Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. It's been a packed week with lots of tasty new games arriving, and news and reveals of upcoming projects. So, let's take a look at a bunch of them.Before we get started though, Engadget senior editor Jessica Conditt spoke with Maxi Boch, one of the core trio behind Baby Steps, about how the game came together. Boch offered some fascinating insights into the games development process (which started in 2019), especially on the audio side.New releasesDispatch is a superhero workplace comedy from AdHoc Studio, a team that includes former Telltale Games developers. It adopts the narrative-heavy, dialogue-driven gameplay of Telltale's games, with your choices having a bearing on how everything plays out. Dispatch has a packed cast as well, as it includes the likes of Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey and Jeffrey Wright.I really dug the demo, so I'm hoping to carve out some time to play Dispatch soon. As with many of Telltale's games, AdHoc Studio went with an episodic approach for this one, but the developer is releasing them on a weekly basis. The first two episodes of Dispatch are out now on PS5 and Steam, and reviewers' impressions so far are generally positive.We've got a trio of titles that just hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass to talk about, including PowerWash Simulator 2. I don't typically listen to music or podcasts while I'm playing games. I prefer to listen to the game audio and I'm a terrible multitasker, anyway. However, I did catch up on a bunch of podcast episodes while playing the original PowerWash Simulator. I'm looking forward to doing that once again while blissfully ignoring IRL chores as I blast away virtual gunk with a pressure washer."More of the same, but better" is exactly what I wanted from PowerWash Simulator 2, so I was very glad to read some reviews indicating that's the case. As well as Xbox Series X/S, this sequel from FuturLab is also available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.Next up, we have a surprise Game Pass addition as Pacific Drive arrived on the Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers without prior warning this week. It wasnt available on Xbox at all until now. Pacific Drive turns the title of Netflix's F1 docuseries into an actual "drive to survive" horror game. You'll roam the Pacific Northwest in a station wagon to search for parts to upgrade your vehicle and stay alive.Ironwood Studios and publisher Kepler Interactive brought Pacific Drive to Xbox on the same day they released an expansion called Whispers in the Woods. The game (and DLC) is also available on PS5 and Steam. I've been meaning to play Pacific Drive for a while but, as always, there are too many games and not enough time to check everything out. Perhaps I'll finally try this now that it's on Game Pass, but I might just end up waiting for the TV show instead.Here's something interesting from DinoGod and publisher Annapurna Interactive. Bounty Star is a blend of mech action game, farming sim and base builder. As war veteran Clem, you'll try to become a force for good in a "post-post-apocalyptic version of the American Southwest."I'm interested to see how the core aspects of Bounty Star play off each other as you take care of your homestead and hunt down bounties in your mech (which you can customize). It's out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store. Bounty Star is on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass too.Ila: A Frosty Glide is a chill, 3D platform adventure from Magic Rain Studios and publisher First Break Labs. As a young witch-in-training named Ila, you'll explore a snowy mountainous island while searching for your missing cat.My favorite thing about the game, at least based on the trailer and what I've read, is that instead of a broom, Ila uses a "skatebroom" to get around. It's a skateboard and a flying broomstick in one! I'd like one of those. As it happens, developers talo and Yesenia met while skateboarding. They started making games with skateboarding elements a few years later. Ila: A Frosty Glide is out now on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.After reading one sentence of a pitch for The Bench, I was sold: "In The Bench, you played as a retired secret agent on one last mission: escaping the retirement home and unfolding a pigeon conspiracy." Wonderful stuff, there. As said pensioner, you'll amass a flock of customizable pigeons to help you during your adventure as you explore some parks. Along the way, you'll solve puzzles, play bowls and chess, doodle in your notebook, play pranks and go fishing.The Bench from Voxel Studios and Noovola Publishing is out now on Steam. I hope I don't have to wait until I'm retired to have time to play it.UpcomingNo More Robots unveiled two games this week, and one of them is a step in an (almost) entirely new direction for the publisher of Descenders Next and Little Rocket Lab. It's now making games internally, and the first one to see the light of day is Cruise Control. This is a cruise liner management sim in which you'll try to make your guests happy by fulfilling their needs and wants. It looks quite charming. I'm a big fan of the oversized bingo cage device.This is actually the third game No More Robots has worked on in-house, but it's the first one that the company has unveiled. The publisher noted that Cruise Control isn't quite ready. Still, playtests should start later this year ahead of an early 2026 release.The other upcoming game No More Robots showed off is Thank You For Your Application from IceLemonTea Studio. Here, you'll review job candidates' resumes and make decisions whether to bring them on board based on the hiring company's criteria.This has an air of Papers, Please and No More Robots' own Not Tonight series about it you'll have to deal with bills, rent and otherwise managing your life too. It also seems quite timely given that the job application process is now so onerous for many people. Thank You For Your Application will arrive in 2026 and there's a demo available on Steam now.Finite Reflection Studios, the developer of last year's acclaimed Void Sols, has revealed its next game. Mouseward is another Soulslike, but it's one in the vein of '90s collectathon platformers like Banjo-Kazooie. As a reincarnated Royal Mouse Guard, you set out to save the kingdom from a curse.I love the aesthetic here. There's no release window for Mouseward as yet. It's coming to Steam and you can play an early build on Itch right now.Speaking of games inspired by '90s platformers, there's danger that Windswept could become my entire personality for a spell. It's coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on November 11.Windswept from WeatherFell and publisher Top Hat Studios is a precision platformer which sees animal buddies Marbles (a duck) and Checkers (a turtle) trying to get back home after a storm whisks them away. The 40-plus stages are full of collectibles and have secrets for you to discover.The glimpses of levels where you have to navigate sticky walls and ceilings, thorny brambles and pirate ship masts are very reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country 2. I'm not exactly complaining though, as that's one of my favorite games of all time.We've known for a while that a beat-'em-up based on the splatterfest movie series Terrifier was on the way and now we have a release date. Unfortunately, it's not coming your way in time for Halloween, but you will be able to gingerly set foot into Terrifier: The ARTcade Game on November 21.Yes, yes, even Art the Clown is in Fortnite now, but you can also play as the brutal killer in his own game from Relevo and publisher Selecta Play. There's support for local co-op for up to four players (and you can turn on each other, if you like. Terrifier fans will probably be pleased that they can use weapons like chainsaws and cleavers to cause bloody carnage. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is bound for Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/superhero-workplace-comedy-more-powerwashing-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-230000337.html?src=rss

Virgin River season 7 has officially wrapped filming. Here's everything we know so far about the hit Netflix show's return.

The S&P 500 on Friday peaked above 6,800 for the first time ever before closing just below that level.

This 8-minute behind the scenes reel showcases how the dramatic scenes were made.The post The VFX behind Alice in Borderland season 3 appeared first on befores & afters.

Its a well-known fact that phone time before bed makes it harder to sleep. Studies show that a nighttime scroll keeps your brain active, delays REM sleep, and may even disrupt your circadian rhythm. Now, Ikea has created an unusual solution to this damaging habit: designing a dedicated bed for your phone.The Ikea Phone Sleep Collection is essentially an ultra-miniaturized version of an Ikea bed frame, made in the perfect dimensions to cradle your smartphone on a bedside table. Embedded in the beds frame is an NFC chip that tracks how long the phone has been tucked in. If the time exceeds seven hours for seven consecutive nights, the user is rewarded with a shopping voucher of around $27. Despite its diminutive size, this five-piece product, like almost all of Ikeas inventory, comes flat-packed and requires self-assembly.From the masters of sleep comes a new revolution in rest: A complete breakthrough in bedtime that will change the world for good, an ad for the phone bed reads. Its the innovation you didnt know you needed until now, and that you will never not need again.Unfortunately for doomscrollers in the U.S., the agency Memac Ogilvy made the the Phone Sleep Collection exclusively for Ikea customers in the United Arab Emirates, where its currently available to locals who spend more than $207 on Ikea products. While the phone bed is clearly a marketing ploy, its not exactly an outlandish idea within todays growing market for hacks to reduce screentime.[Photo: Ikea]Why tucking your phone into bed makes sense, actuallyAround 2017, dumbphones enjoyed a spike in popularity as smartphone users began to realize just how much their phones dictated their daily lives, with brands including Nokia and Consumer Cellular jumping in on the trend. Since then, though, the dumbphone craze has waned slightly as smartphones have become an increasingly integral and unavoidable tool for both work and life. Instead, luddite hopefuls are turning to creative alternatives to cut their screentime.Recent solutions have included screentime reducing apps, like Hank Greens Focus Friend or the Touch Grass app; a Brick device that blocks distracting apps; and even a phone case thats so heavy its literally hard to pick up. The Ikea phone bed is basically another concept within this realm, except specifically geared toward the nighttime ritual.While the Phone Sleep Collection is a limited launch here in the UAE, its underlying principle addresses a universal challenge, says Carla Klumpenaar, Ikea UAEs GM of marketing, communications, HF & retail design. We believe that small, mindful rituals, like tucking your phone into its own bed, can create better routines that can contribute to improved sleep quality and mental clarity. This initiative transforms an everyday challenge into an engaging lifestyle habit, underlining IKEAs commitment to offering meaningful solutions that extend beyond just furniture.Is it silly? Of course. But if it works to reclaim even a bit of shut-eye, it might just be genius.

Here's what we looked at this week:CalTech attaches a drone to a humanoid robot. This isn't looking good.The floating Transatlantic Studio: For a show in Brazil, French artist Xavier Veilhan is creating the pieces en routeon a sailboat. Hell in a Handbasket: An "emotional companion" smartphone with a built-in gimbal camera.Historically accurate airport dioramas by AV Pro Designs.Sikorsky has made an unmanned, autonomous Blackhawk helicopter. And it's going into production.Canadian designer Jamie Wolfond's screw-mechanism adjustable lamp.A clever use of augmented reality: Tracing virtual art to quickly create murals.Dreamfarm's UpCup is a measuring cup that squeegees itself clean.Architecture firm Blue Temple has designed inexpensive DIY bamboo disaster relief housing that can withstand earthquakes.Forever object: The staple-less Oceanus Brass Stapler, a roaring success on Kickstarter.Twig&Bot's elegant robot-arm-carved guitar holders.Understanding the brilliant design of an automatic center punch.Rivian's skunkworks yields the TM-B, a modular e-bike that will be sold under their Also spin-off.Remedial design: Tidy Desk's decluttering add-on storage objects for slab desks.

Wearable robotics has always promised to help people walk farther, lift more, and recover faster, but most exoskeletons have remained trapped in factories and medical facilities. Heavy, rigid, and locked into single purposes, these devices have felt more like industrial equipment than something youd actually want to wear. The dream of truly personal, adaptable robotic support has remained elusive.Ascentiz changes this narrative by reimagining what wearable support can look and feel like in daily life. Instead of a one-size-fits-all suit that dominates your body, Ascentiz offers a modular system that adapts to your needs, your schedule, and your specific challenges. The exoskeleton becomes a tool you choose to use rather than equipment youre forced to endure.Designer: Ascentiz TeamClick Here to Buy Now: $1098 $1498 (27% off). Hurry, only 19/220 left! Raised over $1.8 million.The heart of the system lies in its modular approach built around two swappable powered modules connected to the Exo-Belt. The Hip H-Module powers uphill climbs and long treks, offsetting up to 66 pounds of load and boosting leg strength by 35 percent while reducing uphill effort by the same amount. The Knee K-Module works as a built-in shock absorber, offloading up to 216 pounds of impact pressure from both knees and improving standing stability by 35 percent.**Users choose either the H-Module or K-Module depending on their immediate activity, swapping between configurations in seconds. The H-Module excels at sustained endurance activities where you need power assistance over long distances. The K-Module protects joints during high-impact activities like downhill hiking or trail running, reducing peak joint pressure by up to 50 percent through dynamic force distribution.Three adaptive support modes make the system even more versatile. Ease Mode enhances stamina for long walks and hikes. ACC Mode kicks in power before muscles engage to boost pace during uphill sections. Train Mode simulates resistance for a full-body workout, turning flat terrain into an effective training session without needing gym equipment.The Exo-Belt serves as the central hub that makes modularity possible. Based on the MOLLE attachment system borrowed from military gear, the belt provides secure mounting while allowing quick adjustments for different body types and activities. The hinge structure enables users to attach various gear beyond just the H and K modules, creating a multifunctional platform for personal customization.An open-source approach represents Ascentizs vision for building a true BodyOS ecosystem. The platform allows anyone to create custom exoskeleton modules based on the Exo-Belt interface. Future modules will expand beyond hip and knee support, with the community able to develop specialized attachments for specific activities, professions, or personal needs. You become a co-creator rather than just a user.Comfort drives every design decision because wearable tech only works if people actually want to wear it. The system weighs just 3.9 pounds without the battery and operates at under 35 decibels, quiet enough for library use. Premium materials include aerospace-grade titanium alloy and Toray T700 carbon fiber for the frame, combined with eVent technical fabric featuring eco-friendly PU coating, and memory foam padding for all-day comfort.Smart adaptation happens through sensors that achieve 99.5 percent scenario recognition accuracy, responding in under 500 milliseconds and switching between activities in just 200 milliseconds. The system detects standing, walking, running, stairs, cycling, and squats, adapting assistance instantly as you move through your day without manual adjustments.**Real-world applications span from outdoor adventures where the H-Module provides endurance support for long hikes, to joint protection during high-intensity activities where the K-Module cushions impact. The same core system adapts to strength training, daily mobility support, and even professional use in demanding physical work environments.Ascentiz represents a fundamental shift in how we think about wearable robotics. By prioritizing modularity, open-source expandability, and user control, it makes exoskeleton technology accessible to people who need support in their daily lives rather than just in specialized environments. **The combination of swappable modules, the versatile Exo-Belt platform, and the vision of a collaborative BodyOS ecosystem creates a foundation for truly personalized human augmentation that evolves with both individual needs and community innovation.Click Here to Buy Now: $1098 $1498 (27% off). Hurry, only 19/220 left! Raised over $1.8 million.The post Ascentiz: The Modular Exoskeleton With Swappable Hip and Knee Support first appeared on Yanko Design.

You will feel something comforting as you step into the Bronze Apartment. Bogdanova Bureau has designed it in a way that light feels softer here. Every surface, from the oak floors to the travertine accents, carries a distinct warmth. Its modern, yes, but not cold. Instead, its a home that hums with balance (one example is sculptural furniture paired with plush textures).Lets take a look inside a space that proves simplicity can feel incredibly rich.The living, dining, and kitchen areas of the Bronze Apartment show how open-concept design can still feel intimate. Every line and surface here speaks the same calm language. The oak columns visually frame the space, while the chevron flooring pulls your eye through the room.The living area is all about texture: a low, structured sofa in boucle, a dark ribbed coffee table for contrast, and a bronze throw that anchors the palette. The dining zone follows suit: sculptural chairs in warm caramel tones sit around a black, matte table. And then theres the kitchen, sleek, minimal, and grounded by its black island with a pale oak countertop that softens the contrast.In the workspace of the Bronze Apartment, the floating desk keeps the area light and uncluttered. Simultaneously, the travertine-textured wall adds sophistication. The design secret here lies in restraint. Theres nothing unnecessary, yet everything feels intentional. The neutral palette softens the daylight, the built-in storage keeps the visual noise away, and the sculptural lamp adds personality.The bedroom in The Bronze Apartment is pure understated luxury. Its soft, tactile, and perfectly balanced. A muted headboard and tailored bedding set the tone for calm, while the graphic pillows inject personality. The palette stays loyal to warm neutrals, punctuated by bronze accents that catch the light in all the right ways. Finally, a small vanity corner adds intimacy.In the childrens bedroom, the windmill mural instantly sets a cheerful tone. This adds movement and lightness to the space without overpowering it. The built-in bed, tucked under a house-shaped alcove, creates a cozy little world of its own.This childrens bedroom in the Bronze Apartment is soft and serene. The palette leans into pale blush and cream tones, giving the room a gentle warmth. A channel-tufted headboard and tailored bedding keep the look refined. The long built-in desk under the window makes perfect use of natural light.This bathroom is bold and beautifully unexpected. Graphic black-and-white tiles meet a striking cobalt wall. This creates a dramatic contrast. The terrazzo vanity adds texture and depth, while matte black fixtures tie the whole look together.The second bathroom in the Bronze Apartment uses soft backlighting to create a gentle glow. Warm travertine stone flows from floor to sink, and the floating vanity and brushed bronze fixtures keep the space minimal.

I asked four speakers at Paradigms conference to share their thoughts.

Maine authorities have detained a person of interest and continue to investigate after two shooting incidents that appear to be connected left at least four people dead and three others injured, state police said.