The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed that the creature we see at the end of the games reveal trailer will be the players main companion in the games hub. In an interview with Nintendo, Miyazaki compared the characters role to that of the fire keepers in Dark Souls and the Maiden in Black from Demons Souls. That character shares a similar role with the fire keepers from the Dark Souls series. They remain in the hub area, providing the player with advice and guidance, said Miyazaki. As for why the creature looks like it could end up being some sort of mascot character for The Duskbloods, Miyazaki said that it was something new that FromSoftware was trying as part of its partnership with Nintendo in making the game. I suppose you could say we tried doing something a little Nintendo-esque in the spirit of the partnership, he said. We tried something cute for a change. Although I will say this character is actually an elderly gentleman. For more context about the role that the unnamed creature will likely play in The Duskbloods, traditionally, FromSoftwares titles have featured a character that accompanies the players in their adventures, either by actively traveling alongside them like in Elden Ring, or taking care of the players main home base, like in Dark Souls 2 or Bloodborne. This character is often the one players have to interact with in order to do various things like spending Souls, Runes, or Blood Echoes to level up their stats. The characters also often form an integral part of their games stories. The fire keepers from Dark Souls, for example, have been the last few creatures that have been keeping the flames from dying out. Having a character like that be a part of the home base in The Duskbloods would indicate that the title will feature some form of meta-progression outside of matches. While FromSoftware hasnt confirmed too many details about the game yet, the fact that it will be a match-based PvPvE title where players take on AI-based enemies as well as other players would indicate that each match would have them starting from scratch. The Duskbloods was originally announced during Nintendos Switch 2 Direct last week. The game doesnt yet have a solid release date. FromSoftware, however, has confirmed that it is aiming for a 2026 launch window. The game will feature more than 12 playable characters, and players will get to define their relationships with other players through the roles they pick. Each match will feature a group of 8 players that might end up being friends or foes, as they also try to take on environmental hazards and AI enemies throughout the match. Players will also get to pick between characters depending on their unique abilities and preferred playing styles. The studio has also stated that, while it has been working on more multiplayer-centric games recently, it is still committed to making more single-player games in the future. In the meantime, also check out reports that FromSoftware is the owner of the IP for The Duskbloods.

IDontBeatGamesThreadMarksman - Saved Transistor's sanity twiceMemberOct 29, 201720,436New YorkSourceNintendo revealed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its Nintendo Direct. It's a game set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June that offers a guided tour of the console itself in video game form. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. Per Nintendo: "through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise."The Nintendo Direct showed footage of a small player avatar exploring a super-sized Switch 2, reading about the different features and facts about the console. It also includes mini-games such as Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.IGN can now confirm that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour costs $9.99 and is a digital-only product.Click to expand...Click to shrink...We need to point out here that our interview with Trinen was conducted on April 3, 2025, prior to Nintendo's announcement about delaying Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. due to the potential impact of tariffs, and subsequent concern that Nintendo may raise the price of the console and its games further as a result. Trinen said there's more to Welcome Tour than it appears based on the showing during the Nintendo Direct and even during recent hands-on opportunities the media had access to. Based on what's actually in the game, Nintendo decided $9.99 "is not an exorbitant price," he continued.Click to expand...Click to shrink..."It's an interesting product," Trinen began. "We're actually getting ready today, we're going to be doing some Nintendo Treehouse Live segments and covering a lot of games in detail. That's one of them. And I think people will be able to see through Treehouse Live probably a little bit more maybe than you were able to see on the show floor. It's a pretty robust piece of software. There's a lot of great detail in there."For some people, I think there are people who are particularly interested in the tech and the specs of the system and things like that, for them I think it's going to be a great product. It's really for people that want more information about the system rather than necessarily a quick intro to everything it does."And for that reason and just the amount of care and work that the team put into it, I think it was decided that, 'Yeah, this feels like $9.99 is not an exorbitant price. It feels like a good value for what you're getting out of the product.' "Click to expand...Click to shrink... Mattmo831Featuring Mattmo831 from the Apple v Epic caseMemberOct 26, 20206,300$10 too muchHadokMemberFeb 14, 20186,435yeah,no thanks.it should be included in the console as a free app.YuriLowellMemberOct 26, 20174,307Yeah no thanks.Sho_Nuff82MemberNov 14, 201719,946Why is this not bundled with every launch unit? Especially since they made such a big deal about not touching on specs in the reveal?gabdegMemberOct 26, 20177,295Should've been free with an NSO subscription at most. Even $0.99 would be in "why am I buying this" territory.AntonyMemberOct 25, 20174,010New level of greedonibirdoMemberDec 9, 20203,400I really hope they pivot on this and make this a pack-in.JawbreakerMemberOct 25, 20178,945New York CityShould be bundled/free. Swing and a miss.ALXJREFANTAZIO SWEEP Uncle Works at NintendoMemberFeb 16, 20211,035the first red flag of the direct is when they joyfully say that this is available to purchase on the store... KhanimusAvengerOct 25, 201745,234Greater VancouverExtremely stupid. By all accounts, the game is actually really neat at showcasing the system. In which case, it seems all the more baffling it's not included as a pack-in.The Third HeatMemberOct 25, 20172,632Pretty big fumble making this a paid thing. This has an audience of no one at $10, except streamers and news outlets.liltyMemberOct 25, 2017900New BrunswickCan't believe they're charging for this. Please don't buy this.DNAbroMemberOct 25, 201729,473The gall to sell thisorzkareMemberApr 9, 2020757JapanNot free?BrickArts295GOTY Tracking Thread MasterMemberOct 26, 201715,405Look at it this way, 1-2 Switch was $60. Not trying to defend this since the that was at least more game than tech demo but still, $10 is not bad but it's unnecessarily greedy.SangralPowered by FriendshipMemberFeb 17, 20228,204That's 10$ too much and a failed product.btkadamsMemberOct 25, 20173,545No thanks!Capricorn"This guy are sick"AvengerOct 25, 2017877Fuck off NintendoAHA-LambdaMemberOct 25, 201712,628Laughs in Astro OnanieBombMemberOct 25, 201711,187An especially bad look considering economic conditionsa Master NinjaMemberDec 11, 20175,562Nintendo could have had millions of people interacting with this software over the lifetime of Switch 2, instead thousands will ever touch it.RaySpencerMemberOct 27, 20175,586This is the biggest "wtf" for me.I can understand the console being expensive, because of just general inflation. I can even understand Mario Kart World being expensive, because it'll (likely) the only Mario Kart on Switch 2, so I'll be playing it for like 7 years. But this 'game' (tech demo) costing anything makes no sense to me.SuperStudied the Buster SwordMemberJan 29, 202213,365Should be a free pack in.LewiePMemberOct 26, 201719,557My guess on this.They have lots of data showing Switch 1 owners who never bothered entering payment info, just buying games physically. An easy to recommend impulse purchase download only game solves that. We've seen sales data showing Switch skews more physical than other platforms. I don't think Nintendo would ever realistically abandon physical games entirely until they know they won't lose sales as a result of it. Nudging players in that direction for the meantime makes sense.There's actually precedent for this, remember on Wii U when they offered Super Metroid for 70p?I'm certainly not saying people should just shut up and fork over the money. I'm just speculating on what the thought process might be. Certainly, it seems a little stingy given the precedent of Wii Sports, Nintendo Land etc. And the comparison with Astro Bot's Playroom.DespiteTheNoraMemberJan 30, 20251,150I think the only people that will buy this will be content creators. They showed this off during one of the Treehouse streams for like 30 minutes and they said they did half the content during that time. Seems like a really weird decision.BeansBeansBeansMemberJan 14, 2025406Yea. That is a hard pass from me. Should be included with their online service.RemarkMemberOct 27, 20174,038im not paying for a tutorial wtf, make it a pack-in.Aerial51MemberApr 24, 20203,800Doing this after Astro's Playroom is certainly a choiceKanameYuukiMemberDec 23, 20173,029ColombiaThis one is beyond pathetic which is saying a lot, having to pay for an interactive manual is a new low, even if they need to be greedy I would actually give it a fair chance for 3-5usd but 10usd, no way. Mark1MemberOct 30, 20172,269Yeah.no.This should've been a free pack in like Astro.I don't see this selling at all EphonkAvengerOct 25, 20172,379BelgiumShould've been an incentive to make people subscribe to NSO, or current NSO members to upgrade, maybe if it would only be temporary (ie, it's 9.99, but included for free in 2025 if you subscribe to NSO)808s & VillainyMemberOct 27, 201745,926Sho_Nuff82 said:Why is this not bundled with every launch unit? Especially since they made such a big deal about not touching on specs in the reveal?Click to expand...Click to shrink...You just answered your question. This isn't a big deal for most people thus why would they bother bundling it? It's something that will likely only matter to enthusiasts or people who care about specsAlexMelocheMemberOct 27, 20173,567Should have come with the thing, but free with NSO would have been the smartest thing tbh.StringsMemberOct 27, 201734,217This feels very Vita Welcome Park-core:Welcome Park was free though (and it had trophies!).This probably would have looked lame even if it was free just because Astro's Playroom set the bar stupid high recently, but 99% of the people complaining wouldn't be. EDIT: Y'all remember Face Raiders?Last edited: Today at 9:29 AMBusaikuTeyvat TravelerMemberOct 25, 201717,144Antony said:New level of greedClick to expand...Click to shrink...It's not a new level, it's just Nintendo level greed.1-2-Switch and Nintendoland being key examples.SyneIt's Pronounced "Aerith"MemberFeb 5, 20239,287UKSho_Nuff82 said:Why is this not bundled with every launch unit? Especially since they made such a big deal about not touching on specs in the reveal?Click to expand...Click to shrink...BasicallyCipher PeonOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 20179,406It being digital only is very sad, I would have bought this if it was physical. Ah well.NickerousMemberNov 2, 2017849Absolutely feel like this will be bundled as early as this Holiday periodnihilencenthing but silenceModeratorOct 25, 201718,498From 'quake area to big OH.I know they haven't packed a game with every launch, but this seems like a gimme. Red Kong XIXMemberOct 11, 202012,771LMAO get fucked Nintendo youre out of your mindBishop89What Are Ya' Selling?MemberOct 25, 201741,826Melbourne, Australia*Laughs in astrobot*DalUncle Works at NintendoMemberAug 18, 20242,049Astro's Playroom says hiPennyPastaMemberSep 3, 20202,019Gamer CountyIf we all collectively agree to never buy this, they'll have to cave and give it to us for free. That's how this sort of thing works right?Seriously though, new levels of greed from an already very greedy company. Love what they make, but part of me also wants them to get knocked down a peg or two again... just to humble them a little.QuintonStaff Writer at TheGamerVerifiedOct 25, 201722,607Midgar, With LoveTerrible decision all-around. It's like the perfect shite frosting for the tumult over the broader pricing scheme.Stop ItBad CatMemberOct 25, 20176,695Honest to god Nintendo, this is buttcheeks. Just make it freePatitolocoMemberOct 27, 201727,365Still one of the dumbest things of that entire presentation. No one will or should buy this.cw_sasukeMemberOct 27, 201729,510Wish I could care enough about this game to be actually pissed lol.Looking forward to the reviews hough.BobLablowMemberApr 18, 20182,603a Master Ninja said:Nintendo could have had millions of people interacting with this software over the lifetime of Switch 2, instead thousands will ever touch it.Click to expand...Click to shrink...dozensofus.gifAkiba756MemberOct 1, 20201,518Sao Paolo, BrazilI saw Gene Park say something interesting, Nintendo wasn't going to make Wii Sports "free" , the CEO of the American branch back then, Reggie Fils-Aim, had to convince them into it, because they saw handing out something as free as undervaluing the work it went into it.Which is why wii sports wasn't a pack in game in JapanFrom Reggie' s Book:So now Mike [Fukuda] and I were trying to get agreement to two different bundles, and the world's best game designer was not happy. The ever- present smile and impish squint of My Miyamoto's eyes were gone. "Neither of you understands the challenges of creating software that people love to play. This is something we constantly push ourselves to do. We do not give away our software,'" Mr. Miyamoto stated.Click to expand...Click to shrink...

Friend codes continue to exist on Nintendo Switch 2, but adding people will be slightly easier than it was on Switch 1, Nintendo confirmed to Polygon in a recent interview.The heart of the friends list system on Switch 2 remains the same as it was on Switch 1. Thats why you can transfer it to the new console without much fuss. But the unique string of numbers that you have to punch in for every person you add is now optional.You can scan a QR code with the Nintendo Switch phone app instead, vice president of player and product experience Bill Trinen told Polygon. You can add notes for every friend too, which can help you remember who they are if they change their username.Trinen said these improvements were important to make because of things like GameChat, Nintendos Discord-like voice and video chat app. GameChat only works with your friends and even has a dedicated C button on the right Joy-Con. Trinen says the way it replicates that face-to-face experience you get in the same room is crucial for what we want out of a chat system.In other words, Switch 2 wont revolutionize how you add friends on Nintendos online service. You wont be able to search for someones username and tap a button. You will need to find some other way outside of the console to share your friend or QR code with someone. Maybe when the third iteration of Switch comes out, Nintendo will join every other social platform in making this process less of a pain. But it wont be doing that with Switch 2, which is set to launch in June.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will support NVIDIA DLSS, but the AI-powered upscaler won't be the only option available, nor will it be mandatory to use upscaling in any way.Speaking with IGN, Nintendos Entertainment Planning and Development Department's Kouchi Kawamoto and Takuhiro Dohta and Technology Development Division's Tetsuya Sasaki talked about upscaling options for the new system, revealing that, while NVIDIA DLSS will be the "easiest" upscaling option to use in games, the company is planning on providing other software-based upscaling solutions. In addition, the Nintendo representatives highlighted how not using any upscaling solution is also an option. Considering how using DLSS has a cost, we are likely going to use a wide variety of upscaling solutions to hit whichever frame rate targets developers aim for in their games.The Nintendo Switch 2 will also support ray tracing, but much like NVIDIA DLSS and other upscaling solutions, developers won't be required to implement it in their games, as Nintendo considers ray tracing just another tool that can either be used or not depending on the situation. Considering how demanding ray tracing can get and how the console won't be the most powerful gaming system around, this isn't particularly surprising.Besides supporting NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing, one feature that sets the Nintendo Switch 2 apart from its predecessor is the mouse functionality of the Joy-Con 2 controllers. Speaking with IGN, Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience Bill Trinen commented on the new functionality, saying how, having been added on top of the other unique features of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, it is different from that of a regular PC mouse, opening up some interesting possibilities like using dual mouse controls that he hopes third-party developers will take advantage of to evolve their gameplay. He also hopes that having this control option will make PC developers a lot more eager to want to bring their games to the console, as they wouldn't have to revamp control schemes.The Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide on June 5th. You can learn more about the system by checking out Nathan's hands-on preview.Deal of the Day

Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter $131.95 (was $165) See at Amazon The Lego Icons Dune Atreides Royal Ornithopter is currently down to its lowest price ever, allowing you to pick up the large-scale display model for $131.95 (was $165). Along with a chance to build a large replica of the Atreides Royal Ornithopter, it comes bundled with several minifigures and additional accessories.If you want some background noise while building, the Dune 2-Film 4K Collection is available for a nice discount. And if you want to learn about Ornithopters from the man who created them, Amazon has a terrific deal on the Dune 3-Book Deluxe Hardcover Box Set.Continue Reading at GameSpot

In recent online discussions about the upcoming season 3 of One Punch Man, there seems to be a large portion of fans who are down on the show before it even comes out. Initial negative reactors to the teasers criticized the animation style and character design choices. The footage shown so far was also disliked for not having many moments of sakuga, or exceptionally impressive animation frames. Fans also complained that the trailers have heavily featured still frames, which gave them the impression that there isnt going to be many detailed animation moments in the new One Punch Manseason.

Last week, I received the art of the sprite for the boss battle and so I began work on animating the movement of the boss. Initially, I was unsure of how to download each sprite on the sheet as an individual PNG image but I quickly found out that Unity has a built-in sprite slicer, which did the job for me.

Its time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month.March was a good month for sports and action-adventure games on PS5. Assassins Creed Shadows and Split Fiction both found success on the US and EU charts, while MLB The Show 25 took top billing on the US charts.Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month?PS5 GamesUS/CanadaEUMLB The Show 25Assassins Creed ShadowsAssassins Creed ShadowsSplit FictionSplit FictionEA SPORTS FC 25Monster Hunter WildsMonster Hunter WildsWWE 2K25MinecraftEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25Tom Clancys Rainbow Six SiegeNBA 2K25WWE 2K25EA SPORTS FC 25Grand Theft Auto VCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Call of Duty: Black Ops 6EA SPORTS College Football 25Gran Turismo 7Tom Clancys Rainbow Six SiegeThe First Berserker: KhazanMinecraftPhasmophobiaGrand Theft Auto VDeadsidePGA TOUR 2K25Hogwarts LegacyPhasmophobiaKingdom Come: Deliverance IIBLEACH Rebirth of SoulsMortal Kombat 11The First Berserker: KhazanNBA 2K25Mortal Kombat 1Mortal Kombat 1DeadsideThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntGran Turismo 7The Crew Motorfest*Naming of products may differ between regions*Upgrades not includedPS4 GamesUS/CanadaEURed Dead Redemption 2Red Dead Redemption 2A Way OutA Way OutThe ForestEA SPORTS FC 25MinecraftThe ForestBattlefield 4Battlefield 4Stardew ValleyUnravel TwoNeed for Speed HeatNeed for Speed HeatEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25MinecraftCall of Duty: Black Ops IIIGrand Theft Auto VMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarBattlefield 1Overcooked! 2Assassins Creed OdysseyGrand Theft Auto VGod of WarMortal Kombat XKingdom Come: DeliveranceCall of Duty: Black Ops 6Assassins Creed OriginsUnravel TwoMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarInjustice 2Overcooked! 2God of WarStardew ValleyTom Clancys Rainbow Six SiegeBatman: Arkham KnightEA SPORTS FC 25Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign RemasteredBatman: Return to ArkhamMortal Kombat X*Naming of products may differ between regionsPS VR2 Games*US/CanadaEUBeat SaberFlight Simulator Delivery 2025 VRAmong Us VRBeat SaberAlien: Rogue IncursionAlien: Rogue IncursionFlight Simulator Delivery 2025 VRMetro AwakeningPavlovAmong Us VRSwordsman VRHorizon Call of the MountainCreed: Rise to Glory Championship EditionSwordsman VRInto the RadiusPavlovMetro AwakeningEXOcarsDrunkn Bar FightCreed: Rise to Glory Championship Edition*PlayStation Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not includedFree to Play (PS5 + PS4)US/CanadaEUFortniteFortniteMarvel RivalsRobloxRobloxRocket LeagueRocket LeagueMarvel RivalsCall of Duty: WarzoneCall of Duty: WarzoneWar Robots: FrontierseFootballAsphalt Legends UniteWar Robots: FrontiersApex LegendsAsphalt Legends UniteFall GuysStumble GuysThe Sims 4The Sims 4

Its important to start with the fact that theres only so much you can say about The Last of Us season 2. After all, its reputation precedes itself: The Last of Us Part 2, at the time of its release in mid-2020, became a bit of a lightning rod for every opinion one could have on the games story of ruthless love and revenge, the state of games and the narratives they impose, and some far less salient criticisms about identity politics.There is also literally only so much I can say, with HBO spoiler embargoes asking critics to avoid mentioning which are the big pivotal episodes, any major deaths, and even the structure of the season itself. For those who got into The Last of Us through the show, season 2 will be a brand-new day, looking and feeling like the show they loved while following a totally different take on it.But those who are coming from the game, already a little world weary and battle ridden from the release cycle, can take comfort in the specifics I can offer you namely, that The Last of Us season 2 is a much-needed expansion on the story of The Last of Us Part 2, with a particularly strong characterization for the core players of the season.Picking up where the first season left off in 2023, The Last of Us show follows the arc of the games, with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in Jackson, Wyoming. When we find them, things are a bit strained. Joining The Last of Us this season is Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), whos got a personal connection to the Fireflies of Salt Lake City that Joel wasted at the end of season 1. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann bring her into the fold faster and more elaborately than The Last of Us Part 2 did, better anchoring the core of its sophomore thrust. We get more insight into Abby as a character, which better grounds the way she plays off our established heroes.As you might expect from a season thats slowing down a single 25-ish-hour game into at least two seasons of TV, The Last of Us sprawls a bit. But it uses that sprawl in ways that feel like the strongest parts of season 1, particularly in its early episodes. While the games are locked into their format, with the bulk of your playtime being focused on action and doing things, HBOs The Last of Us gets to devote that time to being invested in character work.Season 1 did this too, but it often felt a little shortchanged; the original game built so much of Joel and Ellies relationship through the hours you spent listening to their banter on your adventures. The Last of Us season 1 had to fit all that wandering (more or less) into a few episodes as it shrank the game down to 10 hours of TV. The Last of Us Part 2 is more directly a character study about the mirror these characters provide for one another, and rendering their internal battles on screen provides more avenues to try out new things.In that way, a lot of season 2 feels like how Mazin took liberties with the source material in the season 1 episode Long, Long Time. Like that Frank/Bill episode, season 2 stretches the story wider than just the main narrative of the game. There are new characters (with Catherine OHara bringing a standout scene to the show, as youd expect her to), and new focuses, like letting Dina (Isabela Merced) be more of a player in the events of the season. Given that this is a franchise that constantly turns over the why of it all why we do the things we do, why we love the people we love, why we go to such lengths to protect them, and why it even matters at all that sense of a wider world goes a long way.Joels, Ellies, and Abbys stories are all in relation to each other, however fitfully or unhappily they meld together. This is The Last of Us, after all; everyone here is going to get pushed to their limits. That The Last of Us can find something new to say in the post-apocalyptic wasteland is encouraging; Mazin has clearly taken notes from what people like about the first season and provided more room for those moments. It might be the end of the world as we know it, but at least we know it better.The Last of Us season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on April 13 at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT. New episodes drop every Sunday.

Situated high above Newport Beach in Sydney, Australia, LA Cool is a outdoor living space that completes the original vision of Newport House, a 2015 project by Carter Williamson Architects. This addition transforms the property into a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor luxury, creating an environment that feels equally inviting throughout all seasons. Designed with a deep understanding of the coastal landscape and inspired by the sleek, understated elegance of Californian modernism, LA Cool celebrates natural beauty while enhancing functionality and comfort for year-round enjoyment.The project embodies the essence of indoor-outdoor living a concept synonymous with the laid-back lifestyle of the Southern California coast. Drawing influence from iconic mid-century designs that emerged in Palm Springs and Los Angeles during the 1950s and 60s, the space adopts the philosophy of creating fluid transitions between indoor and outdoor areas. Just like the low-slung, minimalist pavilions that dotted the Californian landscape, LA Cool prioritizes openness, blurring the boundaries between home and nature.These iconic Californian designs, pioneered by architects such as Richard Neutra and Pierre Koenig, emphasized simple, geometric forms and expansive glass walls that dissolved the line between indoors and outdoors. Similarly, LA Cool channels this spirit with its open-plan design and expansive pavilion that invites the surrounding landscape into the living space. Positioned to maximize panoramic views of Newport Beach and Pittwater, the addition takes full advantage of its elevated position, offering breathtaking vistas that become an integral part of everyday life.The design pays homage to the principles of California modernism by embracing a minimalist aesthetic that prioritizes clean lines and simplicity. The pavilions low-profile structure allows it to sit unobtrusively within its coastal surroundings, ensuring the focus remains on the breathtaking 180-degree views that envelop the site. By using a pure, natural material palette that mirrors the existing Newport House, LA Cool maintains a balance between indoor and outdoor spaces, reinforcing a sense of cohesion.A hallmark of LA Cool is its adaptable pavilion, meticulously crafted to suit the ever-changing Australian climate. Unlike traditional outdoor spaces that are limited to summer use, this pavilion offers both covered and uncovered sections, ensuring it remains functional and comfortable regardless of the season. A series of strategically placed skylights punctuate the roof, flooding the space with natural light while maintaining a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors.Equipped with thoughtful amenities, LA Cool transforms outdoor living into a year-round experience. A cozy fireplace warms the pavilion during cooler months, creating an inviting atmosphere perfect for gathering with family and friends. Meanwhile, the fully equipped outdoor kitchen, complete with a woodfire pizza oven, encourages leisurely al fresco dining.The selection of materials, including natural stone, timber, and neutral hues, reflects a deep respect for the surrounding landscape. These elements echo the tactile qualities of Californias desert modernism while simultaneously celebrating the coastal textures and tones of Sydneys Northern Beaches. The result is a space that feels effortlessly integrated into its environment, where every element has been carefully curated to enhance the experience of living by the sea.Drawing inspiration from the play of light and shadow in Californias desert homes, the design incorporates sculptural cut-outs in the pavilions western wall, allowing the golden hues of the evening sun to filter through the living space. This careful interplay of light creates a dynamic, ever-changing atmosphere that shifts with the time of day and the seasons.For more information on LA Cool and Carter Williamson Architects, visit carterwilliamson.com.Photography by Ben Guthrie.