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Why Sim2Real for Deformable Object Manipulation Is Still an Unsolved ProblemZaina HaiderFollow3 min readJust now--Robots can stack blocks like champion in simulations. But ask it to fold a towel, cut a tomato, or untangle a power cord in the real world and it gets confused and just makes a mess.This isn't just a glitch. Its a frustrating issue in robotics.Generative AI on YouTube discusses AI at length and I would recommend them to anyone willing to gain knowledge on the world of tech.Sim2Real 101In robotics, Sim2Real means training a robot in simulation and then transferring that knowledge to the real world. It saves time, money, and hardware wear. You can run thousands of training episodes in parallel and randomize environments without touching a physical robot.In theory, once a robot learns a skill in sim like picking up an object or walking, it should be able to do the same thing in the real world. This generally works with predictable and stable environments.But thats where the dream ends.The Rigid Body Success StorySim2real has seen solid progress in tasks involving rigid objects such as stacking blocks, navigating mazes, opening doors. The physics are relatively straightforward. The visual appearance and dynamics of a cube or a wall dont change much under pressure.Researchers have gotten pretty good at faking these conditions in sim and transferring the results to real world robots. But the moment you introduce deformable, soft, or squishy materials, everything falls apart.Why Deformables Break EverythingDeformable object manipulation is a completely different beast. Were talking about objects like cloth (folding shirts), cables (charging cords), food (cutting vegetables), skin and tissue (in surgical robotics)These objects change shape dynamically during manipulation. Their behavior is hard to predict, model, or simulate accurately. And even small differences between sim and real can throw everything off.The problems with dealing with deformables are listed below:1. Simulators Struggle with Soft PhysicsMost popular simulators are optimized for rigid bodies. They treat objects like blocks, not bags of flour.Simulating deformables requires modeling elasticity, friction, plasticity, and contact forces in real time. Thats extremely hard to get right. Materials behave differently depending on how you touch them. A towel folds one way on a table, another in your hands.2. You Cant Fake Randomness at This ScaleOne workaround in sim2real is domain randomization. Train the robot with random colours, lighting, object shapes, and physics parameters so it learns to adapt.This works well for rigid tasks. But with deformables, the space of possible behaviors is too large and chaotic. You cant just randomize cloth properties and hope your policy generalizes. There are too many edge cases, and the sim still cant match real-world behavior closely enough.3. Contact is UnpredictableWith rigid bodies, contact happens at fixed points. With deformables, the contact surface changes continuously. A cable might bend, twist, or wrap around itself depending on how its touched.In sim, contact might look clean and stable. In real life, its noisy, imprecise, and constantly shifting. That throws off learned policies completely especially if they rely on exact timing or positioning.How Researchers Are Tackling ItDespite the mess, progress is happening.Learning dynamics from data: Instead of modeling physics, some teams train neural networks to predict how deformable objects behave based on real-world interaction data.Differentiable physics engines: New simulators are being built to support gradients, allowing robots to optimize their actions based on simulated feedback.Residual policy learning: A sim-trained policy is used as a starting point, and real-world data is used to correct or fine tune it.Domain adaptation in perception: Instead of transferring control policies directly, some work focuses on learning a shared perception space between sim and real, especially for visual tracking of deformable shapes.If we want robots to be useful outside the lab such as handling laundry, assisting in surgery, preparing meals, they need to work with deformable, messy, everyday objects.Until we solve sim2real for deformables, were stuck with brittle demos and robots that only work in controlled conditions.If your robot folds a towel correctly in the real world, just know, thats cutting edge stuff.Visit Generative AI on YouTube to remain technologically updated.

Though the real-time strategy genre is nowhere close to being in the sort of shape that it once used to be, fans thankfully still have some solid offerings to choose between, and every so often, something new and interesting usually tends to come along. Of course, in the absence of AAA studios, indies and smaller teams have had to fill the void, and with the upcomingTempest Rising,developers Slipgate Ironworks and 2B Games, and publishers 3D Realms and Knights Peak, are looking to do. With the games launch now around the corner, here, were going to cover some pivotal details that you should know about it and what itll bring to the table. STORY AND SETTING Tempest Risingis set in an alternate history Earth where the Cuban Missile Crisis went in a drastically different direction, sparking World War 3 and leaving chaos in its wake. Thirty-four years later, huge portions of the war-torn planet are heavily irradiated, though as luck would have it, these areas are also where the newly emerged, mysterious, plant-like energy source known as Tempest is found. As you would expect, Tempest is highly coveted by warring factions, who are locked in conflict as a result. INSPIRED BY COMMAND AND CONQUER In case it wasnt abundantly clear by now, yes,Tempest Risingis heavily inspired byCommand and Conquer,to the extent that its developers have outright described it as a spiritual successor. From its war-torn setting and the narrative premise at its core to other gameplay and narrative details (that well get into in a bit), the game is wearing itsCommand and Conquerinfluences pretty proudly on its sleeve. Whats more,Tempest Risingsmusic is also being composed by Frank Klepacki, who is best known forCommand and Conquer. CAMPAIGNS As youd expect from a real-time strategy game claiming to be inspired byCommand and Conquer,Temptest Risingwill feature two campaigns. Two factions, as we touched on, will be at the heart of the games story, and each of the games two campaigns will see you playing as a different one. CAMPAIGN LENGTH By the look of it,Tempest Risingwill boast pretty substantial single-player offerings, with each campaign set to be eleven missions long, and cutscenes interspersed throughout. What the runtime for each campaign will be remains to be seen, but speaking in an interview with Gameshedge, lead game designer Brandon Casteel promised beefy missions with plenty of gameplay time per mission. Missions will also be varied, and not all following the same structure, according to Casteel. MULTIPLAYER No RTS (especially one inspired byCommand and Conquer) is complete without a full suite of multiplayer offerings, and sure enough,Tempest Risingwill have plenty of modes on offer. Its been confirmed that in addition to multiplayer skirmishes, custom matches and ranked multiplayer matches will also be available. FACTIONS Two factions will be at the heart ofTempest Risingsstory with the Tempest Dynasty and the Global Defense Force, each starring in their own campaign. In multiplayer, meanwhile, players will also have a third faction to play as in the form of the Veti, an ancient and technologically advanced alien race. Each faction will bring their own unique roster of units, systems, and play styles. The Veti, however, will not be available at launch. Exactly when the third faction will become available is currently not known. GLOBAL DEFENSE FORCE In whats left of the world inTempest Risingsuniverse, the Global Defense Force (or the GDF) is the largest military on the planet. A coalition of the militaries of the United States, Canada, and Western European nations, the GDF specializes in technological advancements, scientific research, space exploration, surveillance, and intelligence warfare. In gameplay, the GDF will priorizite precision offense and high mobility- though heavy weaponry will also be an option should it become necessary. TEMPEST DYNASTY Where much of the western half of Earth formed the GDF following World War 3, several Eastern European and Asian nations came together to become the Tempest Dynasty. With man of the dynastys former nations having suffered heavy irradiation, it also finds itself with large quantities of Tempest within its borders, which is now very much to their advantage. Armed with Tempest, in gameplay, the faction is able to use high-energy systems, units, and buildings to its advantage. SPECIALISTS As youd expect, each faction inTempest Risingwill also feature its own roster of exclusive, higher-powered units touting unique abilities. The GDF, for instance, will have the drone assassin Comandante Vasco Delgado, the riot medic Captain Dylan Tremblay, the comms officer Captain Ed Hayes, and the sniper Captain Bronagh Cregan. The Tempest Dynasty, on the other hand, will have, among others, the physicist Dr. Aigul Yusupova, the machinist Sergeant Srdjan Radojevi, the anti-vehicle sniper Bataar Nergi, and combat support specialistMykyta Moroz. SUPPORT POWERS Each faction inTempest Risingwill also have its own set of support powers, which will supposedly work not too differently from how super weapons did inCommand and Conquergames. The GDFs support powers will let you unleash air strikes, deploy troop carriers loaded with peacekeeping forces, use communication jammers, and more. On the other hand, the Tempest Dynastys support powers will let you fire extremely volatile Tempest missiles, seed battlefields with dangerous mines, deliver automated infirmary pods on the battlefield, and more. SPECIALIST MISSIONS Similar to Commando missions inCommand and Conquergames,Tempest Risingscampaigns will also feature missions where players will be playing only as a Specialist unit. How many of these we can expect is unknown, but speaking in the aforementioned Gameshedge interview, lead game designer Brandon Casteel confirmed that Specialist-only missions will indeed be featured. NO NAVAL BATTLES Naval battles were often a big part of the gameplay loop inCommand and Conquertitles, but this is one area whereTempest Risingis deviating from its biggest inspiration. Speaking with Gameshedge, Casteel explained that the complexity that naval gameplay would have added to the experience led to the developers decision to not have it be in the game at all. Whether or not it will be added in at some point in the future remains to be seen. Naval as a gestalt concept introduces a tremendous amount of complexity to a game, Casteel said. You have to worry about what happens on the coastline, about how air units and ground units engage with naval units; you will have to figure out much more complex map design challenges, and it will decrease the number of units you will be able to produce for air and ground as well. I feel like its tricky enough to worry about getting the basics of an RTS right, and we would have done ourselves no favors trying to figure out the very complex challenges inherent in adding a naval layer to the game. Never say never, but I think a lot of people drastically underestimate how hard it is to make naval work. Very, very few games have done it right. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Recommended system requirements forTempest Risinghavent yet been revealed, however, its minimum requirements are available, and thankfully, theyre not terribly demanding. To be able to run the game, youll need at least either an i5-7400 or a Ryzen 5 1600, along with either a GeForce GTX 1060 3 or a Radeon RX 580, and about 30 GB of free storage space.

4ds PlayerMemberFeb 10, 20191,331I was thinking will 120fps be the standard in games like the next Mario 2D or Donkey Kong 2d or games like Silksong or next cuphead?120 fps support was certainly the most surprising feature and I am looking forward to it ColinkMemberMay 23, 2022423FranceHopes : yesReality : nocowbananaMemberFeb 2, 201816,102a Socialist UtopiaNo. I don't think it will.dom Legend AvengerOct 25, 201712,225Are they standard on the much more capable PS5/XSX? The answer is noJoRuMemberOct 25, 20171,943Standard? No. You'll see it in select games (perhaps as a "performance mode" option), but most of them I doubt will be at that framerate on Switch 2.alr1ghtMemberOct 25, 201710,770Just hope they don't run/look noticeably worse @ 60fps than their counterparts on PC/consoles.hogMemberMar 9, 20211,087dom said:Are they standard on the much more capable PS5/XSX? The answer is noClick to expand...Click to shrink...I do think we might see it more normalised on the Switch 2 due to the hardware supporting it automatically, 120hz TVs are still a pretty niche product after all. But yeah hard to tell. I really hope Silksong has it.SharpX68KMemberNov 10, 201711,618ChicagolandNo, it wont be standard but the good news is, there will at least be some 2D games on Switch 2 that run at 120fps, because now it's possible.That is more than I was expecting because I never expected a 120fps screen.I would imagine the next 2D mario will probably have a 120fps performance mode.Re-TailsMemberAug 16, 20201,513Definitely not, no. It's not even a thing on more capable machines, it's not even gonna happen on all of Nintendo first-party releases I suspect.HStallionMemberOct 25, 201768,788Nope. I expect first party games to be more consistent about this but even then I expect fewer and fewer to attempt it as the generation goes on. I would also expect it on docked mode only just because of the power draw. Like 8K gaming on a PS5 I expect it to be a launch era selling point. Liam Allen-MillerMemberNov 2, 20177,796Shibuyahog said:I do think we might see it more normalised on the Switch 2 due to the hardware supporting it automatically, 120hz TVs are still a pretty niche product after all.But yeah hard to tell. I really hope Silksong has it.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Strongly agree with this. Being built-in will dramatically improve adoption by developers.LewiePMemberOct 26, 201719,538Doubt it.LightsongMemberNov 11, 20228,788alr1ght said:Just hope they don't run/look noticeably worse @ 60fps than their counterparts on PC/consoles.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Why would they, this thing is pretty capable.RaysoulFat4All Ruined My RugMemberOct 26, 20173,347Give me options to lock it in at 90fps just in casemavericktopgunMemberOct 27, 20175,160I hope not. Give me better battery life and 60fpsGlioMemberOct 27, 201727,320SpainDepending on the graphics the game has.R3ndezvousMemberDec 17, 2024956The standard....Not really.But will there be a lot?Yes I think so.Devs have an 120 Hz display by default in handheld mode and there'll be definitely games that will aim to get that with their game v.s. home consoles where people can own an 120 Hz display, but it's not expected.I've played a lot of mobile games at 120 Hz and it's a good experience, maybe the Mihoyo, wuwa's will make their way to the switch to give a taste.XiphosGamingMemberJan 6, 20234ScotlandMetroid Prime 4 quality mode being 4k60, kinda gives me hope that the games will be optimized in such a way.HasneyOne Winged SlayerThe FallenOct 25, 201722,725Voted yes because dear god I hope so]mavericktopgun said:I hope not.Give me better battery life and 60fpsClick to expand...Click to shrink...Well I'm sure you'd be free to choose that.mavericktopgunMemberOct 27, 20175,160I hope we see many 40fps games. Would be perfect for the handheld mode and if you have a compatible TV. Servbot24The FallenOct 25, 201747,002Maybe Switch 1 games that get a Switch 2 edition. But not for true Switch 2 games. Also there will never be a "standard"SlushimiMemberOct 30, 20171,616Only indies that don't use much graphical power would be able to hit that, bar the occasional first party title from Nintendo giving that optionNaDannMaGoGoMemberOct 25, 20177,027I kind of think, yes. Of course we're speaking older or already well-optimized, non-too-tasking games, like a lot of indie ones already are. Something like Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, and so forth should be able to run at 120fps comparatively easily.And it might actually become quite the popular marketing aspect for thoses kind of games. "Oh awesome, fluid 120fps Switch 2 action platforming, weeh!"DSN2KMemberOct 25, 20174,702United KingdomI'd hope so but some of these games can be quite aggressive performance wise.JetstreamRorschachOne Winged SlayerMemberDec 30, 20172,015Zaragoza, Spain.No and that's great. The thing about hardware this versatile is for games to use it as they please. I do want 1080p 120 FPS handheld Hades 2 and Silksong, tho, that I assume is achieveable coming from Deck.VanWinkleMemberOct 25, 201717,009dom said:Are they standard on the much more capable PS5/XSX? The answer is noClick to expand...Click to shrink...Yeah, but that's because how many people with a PS5/XSX have a 120hz display to play them on? I would guess less than 20%. With the Switch 2, everyone has a 120hz display. The incentive is there moreso than on the PS5/XSX.dom Legend AvengerOct 25, 201712,225VanWinkle said:Yeah, but that's because how many people with a PS5/XSX have a 120hz display to play them on? I would guess less than 20%. With the Switch 2, everyone has a 120hz display. The incentive is there moreso than on the PS5/XSX.Click to expand...Click to shrink...That 120hz display is for handheld mode which is also a lot weaker than the dock profile.PeruMemberOct 26, 20176,749No, but it's kinda amazing to have a blockbuster-feeling game like MP4 running like that.NukeRunnerMemberFeb 8, 20242,568Not standard, but common.mightymonkeymanMemberDec 18, 2017173The reality of 120hz is VRR via hdmi2.1 (docked) and most likely locked 40fps games when 60 is a struggle. E-biteMemberOct 24, 20181,314NukeRunner said:Not standard, but common.Click to expand...Click to shrink...ThisKemono Legend MemberOct 27, 20178,495Not how this works.They won't all be native 4k also.KugaThe FallenOct 25, 20172,526No. 60 FPS will be typical for most 2D games I would imagine. Less demanding games could certainly provide 120 FPS modes though.I think the bigger boon of the 120Hz screen is that that it's VRR and cleanly divides into 40Hz, so that's going to make 40 FPS modes for more intensive 3D games that much better. It's a huge upgrade over 30 FPS.th1nkMemberNov 6, 20179,207I want 120 fps patches for Metroid Dread and Mario WonderSqrtMemberOct 26, 20176,027I will still run them at 40-60 FPS for better battery life.FiggyMemberNov 1, 20241,334Nintendo will do their own thing and make 115 FPS the standardConflictResolverMemberJan 1, 20243,926MidgarNot a 2D game but...Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered runs at 120fps on PS5/PC/XSX.It has a Switch 1 version which runs at 60fps.Curious if a Switch 2 update could bring 120fps to Switch 2.MinscMemberOct 28, 20175,586I hope it's supported on third party games with the performance / quality options. I don't think it'll be hit very often, but we'll see, with frame gen, docked hopefully.But portable? 120fps will lower battery life. So maybe Switch 2 needs three options, performance/quality/battery (low res + low fps).VanWinkleMemberOct 25, 201717,009dom said:That 120hz display is for handheld mode which is also a lot weaker than the dock profile.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Yeah, but I assumed by "2d" games, the OP meant actual 2D and not 2.5D or anything like that. Actual 2D games shouldn't have any problem getting well below the ~10W total system power the handheld mode offers. The fact that a game like Metroid Prime 4 runs at 720p 120hz in handheld mode means a 2D indie game would hit 1080p 120hz with less power.DriftingSpiritMemberOct 25, 201718,456alr1ght said:Just hope they don't run/look noticeably worse @ 60fps than their counterparts on PC/consoles.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Lightsong said:Why would they, this thing is pretty capable.Click to expand...Click to shrink...This is a more realistic expectation.Not gonna reveal much since it's paywalled, but Oliver from DF says image quality of the Switch 2 is similar to the PS4 (he doesn't say Pro). He says people should think of the Switch 2 as a PS4 but with modern features like much better storage and more graphical capabilities.It's a very good episode, they discuss a lot of aspects. Y'all can look forward to it tomorrow.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Graphically, How does this (Switch 2) appear in the overall spectrum?Not gonna reveal much since it's paywalled, but Oliver from DF says image quality of the Switch 2 is similar to the PS4 (he doesn't say Pro). He says people should think of the Switch 2 as a PS4 but with modern features like much better storage and more graphical capabilities. It's a very good...www.resetera.comIt isn't going to be on par with current gen consoles in terms of visuals and performance. LightsongMemberNov 11, 20228,788DriftingSpirit said:This is a more realistic expectation.Graphically, How does this (Switch 2) appear in the overall spectrum?Not gonna reveal much since it's paywalled, but Oliver from DF says image quality of the Switch 2 is similar to the PS4 (he doesn't say Pro). He says people should think of the Switch 2 as a PS4 but with modern features like much better storage and more graphical capabilities. It's a very good...www.resetera.comIt isn't going to be on par with current gen consoles in terms of visuals and performance.Click to expand...Click to shrink...I watched the video already, it's closer to the PS4 than the PS5, but clearly more capable than a PS4. And even then, why would 2D games struggle to hit 60FPS? Makes no sense.ZephyMemberOct 27, 20177,015I worry that nowadays, with publishers pushing to release games ASAP to get quick return on investments, any computing headroom won't go towards better performance, but will be used as a crutch to not optimize games. Not just for Switch 2 but in general.R3ndezvousMemberDec 17, 20249563ds had 3d but not every game used it.Games I think that will have an 120fps.Hades 2Prince of Persia: the lost crownOverwatchFortnitePokemon UniteUpcoming Halo portsUpcoming 2(.5)D MarioQuite a number of isometric games could run at 120fps and have done so.dom said:That 120hz display is for handheld mode which is also a lot weaker than the dock profile.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Yeah but its about 2D games, which doesn't mean it's a light game immediately ofc, but still within the realm of reality.Unless I am overlooking something.CalabiMemberOct 26, 20173,800No way, developers have enough difficulty getting everything squeezed into 16milliseconds, 8 milliseconds is a lot harder, and will take a lot more effort.XmarsMayflowerXMemberFeb 2, 2025184Standard? No. Available in a limited number of titles? Yes.oufwidMemberJan 2, 201845R3ndezvous said:3ds had 3d but not every game used it.Games I think that will have an 120fps.Hades 2Prince of Persia: the lost crownOverwatchFortnitePokemon UniteUpcoming Halo portsUpcoming 2(.5)D MarioQuite a number of isometric games could run at 120fps and have done so.Yeah but its about 2D games, which doesn't mean it's a light game immediately ofc, but still within the realm of reality.Unless I am overlooking something.Click to expand...Click to shrink...We need Doom 2016 at 120fps!NukeRunnerMemberFeb 8, 20242,568th1nk said:I want 120 fps patches for Metroid Dread and Mario WonderClick to expand...Click to shrink.......I hadn't even considered Dread getting a patch, would be amazing.Yoshimitsu126The FallenNov 11, 201716,850United StatesGod I hope this means dread gets an update for 120 fps on handheld and dock for switch 2.th1nkMemberNov 6, 20179,207NukeRunner said:....I hadn't even considered Dread getting a patch, would be amazing.Click to expand...Click to shrink...it could most likely also run at 4k60 on the TV ToraThe Enlightened Wise OnesMemberJun 17, 20188,922Doesn't mean they couldn't run at 90fps tho...

I did something horrible. I told Jafar, the scheming vizier villain in Disneys Aladdin, about cryptocurrency, and now hes determined to get WyshCoin off the ground by selling the luxurious lifestyle associated with the brand. The problem is hes actually broke, so I need to brew him teleportation potion after teleportation potion so he can sneak into increasingly extravagant venues in order to sell the illusion of the WyshCoin lifestyle. Thats just a day in the life of a potionista (a portmanteau of potion maker and barista) at the Cursed Caf, the coffee shop at the center of Disney Villains Cursed Caf. The game is a partnership between Disney Studios and indie team Bloom Digital Media. In Disney Villains Cursed Caf, I spend time brewing potions, talking to my villainous clientele and helping them achieve their goals (or sometimes, very specifically not helping them). Its a modern setting, which means the villains all have fun, contemporary designs and contemporary problems.Image: Disney/Bloom Digital MediaYes, Jafars setting up a cryptocurrency, and Snow Whites Evil Queen is running her own pyramid scheme. Meanwhile, Gaston is trying to impress his new golf bros at the country club he just joined. Its hilarious to see what sorts of villainous shenanigans these iconic characters get up to in a modern, low-stakes setting. Theyre taking over the world in their own ways. And hey, in the year 2025, that does mean having huge social media followings! The writing is sharp and funny, with some particularly pointed dialogue options (you can tell the villains that in this modern world, the rulers are the 1%, for instance). Seeing the characters interact is also a highlight. Cruella and the Evil Queen roll their eyes at Gastons attempts at dating on the apps. Maleficent and Ursula reluctantly team up for a social media collaboration. And throughout it all, the art style is incredibly charming, an elevated rendering of the characters Disney movie counterparts with some painterly accents. With each in-game day, I have three chances to serve customers. Most of the time, this means picking between two villains to serve. But dont worry if its Cruella and Jafar at the counter and I pick Jafar, the rest of Cruellas storyline will still unfold. The brewing mechanic is pretty straightforward; I just look at the recipe list to find the requested potion and then select the ingredients in my cupboards.Image: Disney/Bloom Digital MediaOccasionally, the villains will have bigger requests, and taking those on will continue the next big chapters of their plots. Theyll present me with their desired potion, often something malevolent and more complicated. My handy potion book will suggest a good option as well: Itll have the same outcome, but probably result in less property damage. If you want to try a different option or if you accidentally add the wrong ingredients youll have the choice at the end of the day to buy a re-do from Yzma. The branching is simple, but enjoyable. There is also an overarching mystery about the previous owner of the caf that continues to perplex me and is surprisingly complicated to figure out. One time, after I had messed up a day and intended to redo it, Yzma handed me a key that unlocked a secret room that held clues about this mysterious owner. But since I had fumbled the Evil Queens storyline, I erased the memories of that day to try again. The second time, though, I didnt get the key and a few in-game days later, I still havent! Im not sure what conditions trigger more information about this storyline, but Im determined to keep selling potions to find out. But even if Im still struggling at figuring out the grander mystery of the Cursed Caf, Im invested in the storylines of my customers. Even if Im not actually investing in WyshCoin, every time I see Jafar at the counter, I eagerly select him to serve because I just want to know what the heck hes scheming next. Maybe Im tapping into my own inner villain by enabling him, but hey, you dont become the favorite potion brewer of some of the best Disney villains by playing hero. Disney Villains Cursed Caf was released March 27 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. The game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a download code provided by Disney Games. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygons ethics policy here.See More:

MenuHomeNewsHardwareGamingMobileFinanceDealsReviewsHow ToWccftechDealsGo Big Or Go Home; Sonys Larger Than Life 85-Inch 4K LED Smart TV Can Fill Up Any Room And Upgrade Your Viewing Experience, For Just $998 On AmazonOmar Sohail Apr 6, 2025 at 03:20pm EDTA spectacular cinema-type experience is what we all desire in different parts of our home, so obviously, a large-screen TV needs to be the center of attention to make that ambition possible. Unfortunately, for that, you need to spare a bigger budget. This would have been the case if you had been shopping any place else, but Amazon is a haven for those seeking hefty discounts, particularly mammoth-sized TVs. On the online retailer, the Sony KD85X77L 85-inch 4K smart LED has received a substantial 33 percent cut, which equates to a $500 discount.This makes the gargantuan TVs listing down to $998, making it one of the lowest prices we have seen for an 85-inch 4K LED smart TV. Now, you might be thinking to yourself that a $1,000 total is still a decent chunk of change, and we will ask you when was the last time that you saw a TV of this size available for this sum? Sure, you miss out on mini-LED and OLED technology, but unless you are used to comparing everything with an eagle eye, we doubt you will spot any difference in the image quality.Even with the LED technology employed, Sonys 4K Processor X1 intelligently improves the viewing experience by delivering lifelike colors. You also get an array of modern-day ports that you can use to hook up another laptop or PS5 to elevate your gaming sessions. You may experience some input lag during this playtime, which is why Sonys Motionflow XR 240 feature exists to deliver a more fluid frame output.Since there are a plethora of discounts available on 4K LED smart TVs like this, we doubt that this price reduction is going to vanish anytime soon. However, there is no reason to wait for another offer like this, so we highly recommend jumping on this opportunity as quickly as possible.Get the Sony KD85X77L 85-inch 4K LED smart TV from Amazon- $998 (33 percent off)Explore more large screen Sony smart TVs hereSee what else Amazon has discounted todayDeal of the DaySubscribe to get an everyday digest of the latest technology news in your inboxFollow us onTopicsSectionsCompanySome posts on wccftech.com may contain affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLCAssociates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earnadvertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com 2025 WCCF TECH INC. 700 - 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Big business.A Scene From Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie2025 kicked off with the next big video game movie--A Minecraft Movie. It was not the first video game adaptation from Hollywood and won't be the last. But where does A Minecraft Movie rank all-time against biggest video game movies? In this gallery, we're rounding up the highest-grossing video game films of all time, breaking down box office results by domestic, international, and worldwide figures.The top 10 list is made up of massive franchises like Pokemon, Tomb Raider, Angry Birds, and Sonic, just to name a few. Looking ahead, there are a boatload of new video game films in the works.Without further ado, here are the top 14 highest-grossing video game movies of all time. All box office figures are pulled from Amazon's BoxOfficeMojo. 1: The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)Following 1993's poorly received live-action Super Mario Bros. Movie starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, many wondered if Nintendo would ever again attempt to make a Mario movie. Well, 30 years later, the company partnered with Minions studio Illumination to do just that--and the movie is off to a fantastic start. Released on April 5, 2023 the movie quickly earned $377 million worldwide over its first five days and rapidly cleared more than $500 million. It's now earned more than $1.3 billion. The movie features the voice of Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser. Domestic $574,934,330International $787,009,114Worldwide $1,361,943,444 2: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)Sonic the Hedgehog 3 released in December 2024 and became a fast success, zipping up to No. 2 all time for a video game movie. It's also just the second video game movie ever to exceed $200 million from the domestic market. Among other new additions, Keanu Reeves joined the film in the role of Shadow the Hedgehog.Domestic $230,549,154International $232,000,000Worldwide $462,549,154 3: Pokemon Detective Pikachu (2019)Warner Bros. 2019 video game movie Pokemon: Detective Pikachu was a hit with critics and fans alike, and it did big business at the box office to rank as the second-highest grossing video game movie of all time worldwide. It featured the voice of Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu and a heartwarming and rollercoaster story involving Pikachu teaming up with a young man, Justice Smith, to find his father. Bill Nighy also starred in the film, which featured incredible CGI pocket monsters and some epic fight scenes, including a showdown with Mewtwo.Domestic $144,174,568International $289,303,033Worldwide $449,762,638 4: Warcraft (2016)Legendary and Blizzard teamed up to make a Warcraft movie back in 2016, but development began much earlier and went through several changes before it was released. At one point, Spider-Man's Sam Raimi was attached to direct, but he dropped out due to the working conditions with Blizzard. Moon and Source Code director Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie, eventually signed on to direct the fantasy film. It bombed in the US but did massive numbers internationally to pull in $439 million worldwide, putting it at the top of the charts. Jones said he had plans for a trilogy, but the poor box office performance in the US means that will likely never happen.Domestic $47,365,290International $391,683,624Worldwide $439,048,914 5: Rampage (2018) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson starred in 2018's Rampage, an adaptation of the classic video game in which The Rock plays a primatologist who works with a supersized gorilla to fight other massive monsters. Director Peyton Reed and The Rock previously worked together on the movies San Andreas and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.Domestic $101,028,233International $327,000,000Worldwide $428,028,233 6: Uncharted (2022)Sony's Uncharted film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, blasted off in February 2022 to bigtime box office numbers. It had a huge $44 million opening weekend in the US, and has to date earned more than $400 million globally. That's good enough for Sony Pictures CEO Tom Rothman to call Uncharted Sony's next big franchise, suggesting a sequel may be on the way. Director Ruben Fleischer has said he's game for a sequel and has even outlined some of his ideas for a follow-up, including putting Uncharted 4's epic car chase set piece into a potential Uncharted 2.Domestic $148,648,820International $258,492,438Worldwide $407,141,258 7: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)Sonic the Hedgehog 2 released in April 2022 and has become a quick success. It recently surpassed the 2020 original Sonic film to become the highest-grossing video game movie of all time in the US.Globally, it's not as high on the charts, but it's still performing well enough to become one of the highest-grossing video game movies ever. Unsurprisingly, plans are in motion for a Sonic movie cinematic universe, which will include Sonic 3 and a Knuckles TV series.Domestic -- $190,872,904International -- $214,548,614Worldwide -- $405,421,518 8: The Angry Birds Movie (2016) Rovio's Angry Birds is one of the best-known mobile games of all time, so it was no surprise that it became a movie. Sony Pictures produced the animated film, which boasted an all-star voice cast that featured Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Sean Penn, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Bill Hader, and Peter Dinklage. The screenplay was written by The Simpsons veteran Jon Vitti, and the film was directed by Disney animation veterans Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly. A sequel was released in 2019, but it performed considerably worse, bringing in about $148 million.Domestic $107,509,366International $244,824,563Worldwide $352,333,929 9: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) Disney produced 2010's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince Dastan. The rest of the cast included Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Gemma Artertron, and Toby Kebbel. The movie, which is based on Ubisoft's popular series, was directed by Mike Newell, who previously directed Four Weddings and Funeral as well as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Similar to Warcraft, it made the bulk of its money from foreign markets, pulling in $245.6 million, or 73% of its worldwide total ($336.4 million), from markets outside the US.Domestic $90,759,676International $245,606,000Worldwide $336,365,676 10: Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)After controversies surrounding its character models being not so good, the Sonic the Hedgehog came to the big screen in 2020 and was generally well-received and made a lot of money. The film features Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, with Jim Carrey playing the evil Dr. Robotnik. The success of the film led Paramount to quickly greenlight a sequel, which comes to theaters in April, featuring Knuckles and Tails, in addition to the returning cast.Domestic $148,974,665International $170,741,018Worldwide $319,715,683 11: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil movie series wrapped up with 2016's appropriately titled Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which once again starred his partner, Mila Jovovich, in the lead role. In total, Anderson's Resident Evil films, which are inspired by Capcom's scary longrunning zombie video game series, have made more than $1 billion at the box office. Anderson and Jovovich stayed in business with Capcom after The Final Chapter, as they made the Monster Hunter movie in 2020.Domestic $26,830,068International $285,412,558Worldwide $312,242,626 12. A Minecraft Movie (2025)A Minecraft Movie was released on April 4, and it had a gigantic debut, bringing in $157 million in the US and $144 million from international markets for a total first-weekend global tally of $301,000,000. That's right, after just three days, A Minecraft Movie is the No. 12 highest-grossing video game movie of all time. Keep checking back, as we will update this post as more box office numbers come in and A Minecraft Movie inevitably climbs up the charts.Domestic $157,000,000International $144,00000Worldwide $301,000,000 13: Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) The second Resident Evil movie to rank in the top 10 all-time highest-grossing video game movies, Paul W.S. Anderson's Resident Evil: Afterlife, based on Capcom's video game series, was released in 2010. Anderson returned to direct the film after stepping away from the series to direct Alien vs. Predator and work on other projects. Mila Jovovich starred as Alice, with a cast that also included Kim Coates, Wentworth Miller, and Shawn Roberts.Domestic $60,128,566International $240,099,518Worldwide $300,228,084 14: Tomb Raider (2018) After multiple films starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander took on the role of Lara Croft in the 2018 film from The Wave director Roar Uthaug. The film was partly inspired by Crystal Dynamics' 2013 reboot, telling an origin story for the character. Croft is trying to solve the mystery of her father's (Dominic West) disappearance. The film also starred Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, and Kristin Scott Thomas. The movie made the bulk of its money ($216.4 million; 78.8%) from international markets, with just $58.25 million from the US. A sequel is now said to be in the works, but whether or not it ever gets made remains to be seen.Domestic $58,250,803International $216,400,000Worldwide $274,650,803

Everyone with a semblance of a brain figured A Minecraft Movie would probably be a successful venture for Warner Bros. Pictures. That being said, even the company itself didn't see this kind of box office return coming.

I did something horrible. I told Jafar, the scheming vizier villain in Disneys Aladdin, about cryptocurrency, and now hes determined to get WyshCoin off the ground by selling the luxurious lifestyle associated with the brand. The problem is hes actually broke, so I need to brew him teleportation potion after teleportation potion so he can sneak into increasingly extravagant venues in order to sell the illusion of the WyshCoin lifestyle.Thats just a day in the life of a potionista (a portmanteau of potion maker and barista) at the Cursed Caf, the coffee shop at the center of Disney Villains Cursed Caf. The game is a partnership between Disney Studios and indie team Bloom Digital Media. In Disney Villains Cursed Caf, I spend time brewing potions, talking to my villainous clientele and helping them achieve their goals (or sometimes, very specifically not helping them). Its a modern setting, which means the villains all have fun, contemporary designs and contemporary problems.Yes, Jafars setting up a cryptocurrency, and Snow Whites Evil Queen is running her own pyramid scheme. Meanwhile, Gaston is trying to impress his new golf bros at the country club he just joined. Its hilarious to see what sorts of villainous shenanigans these iconic characters get up to in a modern, low-stakes setting. Theyre taking over the world in their own ways. And hey, in the year 2025, that does mean having huge social media followings!The writing is sharp and funny, with some particularly pointed dialogue options (you can tell the villains that in this modern world, the rulers are the 1%, for instance). Seeing the characters interact is also a highlight. Cruella and the Evil Queen roll their eyes at Gastons attempts at dating on the apps. Maleficent and Ursula reluctantly team up for a social media collaboration. And throughout it all, the art style is incredibly charming, an elevated rendering of the characters Disney movie counterparts with some painterly accents.With each in-game day, I have three chances to serve customers. Most of the time, this means picking between two villains to serve. But dont worry if its Cruella and Jafar at the counter and I pick Jafar, the rest of Cruellas storyline will still unfold. The brewing mechanic is pretty straightforward; I just look at the recipe list to find the requested potion and then select the ingredients in my cupboards.Occasionally, the villains will have bigger requests, and taking those on will continue the next big chapters of their plots. Theyll present me with their desired potion, often something malevolent and more complicated. My handy potion book will suggest a good option as well: Itll have the same outcome, but probably result in less property damage. If you want to try a different option or if you accidentally add the wrong ingredients youll have the choice at the end of the day to buy a re-do from Yzma. The branching is simple, but enjoyable.There is also an overarching mystery about the previous owner of the caf that continues to perplex me and is surprisingly complicated to figure out. One time, after I had messed up a day and intended to redo it, Yzma handed me a key that unlocked a secret room that held clues about this mysterious owner. But since I had fumbled the Evil Queens storyline, I erased the memories of that day to try again. The second time, though, I didnt get the key and a few in-game days later, I still havent! Im not sure what conditions trigger more information about this storyline, but Im determined to keep selling potions to find out.But even if Im still struggling at figuring out the grander mystery of the Cursed Caf, Im invested in the storylines of my customers. Even if Im not actually investing in WyshCoin, every time I see Jafar at the counter, I eagerly select him to serve because I just want to know what the heck hes scheming next. Maybe Im tapping into my own inner villain by enabling him, but hey, you dont become the favorite potion brewer of some of the best Disney villains by playing hero.Disney Villains Cursed Cafwas released March 27 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. The game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a download code provided by Disney Games. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can findadditional information about Polygons ethics policy here.

A Minecraft Movie has reportedly surpassed the record previously set by 2023s The Super Mario Bros. Movie for the biggest ever domestic box office opening of a video game adaptation. The new movie, which was released in theaters on Friday, raked in $157 million in the US in its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A Minecraft Movie is doing well internationally, too; THR reports that its earned $301M altogether in its global debut. The Super Mario Bros. Movie pulled in $146 million in its domestic opening and $377 million globally.A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks and Jennifer Coolidge. And while the trailers left us with pretty low expectations in the leadup to its release, Engadgets Devindra Hardawar found that its actually a pretty good kids movie that delivers a decent message about championing creativity in a world that wants to beat down free-thinking non-conformists. You can read the full review here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/a-minecraft-movie-just-set-a-new-record-with-the-biggest-opening-ever-for-a-video-game-adaptation-in-the-us-192934482.html?src=rss