If you currently own all three and want to cut down on costs, this is a great way to bundle them together and save big on what you'd pay for them separately per month 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.Get the Disney+, Hulu, Max Streaming Bundle$16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free.See it at Disney+What Is the New Paid Sharing Plan on Disney Plus?In an effort to crack down on password sharing, Disney has unveiled a paid sharing plan for individuals outside of your household. Basically, anyone using your account that's not within your household will have to be added as an "Extra Member" to your account. This costs an additional $6.99/month for the ad-supported Basic subscription and $9.99/month for the Premium ad-free plan, and only one Extra Member slot is available per account. You can learn more from Disney's paid sharing explainer here.What Are the Different Disney+ Subscription Tiers?Sign Up for Disney+See it at Disney+Disney+ is available in a couple of different tiers. You can get the least expensive option (called Disney+ Basic) for $9.99/month, which gives you access to everything except the ability to download select shows to watch on the go. This tier is ad supported. If you want to get rid of ads and be able to download certain shows, you can spring for the $15.99/month or $159.99/year Disney+ Premium package.What Are the Different Disney+ Bundles?Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic (With Ads)Get thousands of shows, movies, and Originals with Disney+ and Hulu (with ads)$10.99 at Disney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic - $16.99Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium - $26.99Want a way to save on your Disney+ membership? Bundles are a great, affordable way to go. As far as bundles go, there are two ad-supported bundles and two ad-free bundles. Here's the breakdown:Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic is $10.99/month and comes with subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu. This plan lets you stream on multiple devices at once and comes with ad-supported versions of both services.Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium is $19.99/month and comes with Hulu and Disney+ with no ads. It also includes Disney+ Premium features like the ability to download shows to watch on the go.Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic adds ESPN+ (With Ads) to the mix alongside Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads), bumping up the price to $16.99/month. You can also download and watch select content on ESPN+ at this level.Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium is $26.99/month and comes with ESPN+ (With Ads) and ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu. You can also download select content across all three streaming services.Disney+ Gift CardsIf you want to help someone out and give them a gift that will keep on giving, gifting a one-year Disney+ card is a great way to go. It provides all the great things Disney+ offers and it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy even a small sampling of those movies physically.Disney+Give one of the best subscription services around as a gift. With Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic access, it's a great place to watch.See it at DisneyWhat Can You Watch on Disney+?There is a bonkers array of shows and movies you can watch on Disney+. Let's start at the top and simply talk about the verticals on offer here with the base subscription.Here's what you get:DisneyPixarMarvelStar WarsNational GeographicDisney on Disney+On the Disney front, you have awesome classic movies like The Sword In The Stone, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty, modern classics like The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, and a wide range of animated shows, including Phineas & Ferb. You also gain access to a ton of vintage content like Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Love Bug, and a whole lot more. The Disney Junior section is home to absolutely top tier animated shows like Bluey (which, for my money, is worth the price of admission on its own).There's way more on offer, too, including a ton of Muppet movies, new live-action films and adaptions, nature programs, documentaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, and musical programs featuring Taylor Swift (like her wildly popular The Eras Tour), Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and more.Pixar on Disney+When it comes to computer generated films, Pixar stands alone. Kicking off the revolution with Toy Story, Pixar has consistently put out fantastic films, and they are all here. From the Toy Story series to Finding Nemo, Cars, and more recent hits like Inside Out 2, there is a ton to love. Beyond even that, there are incredible shorts like Bao and Party Central, as well as a wide range of originals and series based on major films, such as Dory's Reef Cam, Forky Asks A Question, Cars On The Road, and more.Marvel on Disney+The MCU has become a true juggernaut, and there are many viewers who subscribe to Disney+ purely for access to nearly the entire MCU lineup of films and shows.PlayWhether you are a fan of the blockbuster action films, you are an appreciator of the classic 90s runs of "Saturday morning" cartoons like X-Men, or you are currently vibing to the funky theme of the 1981 Spider-Man series, there is a ton of Marvel to enjoy on Disney+. And with new movies and shows being added to the MCU all the time, including most recently Deadpool & Wolverine and Your Friendly Neigborhood Spider-Man, there is always more coming.Star Wars on Disney+A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a film that changed everything. The original Star Wars is a seminal sci-fi fantasy work that inspired generations of creators, but there is still nothing quite like that far away galaxy. Disney+ grants access to all things Star Wars, including the remastered versions of the original trilogy (hopefully some day they'll add the theatrical cuts, too), as well as the prequels and sequels. You can also stay up-to-date on all the latest shows, including The Mandalorian and the critically-lauded Andor, which some viewers say is "the best Star Wars has ever been." There are also fantastic short series like Star Wars Visions, and longer-form series like The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures, and a whole lot more.Take a look at our list of Disney+ alernatives for additional streaming services. To play while you watch, see our roundup of the best LEGO Disney sets. For more deals, dive into our Daily Deals page.Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.Original story from Brian Barnett.

Some might complain that the sneak peek for Superman doesnt actually let us peek anything new. It begins with Superman crashing into the snow and calling for his dog Krypto, just like the trailer released a few months earlier. It continues with a montage of scenes, including shots of superheroes such as Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and the Green Lantern Guy Gardner. It ends with Superman (David Corenswet) embracing Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), all while a variation of the John Williams theme plays.Yet, there is new footage in this teaser. Well, only new in the sense that we havent seen this particular scene from Superman before. But the ideas in the footage is old in the very best way, proving that James Gunn is going deep into DC and even pulp lore to create something special.The teaser features extended footage of Krypto (perhaps because it debuted in front of the kid-friendly A Minecraft Movie), frolicking and being a normal dog before rescuing Superman. Krypto takes Superman to his Arctic hideaway the Fortress of Solitude, presented here with the crystalline design that John Barry made for the 1978 film.But the most notable addition comes with the figures who tend to Superman, four humanoid machines with capes and shields.Superman and robots may be new to the this films marketing, and indeed, to Superman movies in general. But they have a long history in the comics. In throughout the Silver Age, Superman often employed robot clones of himself, sometimes to throw off people who suspect his secret identity, and sometimes just to mess with Lois Lane. Since Crisis on Infinite Earths rebooted the DC Universe in the mid-1980s, the robots tended to be more insect-like assistants who tended to the Fortress of Solitude. The movie version appears to combine the two approaches, as they appear to be caretakers of the Fortress with more spindly features, but they still sport the shield and capes of their masters.However, the whole idea of robotic assistants and a hidden fortress goes back even further than the Silver Age, even before Superman even started the superhero comic book genre with Action Comics #1 in 1938. They are concepts Superman inherited from pulp novels and magazines, high adventure stories about people with remarkable powers, who sometimes put on costumes and took on alter egos.In particular, they come from the adventures of Doc Savage, created by Henry W. Ralston, John L. Nanovic, and Lester Dent, and debuting in 1933s Doc Savage Magazine #1. Dubbed the Man of Bronze, Doc Savage was a genius mathematician, scientist, and adventurer, who fought evildoers with the help of his team of experts. Savage operated mostly out of his office on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, but also had a secret arctic hideout called the Fortress of Solitude.To be clear, Doc Savage didnt fill his Fortress with robots. But in the 1935 novel The Fantastic Island, Savage employs Robbie the Robot as a synthetic double to confound his enemies, just like Superman would do two decades later. But he did fill it with his assistants and aids, a common trope found in fellow pulp heroes such as Zorro, Tarzan, and the Shadow. Supermans creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster alter that trope for the first adventures of their hero, using Supermans secret identity as Clark Kent and his friendship with Lois Lane as an alternative to the band of experts on which the pulp heroes relied. But the trope soon resurfaced, with Superman not only getting help from his pal Jimmy Olsen and boss Perry White (both additions from the radio show The Adventures of Superman), but also with fellow heroes Batman and the Justice Society of America.More importantly for the James Gunn movie, writer Grant Morrison strengthened the connections between Superman and the pulp heroes. The robots seen in the film come directly from Morrisons All-Star Superman, which features the Man of Steel completing heroic tasks before his death and creating new scientific wonders in his lab, plot points common to the pulp era. Morrisons Superman and the Authority, which features a team-up that Gunns movie will replicate, reimagines Superman as an explicitly in the style of Doc Savage (or even Alan Moores homage Tom Strong), complete with ever-present work gloves and a commitment to scientific exploration. And, of course, the robots are there again to help him.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!As this brief history shows, the robots arent just a cool detail from the comics. They are part of a longer tradition of genre fiction, one that Gunn clearly loves. By situating Superman within this lineage, Gunn shows that hes not just performing another cynical task of IP-mining. Hes celebrating a genre, remembering its past while moving forward.Superman flies into theaters on July 11, 2025.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE is officially out in theaters! Embark on an adventure that has it all: a ragtag group of misfits, a mysterious blocky world, angry hordes of piglins, and of course, Steve! How will our heroes fare in the Overworld? Will they ever get back home? And how will they deal with the minor ordeal of a piglin plot to conquer the Overworld? Grab your ticket, snatch the biggest bucket of popcorn you can handle, and find out!GET TICKETS: UNITED STATES | INTERNATIONALIn case you need a refresher, heres the latest and greatest trailer for A MINECRAFT MOVIE:Free in-game contentTo celebrate A MINECRAFT MOVIE, weve partnered up with Warner Bros. Pictures to create some thrilling (and completely free!) in-game content* so you can adventure beyond the silver screen. Get it all at Minecraft Marketplace!A MINECRAFT MOVIE DLCEnter the arcade and compete in elytra races, survive the night, and sneak into a woodland mansion! Play iconic moments from the film in A MINECRAFT MOVIE DLC and see if you can reach the top of the leaderboard, whether you bring along friends or play with the heroes from the movie.A MINECRAFT MOVIE ADD-ONWield powerful weapons and fight vicious piglins from the movie in this free add-on. Equip the potato launcher, buck-chuckets, and more, then face the Piglin General, the Great Hog, and a host of other foes.LAVA CHICKEN ADD-ONSteves (in)famous recipe from the movie is also available for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition! Cook the chicken and grab a bite to turn up the heat and leave a... spicy trail for your foes. Can you win the battle before the heat overwhelms you?A MINECRAFT MOVIE: HERO PACKWill you lovingly tame wolves as Dawn or build your own Chicken Shack as Steve? No matter what type of adventurer you are, theres a hero and skin to suit your playstyle.FREE WALLPAPERA MINECRAFT MOVIE isnt just for the silver screen! Bring the adventure to your small, medium, and big screens with a free wallpaper. Simply go here to choose your screen size or download the entire set by clicking the button below.DOWNLOAD HEREWe couldnt be more excited for you to finally see A MINECRAFT MOVIE! We hope you have fun seeing the Overworld through a new lens and enjoy the ride together with Steve, Garrett, Dawn, Natalie, and Henry. And remember, always bring a water bucket!* Requires Internet, a valid Microsoft account, and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (sold separately). Geography limitations, country and balance restrictions, taxes, platform-specific online subscription requirements and Internet connection fees may apply. Add-on, skin pack, and DLC are available on Minecraft Marketplace until 12/31/2025.