New York AI startup 1Fort secures $7.5M in funding to streamline commercial insurance for small businesses with its broker-focused platform that cuts paperwork from hours to minutes.Read More

Dwarf Fortress hits 1 million sales on Steam | News-in-brief Kitfox Games thanks "everyone who’s supported us!" Image credit: Kitfox Games News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on April 17, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below: Dwarf Fortress hits 1 million sales on Steam

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.DesignMario Kart World features missions for the first time in 20 yearsMario Kart World features missions for the first time in 20 yearsOriginally introduced in Mario Kart DS, the Switch 2 exclusive is reintroducing missions, this time in an open-world setting.Diego Arguello, ContributorApril 17, 20252 Min ReadImage via NintendoMario Kart World will feature missions for the first time in 20 years.As part of today‛s Mario Kart World Direct, Nintendo showed an in-depth overview of Free Roam mode, which allows players to explore the map in its entirety, seemingly without barriers.During this exploratory phase outside of races, players can bump onto P Switches, objects that start missions. The examples shown included collecting eight blue coins on an obstacle course under 24 seconds, and a race where golden armadillos are blocking the track.Mario Kart DS first introduced Mission Mode in 2005. The feature offered players a reprieve from competitive races with multiple objectives and boss fights.In World, missions aren‛t part of a separate mode, but rather integrated in the open world segment. The trailer noted there are "hundreds of P Switches" across the world, their purpose being to “hone your driving ability outside of races” by completing the missions. There are also collectibles to find, and players can use Photo Mode to take pictures.Cruising togetherOther players can join a session in Free Roam. While this is meant to serve as a hub to kickstart races together, it‛s possible to tag along to explore the map. Game Developer senior editor Bryant Francis noted that it will be interesting if these missions are structured around social play with friends versus linear progression.Related:Based on the examples shown, it could go either way. Considering that Nintendo is pushing the communal online aspect around the Switch 2 with the inclusion of GameChat for video calls during game sessions, as well as its own camera, it wouldn't be surprising if some objectives overlapped with other players.Mario Kart World is set to release as a Switch 2 launch title, which is estimated for June 5. Pre-orders are currently unavailable in the U.S. and Canada over the Trump administration tariffs. In China, Nintendo is reportedly delaying the console indefinitely to asses demand levels in the highly regulated local market. The company has yet to address the pre-orders publicly, although the U.S. tariff pause, announced last week, could provide the company time to amass a Switch 2 stockpile.Read more about:Nintendo Switch 2Top StoriesNintendoAbout the AuthorDiego ArguelloContributorSee more from Diego ArguelloDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Tesla’s vehicles may be in a sales slump, but that’s not stopping the company from regularly introducing fresh features for owners. Tesla’s spring software update includes several useful new functions in its EVs, including adaptive high beams on compatible cars and better trip planning.The update will allow some Tesla owners to use high beams without blinding other drivers and cyclists on the road by enabling the beamforming capabilities of equipped matrix headlights. The company first started installing the hardware across its vehicles in 2022, but are just now enabling it. Tesla had also enabled the features in Europe last year, and the newly refreshed Model Y will ship with the new smart headlights.Many automakers like Audi have already been using adaptive headlights for about a decade in Europe, but the technology only became legal in the US in 2022. Other US automakers, including Ford and its F-150 Lightning, have the necessary hardware but aren’t yet enabling all the features of adaptive lights by default.Another very useful feature in the spring release includes “Alternative Trip Plans,” which lets Tesla owners select different EV navigation routes based on whether they want to get there faster, have the fewest stops, or want to visit highly rated restaurants, shops, and restrooms. It adds to an already comprehensive EV navigation experience that other automakers have yet to catch up to, although Tesla still does not include third party chargers in automatic routing. Additionally, you can now set navigation to avoid highways.Tesla is also giving its Sentry secure video and Dashcam features the ability to record clips from the B-Pillar side cameras, increasing their capture abilities from six of the vehicle’s cameras instead of four. An updated Dashcam viewer on the infotainment screen includes a new grid view to make it easier to review recordings. These new dashcam features, however, only work on Tesla models with AMD-powered infotainment screens, so anyone with Intel-powered ones won’t get the new functionality. Other notable features in the update include sideview camera feeds on the instrument cluster for Model S and X, location based trunk height memory so your tailgate doesn’t hit your low-ceiling garage, always-on USB-C and wireless charging, and, for those who refuse to pay Tesla for premium connectivity, the ability to automatically connect to your hotspot when you start to drive.See More:

Part 1: Uploading a Dataset to Hugging Face Hub Introduction This part of the tutorial walks you through the process of uploading a custom dataset to the Hugging Face Hub. The Hugging Face Hub is a platform that allows developers to share and collaborate on datasets and models for machine learning. Here, we’ll take an existing Python instruction-following dataset, transform it into a format suitable for training the latest Large Language Models (LLMs), and then upload it to Hugging Face for public use. We’re specifically formatting our data to match the Llama 3.2 chat template, which makes it ready for fine-tuning Llama 3.2 models. Step 1: Installation and Authentication First, we need to install the necessary libraries and authenticate with the Hugging Face Hub: !pip install -q datasets !huggingface-cli login What’s happening here: datasets is Hugging Face’s library for working with machine learning datasets The quiet flag -q reduces installation output messages huggingface-cli login will prompt you to enter your Hugging Face authentication token You can find your token by going to your Hugging Face account settings → Access Tokens After running this cell, you will be prompted to enter your token. This authenticates your session and allows you to push content to the Hub. Step 2: Load the Dataset and Define the Transformation Function Next, we’ll load an existing dataset and define a function to transform it to match the Llama 3.2 chat format: from datasets import load_dataset # Load your complete custom dataset dataset = load_dataset('Vezora/Tested-143k-Python-Alpaca') # Define a function to transform the data def transform_conversation(example): system_prompt = """ You are an expert Python coding assistant. Your role is to help users write clean, efficient, and bug-free Python code. You have been trained on a diverse set of high-quality Python code samples, all of which passed rigorous automated testing for functionality and performance. Always follow best practices in Python programming, provide concise and readable solutions, and ensure that your responses include informative comments when necessary. When presented with a coding problem, first create a detailed pseudocode that outlines the structure and logic of the solution step-by-step. Once the pseudocode is complete, follow it to generate the actual Python code. This approach will help ensure clarity and alignment with the desired logic before writing the code. If asked to modify existing code, provide pseudocode highlighting the changes and optimizations to be made, focusing on improvements related to performance, error handling, and robustness. Remember to explain your thought process and rationale clearly for any modifications or code suggestions you provide. """ instruction = example['instruction'].strip() # Accessing the instruction column output = example['output'].strip() # Accessing the output column formatted_text = ( f"""<|begin_of_text|><|start_header_id|>system<|end_header_id|> {system_prompt} <|eot_id|>n<|start_header_id|>user<|end_header_id|> {instruction} <|eot_id|><|start_header_id|>assistant<|end_header_id|> {output}<|eot_id|>""" ) # instruction = example['instruction'].strip() # Accessing the instruction column # output = example['output'].strip() # Accessing the output column # Apply the new template # Since there is no system prompt, we construct the string without the SYS part # formatted_text = f'<s>[INST] {instruction} [/INST] {output} </s>' return {'text': formatted_text} What’s happening here: We load the ‘Vezora/Tested-143k-Python-Alpaca’ dataset, which contains Python programming instructions and outputs We define a transformation function that restructures each example into the Llama 3.2 chat format We include a detailed system prompt that gives the model context about its role as a Python coding assistant The special tokens like <|begin_of_text|>, <|start_header_id|>, and <|eot_id|> are Llama 3.2’s way of formatting conversational data This function creates a properly formatted conversation with system, user, and assistant messages The system prompt is particularly important as it defines the persona and behavior expectations for the model. In this case, we’re instructing the model to act as an expert Python coding assistant that follows best practices and provides well-commented, efficient solutions. Step 3: Apply the Transformation to the Dataset Now we apply our transformation function to the entire dataset: # Apply the transformation to the entire dataset transformed_dataset = dataset['train'].map(transform_conversation) What’s happening here: The map() function applies our transformation function to every example in the dataset This processes all 143,000 examples in the dataset, reformatting them into the Llama 3.2 chat format The result is a new dataset with the same content but structured properly for fine-tuning Llama 3.2 This transformation is crucial because it reformats the data into the specific template required by the Llama 3.2 model family. Without this formatting, the model wouldn’t recognize the different roles in the conversation (system, user, assistant) or where each message begins and ends. Step 4: Upload the Dataset to Hugging Face Hub With our dataset prepared, we can now upload it to the Hugging Face Hub: transformed_dataset.push_to_hub("Llama-3.2-Python-Alpaca-143k") What’s happening here: The push_to_hub() method uploads our transformed dataset to the Hugging Face Hub “Llama-3.2-Python-Alpaca-143k” will be the name of your dataset repository This creates a new repository under your username: https://huggingface.co/datasets/YOUR_USERNAME/Llama-3.2-Python-Alpaca-143k The dataset will now be publicly available for others to download and use After running this cell, you’ll see progress bars indicating the upload status. Once complete, you can visit the Hugging Face Hub to view your newly uploaded dataset, edit its description, and share it with the community. This dataset is now ready to be used for fine-tuning Llama 3.2 models on Python programming tasks, with properly formatted conversations that include system instructions, user queries, and assistant responses! Part 2: Fine-tuning and Uploading a Model to Hugging Face Hub Now that we’ve prepared and uploaded our dataset, let’s move on to fine-tuning a model and uploading it to the Hugging Face Hub. Step 1: Install Required Libraries First, we need to install all the necessary libraries for fine-tuning large language models efficiently: !pip install "unsloth[colab-new] @ git+https://github.com/unslothai/unsloth.git" !pip install "git+https://github.com/huggingface/transformers.git" !pip install -U trl !pip install --no-deps trl peft accelerate bitsandbytes !pip install torch torchvision torchaudio triton !pip install xformers !python -m xformers.info !python -m bitsandbytes What this does: Installs Unsloth (a library for faster LLM fine-tuning), the latest version of Transformers, TRL (for reinforcement learning), PEFT (for parameter-efficient fine-tuning), and other dependencies needed for training. The xformers and bitsandbytes libraries help with memory efficiency. Step 2: Load the Dataset Next, we load the dataset we prepared in the previous section: from unsloth import FastLanguageModel from trl import SFTTrainer from transformers import TrainingArguments import torch from datasets import load_dataset max_seq_length = 2048 dataset = load_dataset("nikhiljatiwal/Llama-3.2-Python-Alpaca-143k", split="train") What this does: Sets the maximum sequence length for our model and loads our previously uploaded Python coding dataset from Hugging Face. Step 3: Load the Pre-trained Model Now we load a quantized version of Llama 3.2: model, tokenizer = FastLanguageModel.from_pretrained( model_name = "unsloth/Llama-3.2-3B-Instruct-bnb-4bit", max_seq_length = max_seq_length, dtype = None, load_in_4bit = True ) What this does: Loads a 4-bit quantized version of Llama 3.2 3B Instruct model from Unsloth’s repository. Quantization reduces the memory footprint while maintaining most of the model’s performance. Step 4: Configure PEFT (Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning) We’ll set up the model for efficient fine-tuning using LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation): model = FastLanguageModel.get_peft_model( model, r = 16, target_modules = ["q_proj", "k_proj", "v_proj", "o_proj", "gate_proj", "up_proj", "down_proj",], lora_alpha = 16, lora_dropout = 0, # Supports any, but = 0 is optimized bias = "none", # Supports any, but = "none" is optimized # [NEW] "unsloth" uses 30% less VRAM, fits 2x larger batch sizes! use_gradient_checkpointing = "unsloth", # True or "unsloth" for very long context random_state = 3407, use_rslora = False, # We support rank stabilized LoRA loftq_config = None, # And LoftQ max_seq_length = max_seq_length ) What this does: Configures the model for Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning with LoRA. This technique only trains a small number of new parameters while keeping most of the original model frozen, allowing efficient training with limited resources. We’re targeting specific projection layers in the model with a rank of 16. Step 5: Mount Google Drive for Saving To ensure our trained model is saved even if the session disconnects: from google.colab import drive drive.mount("/content/drive") What this does: Mounts your Google Drive to save checkpoints and the final model. Step 6: Set Up Training and Start Training Now we configure and start the training process: trainer = SFTTrainer( model = model, train_dataset = dataset, dataset_text_field = "text", max_seq_length = max_seq_length, tokenizer = tokenizer, args = TrainingArguments( per_device_train_batch_size = 2, gradient_accumulation_steps = 4, warmup_steps = 10, # num_train_epochs = 1, # Set this for 1 full training run. max_steps = 60, learning_rate = 2e-4, fp16 = not torch.cuda.is_bf16_supported(), bf16 = torch.cuda.is_bf16_supported(), logging_steps = 1, optim = "adamw_8bit", weight_decay = 0.01, lr_scheduler_type = "linear", seed = 3407, output_dir = "/content/drive/My Drive/Llama-3.2-3B-Instruct-bnb-4bit" ), ) trainer.train() What this does: Creates a Supervised Fine-Tuning Trainer with our model, dataset, and training parameters. The training runs for 60 steps with a batch size of 2, gradient accumulation of 4, and a learning rate of 2e-4. The model checkpoints will be saved to Google Drive. Step 7: Save the Fine-tuned Model Locally After training, we save our model: model.save_pretrained("lora_model") # Local saving tokenizer.save_pretrained("lora_model") What this does: Saves the fine-tuned LoRA model and tokenizer to a local directory. Step 8: Upload the Model to Hugging Face Hub Finally, we upload our fine-tuned model to Hugging Face: import os from google.colab import userdata HF_TOKEN = userdata.get('HF_WRITE_API_KEY') model.push_to_hub_merged("nikhiljatiwal/Llama-3.2-3B-Instruct-code-bnb-4bit", tokenizer, save_method = "merged_16bit", token=HF_TOKEN) Conclusion In this guide, we demonstrated a complete workflow for AI model customization using Hugging Face. We transformed a Python instruction dataset into Llama 3.2 format with a specialized system prompt and uploaded it as “Llama-3.2-Python-Alpaca-143k”. We then fine-tuned a Llama 3.2 model using efficient techniques (4-bit quantization and LoRA) with minimal computing resources. Finally, we shared both resources on Hugging Face Hub, making our Python coding assistant available to the community. This project showcases how accessible AI development has become, enabling developers to create specialized models for specific tasks with relatively modest resources. Here is the Colab Notebook_Llama_3_2_3B_Instruct_code and Colab Notebook_Llama_3_2_Python_Alpaca_143k . Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and join our Telegram Channel and LinkedIn Group. Don’t Forget to join our 90k+ ML SubReddit. NikhilNikhil is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is pursuing an integrated dual degree in Materials at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Nikhil is an AI/ML enthusiast who is always researching applications in fields like biomaterials and biomedical science. With a strong background in Material Science, he is exploring new advancements and creating opportunities to contribute.Nikhilhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/nikhil0980/OpenAI Introduces o3 and o4-mini: Progressing Towards Agentic AI with Enhanced Multimodal ReasoningNikhilhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/nikhil0980/MIT Researchers Introduce DISCIPL: A Self-Steering Framework Using Planner and Follower Language Models for Efficient Constrained Generation and ReasoningNikhilhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/nikhil0980/From Logic to Confusion: MIT Researchers Show How Simple Prompt Tweaks Derail LLM ReasoningNikhilhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/nikhil0980/Reflection Begins in Pre-Training: Essential AI Researchers Demonstrate Early Emergence of Reflective Reasoning in LLMs Using Adversarial Datasets

As if they could resist putting Alicia Silverstone back in the yellow and plaid. The iconic actress is reportedly set to reprise her starring role as Cher Horowitz in a Clueless sequel series for Peacock.The series is currently in development with the streamer, according to Variety, and the exact plot details are being kept quiet. The only details we have at this point are Silverstone’s involvement, the fact that the show will be a continuation of the story told in the original 1995 film, and the creative team. Additionally, we know this new attempt at a Clueless spin-off is different from the one that Peacock was planning to do back in 2020.Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, best known as a team for co-creating the original Gossip Girl series as well as executive producing the reboot series, will write the series alongside Jordan Weiss. The trio will executive produce the series as well alongside Amy Heckerling, the original writer-director of Clueless, and Robert Lawrence, the film’s original producer. CBS Studios and Universal Television will also produce. This is definitely not the first small screen adaptation of the 1995 comedy. Following its success with moviegoers, a television version of the film aired on ABC and UPN from 1996 to 1999 with Rachel Blanchard — instead of Silverstone — in the lead.Silverstone recently reprised her Clueless role in a 2023 Super Bowl commercial for Rakuten — so it’s clear she’s been itching to get back into Cher’s closet. We don’t blame her one bit. Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

WrestleMania 41 is officially upon us. WWE is taking over Las Vegas — the city of sin, risk, and reinvention. Fitting, isn’t it? Because this year’s Mania isn’t just another page in WWE history—it’s a full-blown rewrite of the future. You’ve got legends clashing, factions crumbling, and betrayals turning friends into enemies. In Vegas the lights are brighter. The stakes are higher. The entrances are going to be longer than The Strip itself. WrestleMania 40 gave us a fairytale—Cody Rhodes, bloodied and broken, finally “finished the story.” But fairytales? They’re for bedtime. This is WrestleMania. And the dream has been corrupted. Because this year… John Cena snapped at Elimination Chamber. He gave his soul to The Rock. Low blowing Cody and pummeling him till he was bleeding. It was a moment that left many speechless.  John Cena is supposed to be the hero, not the villain. The man who was the moral compass of WWE, the embodiment of “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect,” has turned his back on it all. No more t-shirts. No more salutes. Just venom in his voice and destruction in his heart. And standing in his way? The golden son of Dusty, the man of the people—Cody Rhodes.  While the headliner will draw a ton of attention, WrestleMania 41’s two-night card is stacked. The drama is layered. And the streets of Vegas are ready to burn. Let’s get into our predictions. NIGHT ONE: Chad Gable has reinvented himself as “El Grande Americano,” a loud, overly patriotic parody that’s been mocking lucha libre and Rey Mysterio’s heritage with every promo. What started as comedic jabs turned personal quick, with Gable attacking Rey’s legacy, culture, and influence. Rey’s not just fighting for a win — he’s defending an entire tradition. Expect a fast-paced, high-flying masterclass with sneaky heel tactics from Gable. Prediction: Rey Mysterio overcomes the disrespect and gets a clean win to kick off the show with heart. Naomi vs. Jade Cargill What started as one of the most exciting alliances in recent women’s wrestling — Naomi, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill — quickly spiraled into betrayal. The trio was poised to dominate the women’s division, but envy simmered beneath the surface. Naomi, the seasoned vet, saw her spotlight dim under Jade’s rise. Frustration turned into violence when Naomi attacked Jade backstage, causing a storyline injury that sidelined Cargill for weeks. Jade returned with fury at Elimination Chamber, blindsiding Naomi with a brutal attack. Now, at WrestleMania 41, it’s personal. Jade isn’t just chasing a win—she’s hunting for closure and revenge. Prediction: Jade Cargill destroys Naomi. This is her coming-out party. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! WWE Tag Team Championships: War Raiders (c) vs. The New Day This is a battle of brute force vs. ruthless cunning. The War Raiders have dominated with power and brutality. But The New Day has dropped the fun and flipped the switch—now gritty, edgy, and willing to cheat to win. Prediction: The New Day steals a win using distraction and dirty tactics. A new reign begins. United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu Jacob Fatu arrived like a storm—unpredictable, violent, and completely unbothered by the rules. His debut came after annihilating Braun Strowman, and now he’s gunning for the charismatic LA Knight. Knight’s momentum is undeniable, but Fatu brings the kind of raw aggression WWE hasn’t seen in a while. Prediction: LA Knight squeaks by with a controversial win. The feud continues through the summer. WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair Tiffany Stratton talks like she already owns the women’s division, but now she has to face the standard — Charlotte Flair. The promos have been personal, cutting deep into both women’s pasts, and the match will be even deeper. Tiff wants to prove she’s not just flash—but Charlotte’s legacy is cemented in gold and dominance. Prediction: Charlotte wins. Tiffany looks good in the loss, setting her up for long-term elevation. World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso Gunther’s reign has been defined by violence and discipline. He’s a machine. But Jey Uso has turned into one of the most beloved babyfaces in the company—a man who broke free from the Bloodline and carved out his own name. This match is a clash of styles and stories. Gunther represents order. Jey represents chaos, passion, and grit. Prediction: Jey Uso pulls the upset of the night and captures his first singles world title. NIGHT TWO: AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul Styles is the ring general. Logan Paul is the flashy outsider who’s proven he belongs—but now he’s facing a true veteran. Their feud escalated from Royal Rumble tension to social media flame wars. Prediction: AJ Styles wins. Logan gets yet another viral moment, but AJ gets the W. Sin City Street Fight: Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest This match is about respect, redemption, and violence. Priest cost Drew his WrestleMania moment last year, and ever since, it’s been personal with the car window spot and the sneak attacks. Drew’s had enough. Prediction: McIntyre wins in a war. This one’s going to be bloody. Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria A lowkey banger with emotional stakes. Liv and Raquel want to prove they’re not transitional champs. Bayley wants to bring Lyra to the big stage and rebuild her own legacy in the process. Prediction: Liv & Raquel retain. Clean win, great showing. Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio This four-way is chaos on paper. Bron’s been dominant. Penta brings unpredictability. Finn’s the strategist. Dom’s the spoiled heat magnet who will do anything to win. Prediction: Bron retains. The young lion continues his reign of dominance. Women’s World Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley Originally booked as Rhea vs. Bianca, the dynamic changed when Bianca cost Rhea a match, leading to IYO getting the win and inserting herself. Rhea then activated her rematch clause, creating a high-stakes triple threat. All three women are elite. All three have something to prove. Prediction: Bianca Belair wins. She reclaims her spot at the top. Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena WrestleMania 41 is everything WrestleMania should be—epic, dramatic, unpredictable. It’s about legacy, betrayal, and rebirth. From Cody vs Cena to Jade’s revenge, this weekend will define careers. Las Vegas might be known for its lights, but after WrestleMania 41, it’ll be remembered for the fire. The dream match became a nightmare. John Cena turned heel—fully. Influenced by The Rock, driven by bitterness, Cena is chasing his 17th world title with zero remorse. Cody, the ultimate babyface, is fighting not just to keep his title—but to save the soul of WWE from the man he once admired. Prediction: John Cena wins. Dirty finish. Cody’s story enters a new chapter — darker, more personal.

Hello, I’m Eser Kaya, I’m part of the Ubik Studios team developing Leila. I’d like to tell you a little bit about the world of Leila that you’ll be diving into. Leila puts you inside the mind of a middle-aged woman and lets you wander there. You are allowed to enter her mind and you travel through her past experiences on her way to becoming the person she is today. So what is in the past? The same things that everybody has: Regrets, mistakes, traumas, what ifs… The bad things leave more traces and when we look back at them, we see that they have shaped us, brought us to the present. As we experience Leila’s life story, we try to unravel the mystery of all this baggage, to get to the bottom of it. And we do this with the help of creative puzzles built into the game. We used traditional animation techniques to produce all the end-of-episode cinematics, and through the production of these we had the chance to see how intensive this work is. Every one of them is like a short film, giving the player clues about Leila’s past and functioning as a complement to the story. Leila wanders through her memories with the help of a technological device that her daughter gave her as a gift. While doing so, she tries to get to know herself better, to establish a cause and effect relationship of her actions, and ultimately to see what exactly makes her who she is. The player becomes Leila as she listens to her inner voice and identifies themself with Leila, often looking at the world from her point of view. As you move back and forth between the decades, you also get a glimpse of the aesthetics or trends of the time. Thus the game strikes a balance between the nostalgia of the past and the promise of the future. Leila was designed to be a powerful example of the female gaze, which we feel is sorely lacking in games. By looking at life from a woman’s perspective, it adds a new layer to the experience. By taking a close look at the untold, often ignored stories of women, she shows a practice of healing, shaking up and standing up that applies to everyone. We put a lot of effort in for our first game Leila for about two years. Now it’s time to take it out to the world and present it to people and make it a part of them. We hope that Leila can show a path of healing for everyone who experiences it. Leila NAISU ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $12.99 Pre-order "Normally I'd dig a hole in me and then fall into it, But this time I decided that instead of falling in, I would willingly go in. Here I am, drifting on the shores of my life." Play as Leila and traverse through all phases of her life, uncovering her pivotal life moments. By unraveling puzzles imbued with the fragments of her narrative, you'll comprehend the motives behind Leila's life decisions. As you delve deeper into her psyche and her emotional landscape, you'll discover facets of your own self mirrored in the life journey of this seemingly ordinary woman. Step into journey through the layers of Leila, a captivating, story-driven adventure that comes alive with charming narration and stunning artwork. Every frame is a masterpiece, handcrafted with detailed traditional animation, and each moment is accentuated with an evocative original soundtrack. Embark on Leila's journey as she grapples with the complexities of love, trust, and the shadows of her past. Navigate thought-provoking puzzles that challenge and engage, deepening the immersion in her tale. The post Are You Ready to Enter Leila’s Mind and Journey into Her Past? appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Courtesy MinottiMilan Design Week is an embarrassment of riches—everywhere you turn there seems to be another striking, bold seating arrangement or beautifully hand-painted plate. It's easy for standout items to get lost in the sheer vastness of design's biggest week. This year, as major industry players from home, fashion, and jewelry gathered in Italy's design capital, it felt like the number of outstanding pieces, installations, and experiences multiplied tenfold. To narrow things down a bit, we here at Elle Decor asked our editors to share their favorite picks. After a week of scouring by-appointment-only events, elegant showrooms, and, of course, Salone del Mobile and the Fuorisalone, here's what they chose. BuccellatiCourtesy BuccellatiI gasped as I walked through the mid-Milan dream that Buccellati created for this collection. I had seen the house’s beautiful home collection before—and coveted that bamboo silverware—but I had never before witnessed such large scale Buccellati figures, and with all that Italian handcraftsmanship intact. The ambition and beauty of it all was something to behold, and, ultimately why we all go to Milan and Salone. —Stellene Volandes, Editorial & Brand DirectorPoltrona FrauElisa Lipsky-KaraszThe Poltrona Frau showroom is in an incredible historic palazzo in the center of Milan, which they have carefully restored. It was a treat to walk through and visit their private rooms on the upper floors. The juxtaposition of the elaborate Italian frescoes and a very restrained Teahouse collection in one room was especially striking. The serene calm amidst the hubbub of Salone madness was a welcome respite. I especially loved a clever cupboard with hinged shelves that opened to reveal all the elements needed for a traditional tea ceremony. —Elisa Lipsky-Karasz, head of editorial content.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowMolteni&CElisa Lipsky-KaraszGio Ponti, Gio Ponti, Gio Ponti! I will never tire of the great Italian master, especially in Milan, which feels like the perfect setting for his timeless creations. Molteni&C staged an exhibition of his wondrous “Impossible Objects” in the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, which showed his mischievous, absurdist side. Meanwhile, across the street in their newly renovated palazzo headquarters, I wished for this aerodynamic, seemingly weightless D.847.1 desk originally designed in 1947—it seems like it would make all my deadlines fly. —ELK​​Dozie KanuCourtesy Dozie KanuOff the Milan Design Week hidden path and up a curving set of stairs was an intervention by Dozie Kanu at Galleria Federico Vavassori, “not opposed to tossing bricks into the quotidian, your honor.” A steel and aluminum handrail extends the full length of the gallery’s three exhibition rooms, grounding visitors and controlling their movement. Kanu’s work is decidedly fine art, though sometimes with a dual functional purpose (see his sculpture in Knoll’s Salone booth), after all what is design if not tools to direct our movement? In a week of the brand new, shiny plastic seating, derivative works based on past classics, Kanu’s reuse of found and discarded materials is a breath of fresh air. Doubly so as the works on view take on a cosmic, otherworldly skin in Kanu’s hands. As the shows title suggest, Kanu’s highly emotional works are meant to disrupt. And thank God they do. —Camille Okhio, senior design writer.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowSam Baron for Dior HomeCourtesy DiorAt the Dior store on Milan’s Corso Venezia, the French designer Sam Baron exhibited three limited edition vases inspired by Christian Dior’s fascination with botany and gardens. The intricate pieces, designed by Baron and hand-blown by Italian artisan Massimo Lunardon, are delicate feats of glass, with ribbed vases intertwined with petals on branches. “They are part of a numbered edition of eight, which was Mr. Dior’s favorite number,” notes Baron. Also on view was Baron’s collection of glass objects for Dior Maison, out this fall, encompassing everything from wine goblets to carafes. —Ingrid Abramovitch, executive editor .Hermès en Contrepoint Dinner ServiceAnnie GoldsmithThis thirty-three piece kaolin white porcelain table service is subtly, but characteristically, Hermès. Each piece is lined with colorful friezes—from purples to sages to a muted canary yellow. They’re playful and geographic, painted in watercolor by the artist Nigel Peake, and designed to mimic a musical meter. Certainly, any food displayed on these plates is undoubtedly sure to sing. —Annie Goldsmith, senior editor & digital leadAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowCompletedworks at AlcovaCourtesy CompletedworksThe London-based accessories brand Completedworks showed furniture for the first time at Alcova, recontextualizing motifs found in their jewelry and ceramics in pieces like a cast-bronze chair modeled in fabric and re-created in metal through lost-wax casting (pictured) and a hand-built and sculpted console, stool, and coffee table made from clay, wood, and polystyrene in a silver nitrate mirror finish. —Sean Santiago, deputy editor.Adrien Home Office Desk, PoliformCourtesy PoliformLooking to ditch the dining table and finally upgrade to a home office desk worthy of a corporate high rise corner office? You and Jean-Marie Massaud had the same idea. The designer has reimagined the classic Adrien table from Poliform and created the brand’s first piece designed specifically for WFH bliss. High end amenities like a built-in embroidered leather desk pad, cable management and an integrated side drawer unit will keep any home office work tidy and chic. Of course, custom sizing is available upon request. —Benjamin Reynaert, market director Formafantasma and Cassinacourtesy FormafantasmaFor a practice rooted so stolidly in research and data, Italian design duo Formafantasma has cultivated a deeply lighthearted oeuvre. Same goes for the projects they conceive in collaboration. This year the designers conceived a performance “Staging Modernity’ in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand’s collections for Cassina. The happening took place at Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber, a classic, cinematic break to showrooms and galleries. Among red velvet folding cinema chairs, several platforms were erected with backdrops that mimicked the natural world and sculptures in the shape of lambs and rams. Performers repeated lines that emphasized humanities link to the animal kingdom, as they swung and stretched over Le Corbusier, Jeanneret, and Perriand-designed chairs and chaises. The performance was a poignant reminder of how closely life imitates art. —CO Objects of Common InterestPiercarlo QuecchiaGreek design duo Objects of Common Interest are often Milan Design Week's most prolific participants. This year they had six projects on view of which two in particular referenced their history as designers and people. At Alcova’s Villa Borsani location “Voids Rollers,” presented with curator Joy Herrero and gallery The Breeder, extended the studio’s investigation of movement via resins, rubbers, and melting materials. Several lights, stools, vases and pedestals, leaned on walls, hung precariously off shelves, and moved with each curious visitors touch. A short walk away in the gardens of Villa Bagatti Valsecch’s Pasino Glasshouses the duo showed a truly remarkable suite of marble works “Soft Horizons” quarried entirely from Greece. Some marble even came from the same quarry to supply the Acropolis. Sea, sun and land were represented by moving columns mounted in water and a sound installation by ODA. Both installations were a melody for material, encouraging visitors to consider the vast and poetic possibilities of our material universe. —COAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowLee Broom for LladróCourtesy Lladró x Lee BroomLladró showed Cascade, its lighting collection created in collaboration with British designer Lee Broom, as part of Euroluce 2025. Inspired by traditional paper lanterns, the porcelain lights were shown in a custom-designed installation, hung in clusters in a mirrored “dark room” meant to pay homage to the emotive power of lanterns. Technically limited by shrinkage, Broom worked with the Spanish heritage brand’s artisans to push the fussy material to its limits. Known for its colorful collaborations with artists like Jaime Hayon and SupaKitch, Lladró ultimately let Broom be his “modular, monochrome self,” resulting in three distinct silhouettes that can be combined vertically in multiple configurations. —SSRimadesioCourtesy of RimadesioLong known as an interior designer and architect’s secret weapon for the finest built-in wardrobes, custom doors, and room dividers, Rimadesio took the big step of launching a new line of freestanding furniture last week designed by Guiseppe Bavuso. One standout: the Sinua chair which comes available as a dining or lounge chair and available in multiple finishes and materials. A lower magnetic back cushion is also available, helping to keep this piece always looking neat and put together. —BR Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe Library Project by Eleftheria Tseliou GalleryPiergiorgio SorgettiIn a quiet corner room at Alcova’s Villa Borsani, lucky visitors were surprised by a library of sorts. Instead of seats and desks, each artist-made book was presented by Eleftheria Tseliou Gallery on glass pedestals, with plastic gloves available to use as you sifted through each volume. Some books, like David Sampethai’s gorgeous tome 'For the Small Price of Your Soul,' showed page after page of unique monotypes suggesting the cosmic toll of transactions in the modern world. Another artist, Iannis Ganas, presented “The Runners,” a hand drawn typography quoting Paul Auster that could be read by the turn of a knob. With each turn the reader is confronted with running as a metaphor for the ending of life. —CONendo for MinottiCourtesy MinottiGracious, undulating curves repeat across the front and the seat backs of the Saki armless sofa designed by Oki Sato, chief designer of Nendo which has been collaborating with Minotti since 2017. The Saki collection features lacquered, almost floating seat backs that elegantly support the rear upright cushions. This poetic piece is poised to become one of the next “it” sofas. Its clean form and trim proportions allow this piece to fit nicely into smaller urban scale dwellings while its flexible design can also expand to fill larger rooms. —BR Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowCarlo Scarpa at Sofia ZeviCourtesy of Sofia Zevi.In the series of Chiarastella Cattana-lined cabinets that comprise Sofia Zevi’s gallery one held a particularly precious surprise. Nestled among tiny, rotund dishes was a green “Torchon” mirror mounted in Venini Murano glass designed by Carlo Scarpa in the 1930s. Like a snakeskin in glass, the circular ribbed frame of the mirror curves in waves set in a brass stand. The glass dishes surrounding the mirror fit comfortably in the center of your hand, in candy colors, fit for a single piece of candy. Beyond this cabinet the gallery was showing astounding contemporary glassware by Akira Hara and lighting fit for NASA by The Back Studio. —COLaila Gohar with MarimekkoSean DavidsonAs far as the story goes, we aren’t supposed to have our cake and eat it too. But Laila Gohar makes sure everyone eats, all the time, even if the cake in question doesn’t appear to be a cake at first sight. The glamorous Egyptian food artist partnered with Marimekko this year on a room-sized bed outfitted in textiles she selected from Marimekko’s archives. The colorful, candy-hued stripes were originally designed by Maija Isola and now stretch the full length of the Teatro Litta foyer where the bed was displayed. Gohar took the surrealist installation one step further by baking and serving a twin mattress-sized cake: the twin of it’s fabric counterparts. So now, not only can you have your cake and eat it, you can do so in bed, and if you’re lucky Gohar might be there to join you. —COAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowOfficine GulloCourtesy Officine GulloStepping into the distinctive Officine Gullo showroom was like being transported to lazy days at sea. The Italian brand synonymous with luxury kitchens has dedicated their newest offerings at Salone to the growing yachting industry. Since kitchens on boats tend to be hidden away below deck, as it were, Officine Gullo puts the kitchen on display, making it the new heart of the home, at sea. —BRPierre Frey courtesy Pierre FreyIn addition to the colorful JC De Catelbajac pavilion erected along Via Fatebenefratelli, Pierre Frey also quietly launched a new collection of “Betty” dining chairs equally influenced by Gio Ponti and the sets of Mad Men. Available with and without arms, these pieces can be used around a table, desk or beyond, as the look smart from all angles and mix well with other furniture in living spaces too. I’m particularly fond of the structured base, the little kink in the rear leg and the idea of upholstering each one in a different colored fabric. —BRAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowArflexCourtesy ArflexLike a loafer from The Row, the leather ruching details give the classic 1970s Marius&Marius sofa a distinctive style for those in the know, which is why I’m delighted that Arflex is bringing this piece back. Designed by Mario Marenco, this generously proportioned sofa calls for all of the good things that signify Italian design, comfort and originality packaged in a chic, iconic profile. —BR MeridianiCourtesy MeridianiOrganic shapes combined with glossy lacquer make this new desk as covetable as a Perriand. Equally viable as a desk, console or even a small dining table in a city apartment, the chunky proportions and graceful curves give this piece a certain presence that stands out in a room but can also mix well with antiques and vintage furnishings too. —BR

WhatsApp this week released a major update that adds a new way to create and manage sticker packs without having to leave the app. Read on as we detail exactly what’s new for WhatsApp users. Creating WhatsApp sticker packs just got easier WhatsApp already had an option to create and save custom stickers. However, finding and sending these stickers to someone wasn’t exactly an easy task when you have a lot of them in the app. To solve this, WhatsApp is introducing a new option for creating sticker packs. With sticker packs, you can create and organize stickers in multiple folders. More than that, you can also share a entire pack of stickers with another WhatsApp user, instead of having to send each one individually. “Whether it’s a pack of stickers of your dog, or hilarious selfies of your closest friends, now you can make your chats more fun and personal, with sticker packs that are unique to you. Earlier this year we announced sticker pack sharing, so now you can create and share your very own sticker packs with your friends and family in-chat,” a WhatsApp spokesperson told 9to5Mac. In addition to stickers, WhatsApp recently introduced some other new features, including an indicator to show how many people are online in a group chat, a feature to scan and send documents, and the ability to set WhatsApp as the default calling and messaging app on the iPhone. WhatsApp is available for free on the App Store. Make sure you update to the latest version of the app to get access to the new features. Gadgets I recommend: 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