Astro Bot wins big at the BAFTA Game Awards 2025 The PS5 platformer picked up five awards Image credit: Team Asobi, Sony Interactive Entertainment News by Samuel Roberts Editorial Director Published on April 8, 2025 Astro Bot was the big winner at the BAFTA Game Awards 2025, picking up five awards including Best Game. The acclaimed PS5 platformer by Team ASOBI also picked up Audio Achievement, Animation, Family and Game Design awards on the night. Still Wakes The Deep from British studio The Chinese Room also won three awards, with two going to actors Alec Newman and Karen Dunbar for their performances in the horror game set on an oil rig. Last year's smash hit co-op game Helldivers 2 picked up two awards, meanwhile, for Multiplayer and Music. Otherwise, the awards were split across a fairly eclectic spread of games, with card roguelike Balatro, platformer Neva and narrative action game Senua's Saga: Hellblade II among the titles that were recognised. To be eligible for the 21st BAFTA Game Awards, games had to be released between November 25, 2023 and November 15, 2024. As previously announced, the BAFTA Fellowship was presented to pianist and composer Yoko Shimomura, renowned for her work on the Kingdom Hearts, Xenoblade and Final Fantasy series, among many others. Here's the full list of winners: Animation: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI) Artistic Achievement: Neva (Nomada Studio) Audio Achievement: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI) Best Game: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI) British Game: Thank Goodness You're Here! (Coal Supper) Debut Game: Balatro (LocalThunk) Evolving Games: Vampire Survivors (poncle) Family: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI) Fellowship: Yoko Shimomura Game Beyond Entertainment: Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Game Design: Astro Bot (Team ASOBI) Multiplayer: Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios) Music: Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios) Narrative: Metaphor ReFantazio (Studio Zero) New Intellectual Property: Still Wakes The Deep (The Chinese Room) Performer in a Leading Role: Alec Newman (Still Wakes The Deep) Performer in a Supporting Role: Karen Dunbar (Still Wakes The Deep) Technical Achievement: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory)

Canadian pre-orders have been canned to 'align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the U.S.'

Samsung’s smart home platform SmartThings now works with Matter 1.4, the latest version of the interoperable smart home standard, adding compatibility with things like water heaters, heat pumps, and solar panels that use the spec. The company has also introduced new smart home automation triggers, as well as a broadcast feature for SmartThings-connected speakers.Matter 1.4 makes it easier to use one device with multiple platforms at once, and also adds more granular control. While the 1.3 spec added support for controlling robot vacuums, with 1.4, your smart home platform can direct them to clean a specific room. However, support for much of the spec is optional. We’ll learn more about how Samsung is implementing it later, but for now, here’s what it mentions in its release: The latest version of the standard includes a wide range of energy management devices — such as water heater, heat pump, solar power device, battery storage device, mounted on/off control switch and mounted dimmable load control device. So far, Home Assistant is the only other platform with (not quite full) Matter 1.4 support, while Amazon, Apple Home, and Google still lag behind.SmartThings gets new automation triggers and speaker intercom features. Image: SamsungAlong with the Matter update, Samsung has made it possible to broadcast voice messages through SmartThings-connected speakers from the SmartThings app, whether you’re in or out of your home. It also updated SmartThings routines so that you can use recurring events to trigger something, such as a smart bulb changing colors on someone’s birthday. Samsung also says SmartThings can now automatically do things like turn off your lights or open your curtains based on your actual sleep and wake times — if you have a paired Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring.See More:

SummaryLearn more about the weapons in Metal Eden.The free Metal Eden demo is available now for Xbox Series X|S. Starting today, you can dive into the sci-fi FPS action of Metal Eden with our brand-new demo available for Xbox Series X|S – grab it here from the Xbox Store. We can’t wait to see you experience the adrenaline rush we have in store for you while you navigate the city-planet of Moebius as it orbits the planet Vulcan. During the demo, you’ll jump into Mission 0 and Mission 1 and have a chance to experiment with some of the weapons that will help you cause havoc and uncover the truth of Moebius — master these upgrades, and no foe will be able to stop you. But first a reminder of why you fight… For humanity to survive space travel and expand across the galaxy, the Engineers invented Cores. This system can store human data by preserving a digital record of a human psyche, rebuilding it upon reaching its destination. That was the plan, however something went wrong. An erosion bomb was released by the Engineers, threatening all cores on Moebius. You play as Aska, and your mission is to save humanity from the Engineers who have them trapped within the hive at the center of Moebius. You’ll have an arsenal of powerful weapons that you can equip to deal with any situation you encounter throughout your missions that you’ll be able to upgrade, modify, and customize to your needs. Here are the weapons you’ll use in the demo: Hertz AP: The Hertz auto pistol is your default weapon that carries with it the advantage of unlimited ammunition. However, be careful not to be too trigger-happy — it will overheat, leaving you vulnerable waiting for its lengthy cool-down. U9 Supra: The first weapon you will find is a versatile firearm that shoots heavy single-fire bullets, with a precise aim that can deal devastating damage to your enemies. TAS-9: During the demo, you will find the TAS-9, which is a shotgun and an important weapon for close-quarters combat against larger foes. Swapping to the shotgun at key moments can give you the edge you need to survive. Each weapon comes with unique mods that completely transform how you play and eliminate enemies. And this is just the beginning; you’ll discover more weapons as you explore the full version of Metal Eden, mastering each one and customizing its upgrades to suit your playstyle and strategy. Here are some additional weapons available in the full game. Zenit SMG: The Zenit SMG is great against unarmored enemies, dealing high damage and a great alternative to the Hertz AP. Shark SAR: If you prefer dealing with enemies from afar, you can upgrade the Shark SAR by attaching a sniper scope to the weapon. This’ll give it more versatility for mid-range to long-range combat. Play the free demo today for Xbox Series X|S to get a handle on the adrenaline rush of Metal Eden. You’ll be primed for full release on May 6, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S! Wish list it today! METAL EDEN Demo Deep Silver ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now This is the demo version of METAL EDEN. The demo contains the first two missions from the game. METAL EDEN is an adrenaline-rush sci-fi FPS. The advanced HYPER UNIT ASKA is sent on a suicide mission to rescue the citizens’ CORES from the vast monolithic city MOEBIUS – once a hopeful new home for humanity now turned into a deadly trap. Blast your way through the INTERNAL DEFENCE CORPS in cybernetic warfare, confront the ENGINEERS and uncover the mysteries of the project EDEN. Metal Eden Deep Silver ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now METAL EDEN is an adrenaline-rush sci-fi FPS. The advanced HYPER UNIT ASKA is sent on a suicide mission to rescue the citizens’ CORES from the vast monolithic city MOEBIUS once a hopeful new home for humanity now turned into a deadly trap. Blast your way through the INTERNAL DEFENCE CORPS in cybernetic warfare, confront the ENGINEERS and uncover the mysteries of the project EDEN. CYBERNETIC WARFARE Dive into cybernetic warfare against the machine forces that protect the secrets of an artificial world. Fight a diverse range of tough, agile mecha troops and elemental forces. Extract energy cores and destroy the INTERNAL DEFENCE CORPS shields to gain a battle zone advantage. Develop your arsenal and combat capabilities to become an unstoppable HYPER UNIT. HYPER UNIT ASKA You are a HYPER UNIT – an advanced battle android. Built to protect. Specialized in recon missions. Powered by a PHANTOM CORE. Dash, grapple and wall-run through the INTERNAL. DEFENCE CORPS using enhanced parkour skills. Harness your superior agility and acrobatic combat prowess in pulse-pounding encounters. Transform into an ARMORED RAMBALL to charge into action and take on new and deadly machine foes. Control the air and dominate the battle with your gravity hooks and jetpack. PARADISE LOST MOEBIUS – a vast monolithic city high above the planet’s surface protecting the mysterious HIVE TOWER. Run by mysterious ENGINEERS, once a hopeful new home for humanity has turned into a deadly trap. Explore the brutalist and monolithic environments of the derelict orbital city and the mysterious world below, VULCAN. As HYPER UNIT ASKA, engage in the ongoing conflict over the consciousness of a lost human colony stored within reinforced storage units.

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?Just in time for spring and fueled by a renewed interest in all things twee (thanks, cottagecore!), this $27 accessory-turned-home-accent has quickly become a favorite amongst interior designers. And, you likely already have one in your closet! The happily humble straw hat adds as much easygoing charm to your walls as it does to your wardrobe. While straw hats have been a farmer-favorite since man invented the plow, interior designers such as Lilse McKenna and Ariel Okin are now using them to jazz-up their grandmillennial interiors with a country twist. Whether haphazardly hung in the entry or artfully displayed above a guest room bed, pretty-and-practical straw hats are a charming addition to any space in need of a little natural texture and perfectly placed imperfection.This hats-as-decor trend has risen in popularity alongside the ongoing revival of traditional design and the growing enthusiasm for classically pastoral pursuits—think the pandemic gardening boom and the sudden popularity of the bloom room. Traditional design icons and gardening mavens—like Dorothy Draper, Bunny Mellon, and Martha Stewart—have always known the undeniably chic appeal that straw hats possess.Today’s independent hat makers, such as Sarah Bray Bermuda and Sunshine Tienda, have taken the basic straw hat and elevated it with fanciful ribbons and hatbands. This customization is another reason designers flock to straw hats for interiors: matching your home to your clothing has never been easier—or more chic.Regardless of which hat shape you love, whether it’s a classic panama hat or a wide-brimmed gardening hat, there are easy ways to integrate them into your home. See below for some of my favorite ideas and shop some of the best hats to decorate with, just in time for spring. Related StoriesIn the EntryJessica Klewicki GlynnAn antique hat rack serves up shapely style and a practical perch for straw hats. In the BedroomLaurey W. GlennIn this pattern-filled bedroom, a collection of hats match the other touches of texture. In the Living RoomRead McKendree for Country LivingA collection of straw hats doubles as art above the sofa in this coastal cottage.In Your Closet Becky Luigart-Stayner for Country LivingA happy collection of hats looks especially elegant in this closet thanks to a chic hat form. At the Back DoorAnya RiceCraft a charming and practical tableau at your back door with a mix of hats.Shop These Stylish ChapeausExtended Brim Straw Hat$64 at AnthropologiePanama HatNow 10% Off$27 $24 at AmazonRancher Hat$88 at NordstromPackable Bow Sunhat$65 at tnuck.comRelated StoriesAnna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.  

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Above: The Monogram range in designer Gail Davis’s kitchen in South Orange, New Jersey.Two years ago I developed an unexpected crush, and it made things a little awkward between me and my sister-in-law, who lives in Santa Barbara. After a spring break vacation at her awesome little bungalow, I came home and began lusting after…her range. I dreamed about her stove. Fantasized about how quickly we boiled salted water for our kids’ pasta. I boldly imagined myself with a major appliance that wasn’t as charmless and blah as all of mine. One day, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I asked her for a link. The name of the range was—talk dirty with me—the Café 30-inch Smart Slide-In, Front-Control, Gas Double-Oven Range with Convection. This winter, I ordered the damn thing. Now it’s here, and she’s a beauty. With brushed copper handles and nobs to boot.You might be thinking, Well, it’s no Monogram range with solid brass burners and LED accent lighting, no arrogant Wolf with the seductive red knobs and timeless snob appeal. But whatever! I have burning-hot (no pun intended) chemistry with my Café range; it’s sophisticated yet unpretentious, tricked-out, yet impossibly easy. And anyway, like in all great love stories, the heart wants what the heart wants. The problem is, now my heart wants more. I want a matching refrigerator—with the same copper accouterments—to go with my range. I shouldn't be surprised. Copper begets copper; everybody knows that. Related StoriesAfter months of surfing the web for “status dishwashers” and “celebrity microwaves,” I wondered if I had a problem—if my single-minded pursuit of the sexy appliance was unique to me—so I reached out to Joe Vance, owner of Joseph Vance Architects in NYC in New York City, who said that I'm definitely not alone.“We design kitchens like furnished rooms, with an eye to detail and materiality,” says Vance. “In some, we use ranges that look like a piece of furniture rather than just an appliance. A well-designed range can be the feature in the room."As with me, Vance's appliance obsession doesn't start and end with the range. “We also pay attention to the interiors of refrigerators, a detail that adds to the overall style of the space,” says Vance. “For instance, we like Dacor refrigerators because their interiors are sexy with the materials and lighting they use.” Dacor fridges have stainless steel interiors, which are super sleek, but practical, too, because it’s durable and easy to clean. But if it’s what’s inside that counts, the sexiest fridge award may go to JennAir fridges with their obsidian interior (an industry exclusive). A well-designed range can be the feature in the room. We also pay attention to refrigerator interiors.—JOE VANCE, ARCHITECTOnce you find likeminded appliance fetishists, you start hearing names passed around in hushed whispers. Several architect friends say IKEA’s sleek, Scandinavian Superkall fridge with the Sektion Cabinet for Fridge really delivers on the sexy appliance front. And I’m tempted. The thought of a midcentury walnut fridge door that blends right into some midcentury walnut cabinetry seems like a no-brainer kitchen choice—and this is one that I can actually afford. Vance’s response gave me permission to take things further, especially as I fully renovate our Upstate New York kitchen. So I started to obsess over sexy dishwashers, a phrase I’m pretty sure no one has ever said before. What I learned is, there aren’t many! I can go back to (very quiet, at 39 decibels). I despise doing dishes, so anything helps to offset my hostility helps. When I asked a designer friend who makes every room feel like a woozy Parisian afternoon about his take on the “sexy dishwasher,” he told me, “We love our Miele, but having two is even better. When it comes to appliances, luxury is having multiples.” Too bad he’s married.Jess IsaacA pair of dishwashers flank the sink in this Los Angeles kitchen designed by Jaqui Seerman.When it comes to appliances, size doesn’t always matter. Don’t think for a second I’ve neglected to swoon over small appliances too. Bella’s Flip & Store Waffle Maker in Plum is essentially a love poem. I’m flirting with the steamy Balmuda toaster, a favorite of chic people who know things, and a machine that is famous for having perfected the art of the perfect toast. Even my beloved Crockpot has had a sexy glow-up—this one looks like beautiful ceramic art. I’m a forever lover of OXO’s 9 Cup Coffee Maker, since that’s about how much coffee I drink a day to keep up with my cheeky self; and I’ve been an OXO girlie ever since I learned how charitable they are, in particular with Cookies For Kids’ Cancer. I’ve had fun flitting around the appliance world. For someone who’s not naturally domestic, like me, it’s wonderful having a kitchen filled with sexy little gems rather than big silver blobs. Now I just need someone to cook for my family, and, fulfilling my heart’s true desire, clean up—because nothing is sexier than that.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Instagram is working on an iPad app, according to a new report from The Information. Yes, you read that right: after 15 years, Instagram is finally making a dedicated app for iPad. From the report: Instagram is also working on a version of the Instagram app designed for iPads, the current employee said, which could further drive usage of Instagram. Currently, iPad users can download a version of the Instagram app designed for iPhones, which appears zoomed-in on iPads—not a good experience! The report highlights other ways Meta is looking to grow usage of Instagram as it looks to capitalize on the continued uncertainty of TikTok. Instagram has made various excuses over the years as to why it’s never made an iPad app. In 2021, Instagram boss Adam Mosseri remarked that an iPad app “would be nice to do,” but it wasn’t a priority because “there’s a lot to do and only so many people.” The following year, Mosseri doubled down and said: It’s still just not a big enough group of people to be a priority. Hoping to get to it at some point, but right now we’re very heads down on other things. I call these “finally features.” Things like supporting dark mode, scheduled posts, an iPad app, deleting one photo from a carousel, etc. Good things come to those who wait, I suppose? There’s no timeline on when Instagram will ship its iPad app, and it’s always possible it could get scrapped. It’s truly a failure of leadership that Instagram hasn’t been available on the iPad for all this time. No word on whether we’ll have to wait until 2037 to get a Threads app for iPad. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The Trump administration's Justice Department has been directed to disband a team of prosecutors who'd been investigating cryptocurrency crimes.In a memo, deputy attorney general Todd Blanche argued that the "Department of Justice is not a digital assets regulator," accusing Trump's predecessor Joe Biden of using the department to "pursue a reckless strategy of regulation by prosecution, which was ill conceived and poorly executed."Specifically, the memo calls for the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit (NCET) to be disbanded "effective immediately" to comply with Trump's January executive order related to digital assets.The task force was established in 2021, and was made up of prosecutors and attorneys specializing in money laundering and cybercrime.It has previously investigated shady cryptocurrency "tumblers" or "mixers" that blend crypto funds to obscure their original source, as well as North Korean hackers who assisted in money laundering using crypto.Trump was once a staunch foe of the crypto industry, but changed his tune after its power players started supporting him financially.Earlier this month, he issued a pardon to a cryptocurrency exchange that had been fined $100 million for violating an anti-money laundering law. He also recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, former darknet kingpin of the online marketplace Silk Road.Trump is also financially tied to the industry, having launched a memecoin as well as a crypto venture.However, whether the president actually understands how cryptocurrencies work remains unclear at best."Crypto is one of those things we have to do," Trump said during an announcement of the venture in September. "Whether we like it or not, I have to do it."Now he's dismantling mechanisms designed to hold those who exploit cryptocurrencies for fraud responsible.That's despite the crypto community seemingly being at odds with how the president has gone about things so far. His memecoin, dubbed TRUMP, proved highly controversial in crypto circles, with some accusing him of "making a mockery of the industry."However, other crypto advocates are celebrating the latest move."We should be going after bad guys," advocacy group Coin Center executive director Peter Van Valkenburgh tweeted. "Not the developers of good tools that bad guys happen to use."Critics, however, pointed out that Trump is already using digital assets to accumulate wealth with close to zero oversight."The president is running a crypto scam where he can receive millions of dollars anonymously," MSNBC analyst Tim Miller tweeted. "Meanwhile the DOJ has shut down the crypto investigations unit.""Truly no corruption scheme like this in our history at least out of the White House," he added.More on Trump and crypto: Bitcoin Is Crashing HardShare This Article

Apr 08, 2025Ravie LakshmananCryptocurrency / Malware Threat actors have been observed distributing malicious payloads such as cryptocurrency miner and clipper malware via SourceForge, a popular software hosting service, under the guise of cracked versions of legitimate applications like Microsoft Office. "One such project, officepackage, on the main website sourceforge.net, appears harmless enough, containing Microsoft Office add-ins copied from a legitimate GitHub project," Kaspersky said in a report published today. "The description and contents of officepackage provided below were also taken from GitHub." While every project created on sourceforge.net gets assigned a "<project>.sourceforge.io" domain name, the Russian cybersecurity company found that the domain for officepackage, "officepackage.sourceforge[.]io," displays a long list of Microsoft Office applications and corresponding links to download them in Russian. On top of that, hovering over the download button reveals a seemingly legitimate URL in the browser status bar: "loading.sourceforge[.]io/download, giving the impression that the download link is associated with SourceForge. However, clicking on the link redirects the user to a completely different page hosted on "taplink[.]cc" that prominently displays another Download button. Should victims click on the download button, they are served a 7 MB ZIP archive ("vinstaller.zip"), which, when opened, contains a second password-protected archive ("installer.zip") and a text file with the password to open the file. Present within the new ZIP file is an MSI installer that's responsible for creating several files, a console archive utility called "UnRAR.exe," a RAR archive, and a Visual Basic (VB) script. "The VB script runs a PowerShell interpreter to download and execute a batch file, confvk, from GitHub," Kaspersky said. "This file contains the password for the RAR archive. It also unpacks malicious files and runs the next-stage script." The batch file is also designed to run two PowerShell scripts, one of which sends system metadata using the Telegram API. The other file downloads another batch script that then acts on the contents of the RAR archive, ultimately launching the miner and clipper malware (aka ClipBanker) payloads. Also dropped is the netcat executable ("ShellExperienceHost.exe") that establishes an encrypted connection with a remote server. That's not all. The confvk batch file has been found to create another file named "ErrorHandler.cmd" that contains a PowerShell script programmed to retrieve and execute a text string through the Telegram API. The fact that the website has a Russian interface indicates a focus on Russian-speaking users. Telemetry data shows that 90% of potential victims are in Russia, with 4,604 users encountering the scheme between early January and late March. With the sourceforge[.]io pages indexed by search engines and appearing in search results, it's believed that Russian users searching for Microsoft Office on Yandex are likely the target of the campaign. "As users seek ways to download applications outside official sources, attackers offer their own," Kaspersky said. "While the attack primarily targets cryptocurrency by deploying a miner and ClipBanker, the attackers could sell system access to more dangerous actors." The disclosure comes as the company revealed details of a campaign that's distributing a malware downloader called TookPS via fraudulent sites impersonating the DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, as well as remote desktop and 3D modeling software. This includes websites like deepseek-ai-soft[.]com, to which unsuspecting users are redirected to via sponsored Google search results, per Malwarebytes. TookPS is engineered to download and execute PowerShell scripts that grant remote access to the infected host via SSH, and drop a modified version of a trojan dubbed TeviRat. This highlights the threat actor's attempts to gain complete access to the victim's computer in a variety of ways. "The sample [...] uses DLL sideloading to modify and deploy the TeamViewer remote access software onto infected devices," Kaspersky said. "In simple terms, the attackers place a malicious library in the same folder as TeamViewer, which alters the software's default behavior and settings, hiding it from the user and providing the attackers with covert remote access." The development also follows the discovery of malicious Google ads for RVTools, a popular VMware utility, to deliver a tampered version that's laced with ThunderShell (aka SMOKEDHAM), a PowerShell-based remote access tool (RAT), underscoring how malvertising remains a persistent and evolving threat. "ThunderShell, sometimes called SmokedHam, is a publicly available post-exploitation framework designed for red teaming and penetration testing," Field Effect said. "It provides a command-and-control (C2) environment that allows operators to execute commands on compromised machines through a PowerShell-based agent." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

[Virtual Event] Generative AI: You're already behind