A new emulator app in the App Store means you can now play MAME ROMs on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here's how to get started.ArcadeMania has arrived in the App StoreApril 2025 marks a year since Apple allowed game emulators onto the App Store. But, while many emulators rushed to the App Store, one major name has been missing for quite some time.MAME, the free and open-source game emulator, wasn't allowed as an iPhone or iPad app for a long time. Tthe restrictions of the App Store prevented it from existing, even after Apple relaxed some of the rules. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The CBC recently unpacked the effect an absence of smart immigration policies and skilled laborers has had on the Canadian building economy. Canada’s points-based admission system is perhaps the biggest culprit for the dearth of construction workers that’s currently holding up housing delivery to the tune of 30,000-40,000 homes per year. The country's problems reflect that of America's housing crisis, which has only gotten worse with the threat of new tariffs while the industry attempts to recoup about 4.5 million homes. Housing policy, as a result, is fast becoming a top-line political issue in both countries. 

Ubisoft has revealed details about its plans for the second year of content for multiplayer pirate game Skull and Bones. Dubbed Year 2 Season 1, the latest update to Skull and Bones brings with it a host of new content, along with a progression to its main storyline. Check out the showcase video below. A major part of Skull and Bones moving into its second year is that there is a season reset. As part of this, players can only carry over up to 50,000 Pieces of Eight into the new season. As for the story, Skull and Bones Year 2 Season 1 picks up right where Year 1 Season 4 left off with the reports of the DMC trying to strengthen its position in the Indian Ocean. Now, players will have to deal with an arms race between DMC and the Compagnie as they battle for control over the Indian Ocean. Along with all of this, there is also new technology being developed in the background, which can alter the course of war. One of the major new features in the latest update to Skull and Bones is Item Ascension. Once players hit Infamy Tier 9, they will get the quest “Ascension and Modification”, which in turn will lead them to the Blacksmith where they can unlock the new feature. Through this, players can ascend their weapons with new modifications. Ascensions have three grades: Basic, Advanced, and Special. Ascending an item also gives it Modification Slot, which can turn the item into an incredibly powerful tool for players to use in their adventures through the game. For players that might want more challenge from the game, a new World Tier system has been added to Skull and Bones. With the pre-existing world being considered World Tier 1, players will be able to ascend up to World Tier 2: Cutthroat Seas when they reach the Kingpin Infamy Tier. World Tier 2 will feature increased difficulty, but players will also start earning more loot and resources. Rewards across various activities, including world events, ships and towers, are increased when playing in World Tier 2. A new ship-type has also been added to the game: the Schooner. Available after unlocking 45 tiers in the Smuggler Pass, the Schooner is a medium-sized ship that focuses on explosive damage. Its main perk is Fury, which, when activated, increases the damage and explosive effects of broadside weapons. A secondary perk, Volatile, can be unlocked at Ship Upgrade Rank 6, which further increases explosive damage while reducing weapon reload time. The Honorless is a new time-limited event that will go live from May 6. Available until June 10, the event involves players taking on the titular Honorless for lucrative rewards that can be picked up at the event vendor. Rewards include the Divine Wind epic Bombard, the Kleine Kartouwe epic Demi-Cannon, and the Fuse-Fusing Station rare minor furniture. Skull and Bones is available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. For more details about the game, check out our review from its launch period.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Originally posted on 12 June 2024. Scroll down for details of the latest update. RapidMXS – aka Octopus plugin developer Miklós Gábor – has released UVReactor, a high-performance new UV unwrapping and UV packing plugin for 3ds Max. The add-on promises to unwrap and pack even multi-million-poly models in seconds and follows 3ds Max’s standard workflow and UI conventions. A high-performance UV unwrapping plugin for 3ds Max In development for five years, UVReactor is a high-performance automated UV unwrapping and UV packing plugin for 3ds Max.It’s CPU-based and runs in a single CPU thread, making use of the AVX2 instruction set to accelerate processing. Gábor pitches UVReactor as doing “eight times more work [in one CPU cycle] than most UV editors”, remaining “extremely responsive” even on multi-million-poly models. Follows familiar 3ds Max workflows Although the feature set is still relatively limited in the initial release, UVReactor features toolsets for unwrapping and packing UVs, and setting texel density.It works with 3ds Max’s native Graphite Modeling Tools, and follows standard 3ds Max workflows, using the same hotkeys as the viewport and native UV Editor. Other selling points include built-in UV cleanup, automatically resolving common UV artefacts, and the option to stitch multiple UV shells simultaneously. https://www.cgchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/250415_UVReactor11_UVReactor12.mp4 A compilation of RapidMXS’s demos of the features added to UVReactor since the initial release, including Multi Object Mode, UDIM support, and workflow improvements from the 1.2 updates. Updated 15 April 2025: Since the original release of UVReactor, RapidMXS has steadily been putting out updates to the plugin, the latest being UVReactor 1.2.5. Below, we’ve rounded up the key changes to the plugin since its initial 1.0 release. The first major update, UVReactor 1.1, released just a month after version 1.0, added a new Multi Object Mode, making it possible to unwrap multiple objects or sub-objects simultaneously. UVReactor 1.1.3, released a month later, added support for UDIM workflows, making it possible to pack UV islands to separate UDIM tiles. UVReactor 1.2 released in March 2025, made UVReactor available as a modifier. That makes it possible to edit UVs anywhere in the modifier stack, letting you use UVReactor alongside the Edit Poly modifier, rather than just on Editable Poly objects. There have also been a lot of workflow improvements, including support for vertex and grid snapping, vertex pinning, non-uniform UV straightening, a circular selection mode, and new options for visualizing and selecting flipped polygons. The video embedded above compiles some of RapidMXS’s demos of the new features, and you can find complete changelogs for the 1.1.x and 1.2.x updates on RapidMXS’s Facebook profile. Pricing and system requirements UVReactor is compatible with 3ds Max 2020+. Perpetual Indie licenses, for artists with revenue under $100,000/year, have a MSRP of €150 (around $169). Pro licenses have a MSRP of €300 ($339). Read more about UVReactor for 3ds Max on the product website Have your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we don’t post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.

Day Zero Productions, the Los Angeles-based production company founded by Trevor Noah, is launching a new game jam with Anima Interactive.Read More

TechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Niantic is laying off 68 employees after selling its game business for $3.5 billionNiantic is laying off 68 employees after selling its game business for $3.5 billionThe AR company has been cutting jobs to reposition its new-look business as a startup.Chris Kerr, News EditorApril 15, 20251 Min ReadImage via NianticNiantic is laying off 68 employees shortly after selling its video game business to Saudi-owned mobile publisher Scopely for $3.5 billion.The company said the deal would allow it to refocus on the geospatial AI business with the formation of a new company called Niantic Spatial Inc.Niantic CEO John Hanke announced an undisclosed number of layoffs weeks later. He claimed the cuts would enable the company to become more focused by effectively operating as a "startup organization.""After a lot of consideration, it became clear that some roles would not be required given our new focus. This week, we are sharing this news with the individuals whose roles are impacted," said Hanke in March."These decisions are never easy; they in no way reflect the individuals’ performance, and we understand their impact on people’s lives."68 workers will lose their jobs at NianticNow, as detailed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report published in California, we know that at least 68 people will be losing their jobs at Niantic on May 20, 2025.Those cuts were announced on March 20, 2025—the very same day that Hanke announced layoffs via an internal email (subsequently posted on the Niantic website).Niantic has confirmed Hanke's note relates to the WARN report and said it doesn't have "anything else to add to that statement at this time." Related:Read more about:LayoffsAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

After a light teaser trailer last month, we finally have our first proper look at The Life of Chuck. And while it doesn’t give too much away, the new trailer provides a good taste of the emotional tone of the movie, which is a heartwarming story of one man’s life that has a touch of the post-apocalyptic to it. The trailer also teases the film’s standout moment: a seven-minute-long dance sequence from star Tom Hiddleston. Based on a short story of the same name from Stephen King, The Life of Chuck is the latest King adaptation from Mike Flanagan, who is best-known for Netflix series like The Haunting of Hill House, but also directed adaptations of Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game. It follows Chuck (Hiddleston) through various stages of his life, and opens on something resembling the end of the world. In addition to Hiddleston, Chuck also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill. The film premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, and I had the opportunity to see it then. For those curious, here are the final thoughts from my original review: Flanagan has always been a storyteller who uses horror as a way of exploring drama in a more heightened state. Here, he simply does away with the horror. The Life of Chuck doesn’t get away from his well-worn habits; rather, it’s an ideal vehicle for them. It’s also a fitting adaptation for another reason: in its very last moments, it turns out to be a haunting ghost story after all. The movie hits theaters on June 13th. Meanwhile, Flanagan is also working on a pair of other King projects for Amazon, with adaptations of both The Dark Tower and Carrie.

With so many Spring Sales popping up, now is a great time to stock up on games at a much lower price than usual. If you've been looking to sink your teeth into a massive medieval action RPG, this is one deal you definitely don't want to miss: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X) has received its first discount at Amazon and Walmart. It's down to $59.99, $10 off its list price of $69.99. Head to the links below to pick it up for your collection while the deal is still live.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for $59.99Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - PlayStation 5Kingdom Come: Deliverance II - Xbox Series XIf you're still on the fence about this one, it's worth having a read through our glowing 9/10 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review. Reviewer Leana Hafer said, "Armed with excellent melee combat and an exceptional story, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one part sequel and one part coronation, bringing a lot of the original's ideas to fruition."This isn't the only game deal that's crossed our path recently. At the moment Best Buy has a Spring Sale going on that's filled with some excellent discounts on games, including offers on Silent Hill 2, Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition, Star Wars Outlaws, and more. If you're building out your library of games, this is a sale worth checking out to save big on some popular options.For a more in-depth look at the best game deals available right now, it's worth checking our roundups of PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch deals. In each of these we've gathered up the best discounts on games, hardware, and accessories so you can save on a variety of items for your preferred platform. Our overall roundup of the best video game deals includes some great PC gaming deals alongside the console-specific offers, too.More Games on Sale Right Now Metaphor: RefantazioMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesSonic X Shadow GenerationsSilent Hill 2Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

LEGO has announced an Ultimate Collector Series entry perfect for fans of the Star Wars prequels: Jango Fett’s starship, available May 1st. “It is remarkable that Jango Fett’s Slave I, featured in Attack of the Clones, has appeared just four times before in LEGO form and three of those models are microscale. 75409 Jango Fett’s Starship is therefore an exciting prospect, finally giving this vessel some deserved attention… It has been eight years since Jango Fett last appeared, so his return is very welcome, featuring decorated arms and accompanied by a young Boba Fett.” Read more at Brickset The AI on Screen program from Google and Range Media Partners will commission films that examine the relationship between humanity and AI. “AI on Screen builds upon last year’s initiative to reimagine visual representations of AI through speculative photography… We’re now calling for ideas and submissions for emotionally-driven short films across genres, from science fiction and drama to thrillers and beyond. We’re particularly interested in original storytelling angles that align with this vision of exploring the future of AI. Interested filmmakers can connect directly with Range to submit relevant project ideas.” Read more at AI on Screen Singer Katy Perry and news anchor Gayle King were among the passengers on an all-female Blue Origin space tourism voyage. “The eight-minute flight traveled more than 62 miles into the atmosphere, past the Kármán line, which per Blue Origin is the ‘internationally recognized boundary of space.’ Blue Origin promises passengers in its burgeoning space tourism business that the trip offers the chance to experience ‘several minutes of weightlessness and witnessing life-changing views of Earth.’ The module containing the astronauts, suspended from three parachutes, landed several minutes after the rocket.” Read more at Variety The Dennis Quaid-Nick Offerman-Jacob Tremblay true-crime thriller Sovereign has set a June 20 theatrical release date. “Based on real events, the pic follows a father and son (Offerman and Tremblay) who identify as Sovereign Citizens, a group of anti-government extremists, as they venture across the country and find themselves in a standoff with a chief of police (Quaid) that sets off an intense manhunt with tragic consequences.” Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Read more at Deadline Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reunite as frenemies in the trailer for the Paul Feig sequel, Another Simple Favor. “Emily Nelson (Lively) is out of jail and set to wed a rich Italian businessman, leaving mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) wondering what’s up as she’s asked to be her maid of honor. ‘You think I want to make you pay for stealing my life,’ Emily asks Stephanie at one point in the trailer as they jet off to Italy. That’s after Emily went to jail at the end of A Simple Favor, and Stephanie, moonlighting as a private detective, helped put her there.” Read more at The Hollywood Reporter

Like a tadpole into an eye, Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is now slithering its way into Xbox Series X|S! This is the last major patch, which comes packed with highly requested features such as cross-play and Photo Mode, as well as a final parting gift from us: 12 new subclasses, one for each class.  Let’s take a look at them and help you decide what to roll next!  Barbarian: Path of the Giants  Drawing their strength from the fury of the giants, Barbarians that follow this Path are able to increase their size and physical strength. Kick your enemies off a ledge, or throw a bewildered companion at them (ready those daggers, Astarion).  Bard: College of Glamour  Tutored in their art by the fey, these Bards are your superstars, captivating and entrancing audiences. Protect your allies with Mantle of Inspiration and Charm everyone who dares attack them, and dish out Mantle of Majesty to Command orders to enemies and turn the tide of battle.  Cleric: Death Domain Death Domain Clerics delve and draw their faith from the forces of death, both those that cause it and those that raise and puppet the undead. Want a more direct approach? Use Bursting Sinew to explode a nearby corpse and impale everyone around it (gnarly!). Druid: Circle of the Stars  Drawing their power from the secrets of the constellations, these Druids embody the stars rather than more early forms. At level 2, these Druids can assume a starry form, granting new abilities and bonuses to combat and healing. Plus, who doesn’t want to sparkle? Fighter: Arcane Archer  A style of combat created by the elves, Arcane Archers focus their skills on shooting arrows of arcane energy. We are adding new special attacks to your arsenal, such as a Banishing Arrow that will send your enemies temporarily to the Feywild, or a Shadow Arrow that will Blind them. Combine all this with abilities like Curved Shot, which will redirect missed shots. Bad aim? We don’t know her. Monk: Way of the Drunken Master With the unpredictable movements of a drunkard, these Monks hide skilful hits beneath a stumbling exterior. They regain Ki through alcohol and are immune to getting drunk. Punch your enemies drunk and then hit them with Sobering Realisation, dealing psychic damage and sobering them back up. We’ve all been there.  Paladin: Oath of the Crown  The Oath of the Crown binds a Paladin to uphold civilization and order, deal with the consequences of their actions, and keep their word. Be careful about the promises you make. Oath of the Crown Paladins focus on supporting and protecting their allies, sometimes at the cost of their own safety.  Ranger: Swarmkeeper Some Rangers are called to ally themselves with the small creatures in nature, and gain their power in return. Summon a flurry of moths to cause psychic damage, a cloud of jellyfish that will cause electric damage… or simply unleash the fury of your legion of bees on your enemies.  Rogue: Swashbuckler  Hiding in the shadows is not for swashbuckler rogues, who add a touch of pirate flair to their combat. Hop in and out of combat before your enemies can even react. Disarm your foe or blind them with pocket sand – they won’t know what hit them. All in style, of course, you charmer (no, really, you’ll be leaving them Charmed). Sorcerer: Shadow Magic Shadow Sorcerers draw their magic from the Shadowfell. Besides giving you immaculate goth vibes, you will be able to teleport between shadows, and summon a Hound of Ill Omen to surprise and trap your enemies. One not enough? Once attacked, they will splinter into multiple versions of themselves. Being dark and gloomy does not mean you have to be a loner.  Warlock: Hexblade Hexblade Warlocks have struck a contract with a sentient weapon also originating from the Shadowfell. You will start the game with a bound weapon, which will curse your targets. Once these enemies are killed, they will rise as Accursed Spectres, slicing your enemies in a flurry of scythes and allowing you to syphon their health. Putting the “war” in warlock with this one.  Wizard: Bladesinger Following a technique that claims its name from the ringing of a blade as it’s unsheathed, Bladesingers gracefully leap and slash between enemies, blade and spells in hand. As you attack with your bladesong, you will build up to a Bladesong Climax, unleashing damage upon your enemies and healing your allies. Want to see these subclasses in action? Check out our video series on Larian Studios: Channel From Hell! Thank you for joining us in this adventure, we could not have done it without you. If you are just now embarking on your journey through the Sword Coast, we hope it’s a great one!  Baldur's Gate 3 Larian Studios ☆☆☆☆☆ 933 ★★★★★ $69.99 Get it now Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms. THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully. SEAMLESSLY SWITCH BETWEEN SINGLE AND MULTIPLAYER Each character weaves their own story, alone or in a party. Combine your forces in combat and split your party to follow your own quests and agendas. Concoct the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it. With split-screen co-op for up to two players on one Xbox, or as up to four players online, Baldur's Gate 3 is an adventure made to be played alone, or shared with friends. NO ADVENTURE WILL BE THE SAME The Forgotten Realms are a vast, detailed, and diverse world, and there are secrets to be discovered all around you – verticality is a vital part of exploration. Sneak, dip, shove, climb, and jump as you journey from the depths of the Underdark to the glittering rooftops of the Upper City. How you survive, and the mark you leave on the world, is up to you. A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine. NOTE – Local co-op is currently not supported on Xbox Series S. Certain features of the game, including mods, may not be accessible by Xbox child accounts. At Xbox, a child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.