Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is recruiting an architect for the conservation and repair of its deteriorating Victorian conservatory in Corporation Park [Deadline: 16 December 2024]The winning team selected for the estimated 136,800 contract will draw up a restoration plan for the Grade II-listed cast iron frame-structure which was originally constructed as a grand and unique landmark in the early 1900s but partially collapsed five years ago.The project aims to restore the highly decorated structure which sits on a stone and brick plinth and has been made safe with timber propping following the collapse of its west wing in 2019. Key aims of the project include delivering a sympathetic and sustainable restoration which enables future use of the structure.AdvertisementAccording to the brief: The aim of this project is to gain a full understanding of the condition and significance of the conservatory and create a set of guiding principles for its restoration.This will include producing costed high level concept designs for future uses in agreement with stakeholders with the aim to allow public consultation to follow this piece of work.Sustainability and options to bring the building back into use in a manner which can contribute to the councils net zero targets, will be key.Blackburn is a former textiles manufacturing town located around 34km north of Manchester. The settlement is home to around 100,000 people and is part-way through an ambitious 34 million regeneration masterplan by Sanderson Borland.Recent projects in the local area include an 8 million extension to the Grade II*-listed Blackburn Cathedral by Purcell. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council launched a search for an architect to refurbish and upgrade the ruined, Grade II-listed Church of St John the Evangelist in 2021.AdvertisementBids for the latest commission will be evaluated 85 per cent on quality and 15 per cent on social value. Applicants must hold employers liability insurance of 5 million, public liability insurance of 5 million and professional indemnity insurance of 2 million.Competition detailsProject title Architectural Design and Conservation Repair ServicesClient Blackburn with Darwen Borough CouncilContract value TbcFirst round deadline Midday, 16 December 2024Restrictions TbcMore information https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/1ea47691-59ca-47fc-9482-b35616f2b478

Our Picks $17 at Amazon Best white-light smart bulb Wiz Tunable White LED Smart Bulb View details $17 at Amazon View details $39 at Amazon Best smart BR30 floodlight Philips Hue White Floodlight LED View details $39 at Amazon View details $23 at Amazon Best color-changing smart bulb Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs View details $23 at Amazon View details $60 at Amazon Best smart light strip Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights M1 View details $60 at Amazon View details $89 at Amazon Best smart light switch Lutron Caseta In-Wall Dimmer Switch View details $89 at Amazon View details $140 at Amazon Best color-changing light panels Nanoleaf Shapes - Hexagons View details $140 at Amazon View details $40 at Amazon Best smart lighting accessory Lutron Aurora for Philips Hue View details $40 at Amazon View details $140 at Amazon Best smart TV back lights Govee Envisual TV LED Backlight T2 View details $140 at Amazon View details $30 at Amazon Best outdoor smart lights Ring Pathlight Solar View details $30 at Amazon View details Table of Contents Whether you're a smart home aficionado or just starting to dip your toes into the smart technology space, smart lights are an easy and affordable way to liven up your space with smart tech. From string lights for outdoor use to smart lighting enabled by voice control, you can build your own smart lighting solutions with our expert recommendations for the best smart lights. Smart lights are also one of the best smart home gifts for 2024, so consider snagging a set for a friend or family member, too. This color-changing Philips Wiz Connected LED works with Alexa and Google, and costs just $13. Ry Crist/CNETYou can build entire smart lighting systems with budget-friendly white light smart bulbs that cost less than $10, fun color-changing bulbs, solar-powered outdoor smart lights for as low as $35 a pop, plus dimmable smart light switches and nifty new lighting accessories for less than $50 each. Willing to splurge a bit? Smart statement pieces from names likeNanoleaf promise to cover your walls in color. Yes, there are a lot of options when it comes to picking smart bulbs. However, once you're ready to upgrade your smart home system with smart lights -- that's where we come in. We have the best picks for LED smart bulbs, wall panels, strip lights, smart switches, Bluetooth bulb options and accessories you're after -- we've tested plenty of them. These are our top recommendations for the best smart lights you can buy. Best smart lights $17 at Amazon Pros Affordable Good range of tunable whites Can act as motion sensor Matter compatible Cons Motion setup can be tricky Matter is hit and miss Available connectivity 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Matterdisplayed Whites from 2700K - 6500KSmart home platform compatibility Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri, IFTTTForm factor A19 light bulbPrice $10 $17 at Amazon $17 at Amazon If you've been led to believe that you need to spend a lot of money to get the best smart light bulb, you've been misinformed. As it turns out, one of the cheapest smart bulbs is one of the best smart lights, and that comes from Wiz. While the brand name may not ring a bell for you, its sibling company that's under the Signify umbrella likely is familiar -- Philips Hue.Wiz does make color-changing bulbs that are also quite good, but here we are focusing on the brand's high-quality tunable white bulbs. These are a typical-shaped bulb, A19, with an E26 base with an incandescent equivalent rating of 60 watts. In terms of how bright this bulb can get, you'll get plenty of output from the Wiz Tunable White LED Smart Bulb is rated at 800 lumens with a color range from a warm 2700K to a cool 6500KThere are multiple ways to control this bulb: Use the Wiz app on your phone, Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri or IFTTT. While these smart home platform integrations aren't necessarily unique, Matter support is a bit more novel -- at least right now. These options mean that you'll have a lot of flexibility in where and how you manage your Wiz smart bulbs. One of the ways people use these smart home platforms is for automation, like connecting to a smart sensor to turn on the lights when motion is detected. With these new Wiz bulbs, that ability is fully built into the light with the need for a secondary sensor.Read more:Best Cheap Home Security DevicesThere are some downsides to the Wiz bulb, and that is in the motion automation feature and Matter connectivity. As for what Wiz calls Spacesense, this feature works mostly well, but in order for bulbs to link together and interact properly for motion detection, you have to ensure that bulbs are at least 6.5 feet (or 2m) apart. I've also had some inconsistencies with the reaction time for the feature. It's not a deal-breaker for me, but it's worth noting. As for Matter, that is more of an issue for the new smart home device standard and hopefully improves with a future update. Photo Gallery 1/1 Other white-light smart LEDs worth considering If you want something a little more advanced than the Wyze Bulb, then consider going withPhilips Hue LED bulbs. At $14 each, Philips'Hue White LEDbulbs are a lot more affordable than you might expect, and the newest Bluetooth versions of the Philips Hue bulbs can pair directly with Alexa or Google Assistant without the need for the Hue Bridge. The same goes for the Lifx White LED, which works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and IFTTT. As of writing this, that one's $16 on Amazon.See Lifx on AmazonWant something more decorative? Philips has vintage-style LED bulbs with fake filaments twisted inside (you've probably seen bulbs just like them at your local hipster dive bar). They'd be a good pick for exposed-bulb setups where you aren't hiding your light source under a lampshade. See Philips on AmazonIf you prefer Google Assistant, then you might be better off with a C by GE smart bulb. These LED smart bulbs are designed to pair seamlessly with yourGoogle Home smart speakerand Google Nest Hub smart display. You don't need a hub, and you don't even need the GE smartphone or tablet app -- just turn the LED lights on and sync them with your setup right from the Google Home app. From there, you'll enjoy some of the snappiest and most responsive voice controlwe've tested. See C by GE at Amazon $39 at Amazon

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November 18, 20245 min readTrump Selects Fracking Executive to Lead Energy DepartmentChris Wright, CEO of a fracking services company and Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Energy, has said there is no climate crisisBy Brian Dabbs & E&E NewsChris Wright speaking with attendees at the American Conservation Coalition's 2023 Summit at the Salt Lake City Marriott City Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)CLIMATEWIRE | President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Energy secretary signals a boost for U.S. fossil fuels.Trump tapped Chris Wright, the CEO of fracking services company Liberty Energy, for the position this weekend. The oil and gas executive is a passionate proselytizer for fossil fuels, often touting the benefits of energy access while downplaying the threats posed by climate change.Wright is celebrated in the oil and gas sector, where executives anticipate he will clear the way for more American exports of liquefied natural gas. The country's LNG exports have already skyrocketed in recent years, but the Department of Energy paused approvals for new permits earlier this year to assess the climate and economic impacts of the surge.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.We look forward to working with him once confirmed to bolster American geopolitical strength by lifting DOEs pause on LNG export permits and ensuring the open access of American energy for our allies around the world, American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers said Saturday on X.On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly argued that the clean energy transition is increasing inflation (though analysts say that's only partially accurate at best). He vowed to ramp up production of U.S. liquid gold, even as the U.S. produces record volumes of oil and gas.If confirmed as head of the Department of Energy, Wright would exercise a limited regulatory role over fossil fuels. Other agencies wield much more influence: for example, the Interior Department oversees drilling leases and EPA regulates industry emissions.But Wright would be tasked with approving or denying LNG exports, which environmentalists decry as a major threat to global temperature rise. Some controversial LNG projects that could get the go-ahead under Wright include the sprawling CP2 project in Louisiana and Alaska's $43 billion LNG project.Hell be hell-bent on abusing his power to prolong the use of deadly fossil fuels and give his corporate polluter executive friends a rubber stamp for the unfettered buildout of LNG exports, said Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous in a statement. Chris Wright is not merely unqualified, hes a direct threat to our future and the planets.Wright was a donor to the Trump campaign and reportedly met with the president-elect earlier this year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Last week, he gained the backing of fossil fuel magnate and Trump ally Harold Hamm.The Wright nomination comes in the wake of Trumps decision to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as Interior secretary. The president-elect also put Burgum in charge of a new informal agency called the National Energy Council, which Trump said in a statement would oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE."We are excited to work with these two gentlemen to grow Americas standing as the pre-eminent global oil and natural gas producer, said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the fossil fuel group Western Energy Alliance. Not only is their agenda good for American jobs, economic growth, and prosperity, but for reducing energy poverty across the globe.Wright was a major driver of technological development in fracking, which is often credited with boosting U.S. fossil fuel production. He has often argued that the benefit of energy access outweighs the impact of planet-warming emissions.Wright has said there is no climate crisis and labeled net-zero emissions goals neither achievable nor humane.Any negative impacts of climate change are clearly overwhelmed by the benefits of increasing energy consumption, he said last year. We have seen no increase in the frequency or intensity of hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts or floods despite endless fear mongering of the media, politicians and activists.Scientists overwhelmingly agree that burning fossil fuels drives climate change, which is increasing the frequency of disasters like wildfires, hurricanes and heat waves. The U.S. government's National Climate Assessment also says greenhouse gas emissions are increasing "the frequency and severity of many types of extreme weather events."Methane emissions, which are linked to gas production and LNG exports, are a major short-term driver of climate change. A 2021 National Renewable Energy Laboratory study reviewing existing research found that the total life-cycle emissions of electricity generated from natural gas are 11 times higher than solar and 37 times higher than wind.Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's Energy Justice Program, called on other countries to reject American fracked exports and instead embrace the renewable future we desperately need.Picking someone like Chris Wright is a clear sign that Trump wants to turn the U.S. into a pariah petrostate, said Su.All of the above?Trumps energy picks, while controversial, arent expected to generate the level of opposition predicted for selections like former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general or Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality, as defense secretary. Both face sexual assault allegations.Atop DOE, Wright would be tasked with approving billions of dollars of loans and grants for renewable energy, carbon capture, direct air capture and hydrogen grants all of which Congress authorized in the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. DOE also regulates efficiency levels for home appliances, directs the national laboratories, maintains the nuclear stockpile, cleans up nuclear weapons plants and broadly oversees energy policy.Meanwhile, Trump has laid out grand goals for the new Burgum-led National Energy Council.This team will drive U.S. Energy Dominance, which will drive down Inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American Diplomatic Power to end Wars all across the World, he said.Burgum has supported carbon capture and hydrogen energy as decarbonization solutions for the power and industrial sectors. Both industries have seen billions of dollars of federal support as part of the Biden administration's climate agenda."Clean hydrogen can play a major role in our all-of-the-above energy approach, he said last year.But the inauguration of Trump will mark a dramatic shift in U.S. strategy on climate change and global multilateralism. Hes expected to abandon the Paris climate agreement as he did in his first term.Meanwhile, on Sunday, President Joe Biden toured the Amazon rainforest on route to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while U.S. leaders met with global counterparts in Baku, Azerbaijan for a new round of climate talks. Biden pledged U.S. funding for the Amazon Fund, which prevents deforestation.Biden has vowed to put the U.S. on track to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector by 2035 and economywide by mid-century.The fight against climate change has been a defining cause of President Bidens leadership and presidency, the White House said Sunday. These past four years, the Administration has created a bold new playbook that has turned tackling the climate crisis into an enormous economic opportunity.Environmentalists are vowing to continue the fight against climate change into the Trump administration.The clean energy economy is here to stay, and we are all in to defend both bedrock environmental laws and the recent climate progress that is creating jobs and lowering energy costs for families across the country, said Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters.Reporter Timothy Cama contributed to this report.This story also appears in Energywire.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

November 18, 20248 min readIts Actually Healthier to Enjoy Holiday Foods without the AnxietyFood anxiety can peak during the holidays. Heres how to manage it and enjoy yourselfBy Allison Parshall Martine Severin/Getty ImagesThe year-end holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with loved onesand to enjoy rich, delicious foods. But for many people, these special meals come with anxiety and guilt. In a recent survey by Orlando Health, 39 percent of U.S. respondents reported worrying about how much they eat during the holidays. And a quarter agreed they should skip meals to save calories before a feast such as Thanksgiving dinner.The messaging we absorb about health and the holidaysespecially surrounding diets and weight lossis often misguided, says Sara Riehm, a registered dietitian at Orlando Health. Riehm guides clients through a six-week lifestyle program to further their health goals. She sees firsthand how counterproductive our go-to ways of thinking about health and weight loss can be, particularly during the holidays. This time of year she spends a lot of time helping people build more effective and healthy ways of approaching situations where theyre surrounded by delicious foods that might not be the best for nourishing their bodies.It's not necessarily restricting or cutting out all of those foods, she says. It's creating a balance so that we still get to enjoy our holiday but also keep our health in mind.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Scientific American spoke with Riehm to learn more about how certain dieting misconceptions can harm us, what tips can help us navigate the holidays and what to do when New Years resolution time comes.[An edited transcript of the conversation follows.]Why do many people feel anxious about what they eat during the holidays?I think a lot of people feel very uncertain and nervous because, in the past, holidays have included a lot of overindulging. I have a lot of clients who are trying to learn how to improve their health, but then when a special occasion like this comes along, theyre not really sure how to handle it because its a unique circumstance. And in particular, its a circumstance where youre almost encouraged to be over the top and overindulge. Its a time when a lot of people end up feeling out of control. But I personally love starting with clients around this time of year because I get to help teach them and walk them through this holiday season in real time.Why might this focus on holiday eatingor anxiety about itbe counterproductive?Stress can definitely contribute to weight gain just by itself. When we have higher levels of [the stress response hormone] cortisol in the body for longer periods of time, such as during the holiday season, that can definitely contribute to weight gain. So in the context of weight management, that can be counterproductive to what were trying to achieve.Then theres the toll that focusing so much on food takes on our mental health. There are so many other things that we should be experiencing or thinking about during the holiday season. At their core, the holidays are supposed to be joyous times of celebrationof gathering, gratitude, gift giving and celebrating our loved ones. I try to emphasize with my clients to focus on what they want to prioritize during the holiday season: What are the things that are actually important to you during this time of year?What if health goals are one of those important things?I recommend trying to create a balanced plate by leaning into the vegetables that are on the table. Oftentimes theres some sort of salad or a roasted vegetable or even a green bean casserole; those are some of the more nutrient-dense foods that we can consume. Theyre nourishing our body but also still leaving room for the other delicious foods that we want to have. Believe me, Im still making room on my plate for mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. But Im also considering how I can best nourish my body in this situation.Another way to stay on track with health goals is getting a little bit of movement. Im not necessarily suggesting going to the gym as a family or doing the Turkey Trot. But studies have shown that even doing a two- to five-minute walk immediately after you eat can improve insulin sensitivity, which could be really beneficial for anybody that might be managing insulin resistance.I also recommend thinking about what foods you want to prioritize. For me, I know that I can get mac and cheese and mashed potatoes all year round, but my grandmother only makes derby pie on major holidays. So because I know that Im trying to stay focused on certain health goals, I might cut back from the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, save a little bit of extra room for the derby pie. And thats how we still create that balance.If its important to me to build healthy eating habits but also not to miss out on enjoying grandmas pie, how do I keep these special occasions from derailing my progress?Its all very individual; it depends on where you are in your health journey. Ideally, you have this baseline that you've created of healthy habits, so having one slice of pie or one cookie is not going to change much. Without that baseline, however, it can be really hard to come back to that. I encourage my clients to engage in a cycle of plan, act, reflect. As much as you can, try to plan for unexpected situations as we come upon this holiday season. Reflect on whats gone well in past years and what hasnt. If, in the past, we overindulgedand that left us not feeling the best in our body or maybe with higher lab values that we werent happy aboutthen we can plan for how we want to handle this upcoming holiday season. What can we do differently this time? Then we can act upon that plan as best as we can for next year.Continuing to engage in this cycle of plan, act, reflect keeps those less-than-ideal situations or decisions from becoming, for lack of a better word, relapses, where we fully revert back to our old habits. I have found in working with clients that thats one of the more powerful strategies so that we can release some of our suboptimal decisions and still move forward in a positive, productive way.Many people believe they should skip meals to save calories before big holiday dinners. Why do you not recommend that?When we restrict food like that, its counterproductive to our health goals because its very, very difficult to make healthy decisions when were hungry. Its going to be difficult to make those balancing decisions that we talked about before. Additionally, when we restrict, we also have a tendency to binge. How many times have we been in a situation where weve gotten a little bit too hungry, and then weve eaten a little bit too much, and then we dont eat for a while, and the cycle perpetuates itself? We get into this cycle of restricting and binging, and for certain people, that can become a very serious issue.So I dont recommend it. Its not healthy. Its not a way to balance your nutrition. What I would recommend is to go ahead and have some small meals or snacks throughout the day leading up to your main meal. Leave room for your favorite foods on Thanksgiving, on Christmas, during the holiday meals. But dont starve yourself, right? Dont create this situation that sets yourself up for failure when youre trying to maintain these health goals.The survey found that one in three respondents believed they needed a detox or cleanse after the holidays. Why dont you recommend this?The best way to move forward, if you feel like you have overindulged or made a suboptimal decision or a decision that you dont like, is to acknowledge it and reflect upon the factors that led to it, come up with a plan for next time and then move on. That is the biggest advice I have. Dont dwell on it. Compensatory behaviors like juice cleanses and overexercisingor even to go so far as purging with vomiting or laxative pillsthat bumps up very closely against disordered eating behavior. If you find yourself engaging in that side of that type of behavior, please be very honest with yourself and maybe seek some support. Evaluate why you feel like you need to do those things because they can be dangerous types of behavior if you continue to engage in them.But you also need recognize that we don't need to do all that. We can enjoy a meal on a special occasion that comes around once a year and then move on with the rest of our journey. I say it so many times: the same way that one healthy meal is not going to change your life, neither will one unhealthy or less than great meal. So release it. That's my biggest piece of advice: acknowledge it, and let it go. The same way that people say, New year, new me, break that down even smaller: new day, new me or even new meal, new me. Put in the work to figure out why you made that decision [youre unhappy with] so that it doesnt continue to happen, but then move on.How do you help people reframe their relationship with food so that it is less adversarial and punitive and more accepting and flexible?I dont think I can succinctly answer that, to be honest, because this is what I spend six-plus weeks counseling people about. Its heavy stuff. Its peoples relationship with food. Its the psychology behind nutrition. [At its core], its diet culture, which places the value of thinness above all else. When we break it down and we think about why we think about foods with morally charged wordsgood, bad, clean, dirty, cheatits because of diet culture. Thats how, as a society, weve been conditioned to think of it. As somebody in my position, Im trying every day to try to dismantle it. Because it is so not true. I desperately try to get my clients to think of food in a neutral way, to give them freedom, to take the power away from foodbecause it is, at the end of the day, just food. Its just a way to nourish your body.One of the concepts I like to teach is a nutrition spectrum. I try to have people think of foods as always foods, sometimes foods and rarely foods. Rarely foods are the ones were having as treats. Maybe theyre high in saturated fat, sodium, sugarthose more inflammatory nutrients that we know are not great for our health and can be connected to some of those cardiometabolic diseases that were trying to avoid. Then in the middle we have sometimes foods. Maybe they dont have those health risks associated with them but arent the best way to nourish our body either. The vast majority of our foods are going to fall in that category. Then always foods are the most nutrient-dense: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant-based proteins such as beans, peas and lentils. Things like that that are super nutrient-rich, so we want to have them all the time.If we can lean more toward the sometimes and always side of the spectrum as often as possible, were doing okay. So when we think about Thanksgiving and the holidays, think about where your food is going to fall on your spectrum and try to lean more toward those sometimes and always foods. And you can have a rarely food because its a holiday and those happen rarely!One last, very important question: What is derby pie?Oh, let me tell you about it. Derby pie is a Kentucky delicacy that my grandmother, whos from Louisville, makes. Its basically pecan pie, but it has chocolate and bourbon in it. Theres a lot of corn syrup in there, tooits indulgent. And it is so good, and she only makes it twice a year, on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is my thing that I always make room for.If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders helpline by calling (888) 375-7767.

Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead this year's The Game Awards nominationsMetaphor: ReFantazio, Balatro also score big.Image credit: Team Asobi/Sony News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 18, 2024 The panel has voted and this year's Game Awards nominations have been announced - with Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Silent Hill 2, and Balatro all looking like they could be in for a very merry Geoffmas come 12th December.Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are the big pre-winners, having both been shortlisted across seven categories for this year's Game Awards. Metaphor: ReFantazio, meanwhile, has secured nominations in six categories, with smash-hit poker roguelike Balatro and Bloober Team's sublime Silent Hill 2 remake scoring five appearances apiece. Only four of those games feature in this year's Game of the Year shortlist, however, with Astro Bot, Balatro, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio all making the cut, alongside Black Myth: Wukong and Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. As for Silent Hill 2, its nominations are primarily audio and music-related, although it's also up for best narrative, and Luke Roberts has a well-deserved nomination for his portrayal of James Sutherland.Digital Foundry calls Astro Bot on PS5 "virtually flawless".Watch on YouTubeAway from triple-A, Animal Well, Balatro, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Neva, and UFO 50 are all up for best independent game, while Balatro (again!), Animal Well, Manor Lords, Pacific Drive, and The Plucky Squire have all been shortlisted for best debut indie game. Developer Odd Meter's marvellous Indika also puts in an extremely well-deserved appearance, albeit squished slightly awkwardly into the Games for Impact category, but there's absolutely no sign of Thank Goodness You're Here anywhere, which feels like a crime of the highest order.You'll find the full list of Game Awards 2024 nominees below - and if you have particularly strong opinions on who should win, the public can vote across all categories via The Game Awards website (or via local platforms in China) starting today until 6pm PT on 11th December. This year's Game Awards are being broadcast live from Los Angeles on 12th December, and Eurogamer will be on hand to bring you the highlights, Hideo Kojima or otherwise.Game of the YearASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Best Game DirectionASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Best NarrativeFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)Metaphor: ReFantanzio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Senuas Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)Best Art DirectionASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Neva (Nomada Studio/Devolver)Best Score and MusicASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)Stellar Blade (Shift Up/SIE)Best Audio DesignASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Senuas Saga: Hellblade 2 (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)Best PerformanceBriana White, Final Fantasy VII RebirthHannah Telle, Life is Strange: Double ExposureHumberly Gonzlez, Star Wars OutlawsLuke Roberts, Silent Hill 2Melina Juergens, Senuas Saga: Hellblade 2Innovation in AccessibilityCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)Diablo IV (Blizzard/Xbox)Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare/EA)Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft)Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft)Games for ImpactCloser the Distance (Osmotic Studios/Skybound Games)Indika (Odd Meter/11 Bit Studios)Neva (Nomada Studio/Devolver)Life is Strange: Double Exposure (Deck Nine/Square Enix)Senuas Saga: Hellblade II (Ninja Theory/Xbox Game Studios)Tales of Kenzera: Zau (Surgent Studios/EA)Best Ongoing GameDestiny 2 (Bungie/SIE)Diablo IV (Blizzard/Xbox)Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)Fortnite (Epic Games)Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/SIE)Best Community SupportBaldurs Gate 3 (Larian)Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)Fortnite (Epic Games)Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/SIE)No Mans Sky (Hello Games)Best Independent GameAnimal Well (Shared Memory/Bigmode)Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (Simogo/Annapurna Interactive)Neva (Nomada Studio/Devolver)UFO 50 (Mossmouth)Best Debut Indie GameAnimal Well (Shared Memory/Bigmode)Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)Manor Lords (Slavic Magic/Hooded Horse)Pacific Drive (Ironwood Studios/Kepler Interactive)The Plucky Squire (All Possible Futures/Devolver)Best Mobile GameAFK Journey (FARLIGHT/Lilith Games)Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack)Pokmon Trading Card Game Pocket (Creatures Inc/TPCI)Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)Zenless Zone Zero (miHoYo)Best VR/AR GameArizona Sunshine Remake (Vertigo Games)Asgards Wrath 2 (Sanzaru Games/Oculus Studios)Batman: Arkham Shadow (Camouflaj/Oculus Studios)Metal: Hellsinger VR (Lab 42/The Outsiders/Funcom)Metro Awakening (Vertigo Games)Best Action Game Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/SIE)Stellar Blade (Shift Up/SIE)Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment)Best Action/Adventure GameASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft)Silent Hill 2 (Bloober Team/Konami)Star Wars Outlaws (Massive Entertainment/Ubisoft)The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Grezzo/Nintendo)Best RPGDragons Dogma 2 (Capcom)Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco)Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus/Sega)Best Fighting GameDragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (Spike Chunsoft/Bandai Namco)Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (Arc System Works/Cygames)Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Capcom)MultiVersus (Player First Games/WB Games)Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco)Best Family GameASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE)Princess Peach: Showtime! (Good-Feel/Nintendo)Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Cube/Nintendo)The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Grezzo/Nintendo)The Plucky Squire (All Possible Futures/Devolver)Best Sim/Strategy GameAge of Mythology: Retold (Worlds Edge/Forgotten Empires/Xbox Game Studios)Frostpunk 2 (11 Bit Studios)Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Capcom)Manor Lords (Slavic Magic/Hooded Horse)Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware/Sega/Atlus)Best Sports/Racing GameF1 24 (Codemasters/EA Sports)EA Sports FC 25 (EA Vancouver/EA Romania/EA Sports) NBA 2K25 (Visual Concepts/2K)Top Spin 2K25 (Hangar 13/2K)WWE 2K24 (Visual Concepts/2K)Best Multiplayer GameCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Treyarch/Raven/Activision/Xbox)Helldivers 2 (Arrow Game Studios/SIE)Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Cube/Nintendo)Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco)Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment)Best AdaptationArcane (Riot/Fortiche/Netflix) Fallout (Bethesda/Kilter Films/Amazon MGM Studios)Knuckles (Sega/Paramount)Like a Dragon: Yakuza (Sega/Amazon MGM Studios)Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (Crystal Dynamics/Legendary/Netflix)Most Anticipated GameDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/SIE)Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/SIE)Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Retro Studios/Nintendo)Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)Best Esports GameCounter-Strike 2 (Valve)DOTA 2 (Valve)League of LegendsContent Creator of the YearCaseOhIlloJuan Techno GamerzTypicalGamerUsada Pekora

DF Weekly: What is an Xbox? Not an existential crisis but the latest phase of Microsoft's big transitionAnd there are "no red lines" on its multi-platform roll-out.Image credit: Xbox Blog by Richard Leadbetter Technology Editor, Digital Foundry Published on Nov. 18, 2024 What is an Xbox? It's a pretty straightforward question, right? I'd define it as a custom piece of gaming technology, generally box-shaped, that typically sits in the lounge or bedroom. Competitively priced, it's a mainstream-orientated product that offers a great balance between price and performance and is as close to plug and play gaming as you're going to get. It is a console, or is it? Microsoft begs to differ with its latest, remarkable messaging. A cloud client running on a smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick or Meta Quest VR headset is now an Xbox. A desktop PC is an Xbox. A laptop or PC handheld is also an Xbox. It's all part of Microsoft's transition plan to evolve Xbox from a console/PC ecosystem into an 'Everywhere' platform that's as device-agnostic as it's possible to be - but is it going to work?Looking at the market from a meta perspective, it's got to work. Xbox needs to reach out beyond the existing pool of console gamers. The basic economics are simple. Market data suggests that the amount of console users in total is not shifting from one generation to the next. Not only that, some data is suggesting that it is the same people buying those consoles from one generation to the next. In the meantime, the cost of making games is getting ever more expensive. The only sustainable route forward is to reach beyond circa 200m to 250m console gamers and find a larger audience. Microsoft began that work years ago in ending game exclusivity by releasing key titles day and date on PC - but the strategy now looks to be a case of releasing those games on any piece of hardware capable of running them.By virtue of its various acquisitions, Microsoft/Xbox has effectively become a multi-platform publisher that cannot and should not ignore rival console systems like Nintendo Switch, the Switch successor and PlayStation 5. When the Activision Blizzard King acquisition was announced so long ago, we were still in the midst of console wars and the expectation may have been that Call of Duty would go Xbox exclusive - but the finances would not have worked, the regulatory pressure on the acquisition was too over-bearing and ultimately, Microsoft would likely have lost money by freezing out the PlayStation audience. I can only assume that the calculation was made that PlayStation users would not leave their libraries behind and 'defect' to Xbox - and why should they?Behold DF Direct Weekly #189, with Rich Leadbetter, John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie at the mics.Watch on YouTube0:00:39 Introduction0:02:56 News 1: Phil Spencer: no "red lines" on Xbox ports0:27:21 News 2: Lego Horizon Adventures impresses on consoles0:36:40 News 3: Halo 2 E3 demo resurfaces in Master Chief Collection0:51:30 News 4: PS5 Pro sales reportedly not impacted by price1:01:35 News 5: Stellar Blade developer considering PC release1:08:35 News 6: Intel plans Arrow Lake performance fix1:17:47 News 7: ModRetro Chromatic impresses1:28:37 Supporter Q1: How will the next Xbox achieve the "largest technical leap" in a console generation?1:35:46 Supporter Q2: If the next Xbox doesn't have a disc drive, how will disc backwards compatibility function?1:42:15 Supporter Q3: Are you excited to see the rumoured Nvidia ARM-based laptop chip?1:48:22 Supporter Q4: Will we see support for ultrawide aspect ratios on consoles?1:56:56 Supporter Q5: Can we give Epic credit for allowing Internet Archive to host older Unreal games?Meanwhile, for various reasons, Xbox hardware sales have slowed down significantly - a combination of old Xbox One users on 'forever games' finding no reason to upgrade, along with a consistent lack of delivery of top-tier titles that may make users jump over to the Xbox brand. In acquiring a greater split of the existing, static market, it has failed. Therefore, a new strategy was required.Part of that strategy rests on the concept that Xbox can no longer be just a console and a PC app - and so we find ourselves confronted with the 'this is an Xbox' campaign. To Xbox diehards, this looks like a marginalisation of the console as the home of the platform. To others who know exactly what an Xbox is and has been since 2001, it may look desperate or even laughable. Part of the problem is that Microsoft is effectively marketing against 23 years of its own messaging - and that's a tough place to start from. The thing is, the marketing is not really aimed at the core audience. Microsoft has wider horizons.The truth is, the nature of the market is changing. The console audience may not be growing, but people are still enjoying games in record numbers. PC continues to be highly popular and gaming laptops in particular are shifting serious numbers. The laptop version of the RTX 3060 sits at number 11 in the graphics sub-section of the Steam Hardware Survey, while remarkably, the RTX 4060 laptop model is number two, ahead of its desktop equivalent (in fairness, it launched earlier, but even so, it's a remarkable state of affairs). Meanwhile, there's plenty of excitement around PC handhelds, where Microsoft is clearly seeing some kind of opportunity. Steam Deck has revealed latent potential here and some might say that Xbox has to move in this direction before Valve expands, dominating all areas of the PC market, up to and including the console space. An Xbox handheld is coming, but I would expect Windows improvements to make existing handhelds more Xbox-like in the meantime.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "This is an Xbox" looks to be aimed at a wider and possibly younger audience, who don't seem particularly invested in the console concept - but there is risk in this strategy. The danger is that everything Microsoft has achieved with Xbox-as-a-console becomes sidelined, which is the key concern of prominent Xbox influencers, who fear a dilution of the brand and the community. The console is the focus and without it, Xbox becomes something quite different - a publisher, not a platform holder. At worst, Xbox becomes a client or a launcher, not that much different from EA or Ubisoft, just operating at a much larger scale.That may be somewhat alarmist as Microsoft is committed to new hardware. In an interview with Bloomberg last week, Phil Spencer discussed a new handheld in development that's likely years away from release. Sarah Bond has talked about a Gen 10 console delivering the "largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation". And at the same time, there are also heavy hints about being able to run other storefronts on Xbox hardware - heralding some kind of merging between PC and console functioanlity. Expect machine learning to be doing a lot of heavy lifting in validating Sarah Bond's claims, especially as Spencer is ruling out $1000 consoles. I think Microsoft needs showcase hardware but the importance of PC going forward cannot be understated: we've been saying for some time now that Xbox and Windows should merge, effectively making every PC in every category an 'Xbox' of some description.And from there, the overall importance of the console starts to diminish. While a plug and play box remains, the market itself can take over with its own PC-based Xbox hardware and core users can literally build their own Xbox hardware. In parallel, Microsoft will continue to double down on cloud gaming, where Phil Spencer says there's already significant growth. The core audience hasn't exactly responded well to this marketing, but the chances are that it's not actually targeting core gamers at all. | Image credit: XboxMeanwhile, his comments on there being "no red lines" on which games go to other consoles should be taken seriously and literally. The ultimate hedge against the uncertain future for the console is simply to saturate all areas of the market with great games and reap the benefits - a much surer bet than building a business model around a box you lose money on with every sale. If a piece of hardware can run Call of Duty or - dare I say it - Halo or Gears, Microsoft and Xbox can only benefit by releasing those games there. All I'd say on this front is that unambiguous Game Pass launches for those titles has to be a given and if the pace of the multi-platform roll-out continues as is, I honestly think we need to see new Xbox hardware sooner rather than later. For another generation at least, the plug and play console has a big role to play.But this is a transitionary period and the pace of change has been quite astonishing. As John says in this week's Direct, if we go back just 12 months to November 2023, the idea of Microsoft embracing PlayStation development had no real credibility whatsoever. And yet just a couple of months later, Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty officially kicked off this transition in the Xbox business. Four games were mooted for PlayStation release, as an experiment - which always did seem like tuned messaging as opposed to a reveal of the full strategy.We're now at the point where key Microsoft Studios titles like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty Black Ops 6 aren't just on PlayStation 5, they're enhanced for PS5 Pro. Indiana Jones on PlayStation? Yes, there's a relatively short delay, but I'd expect that to be another key waypoint in the transition to full, day and date multi-platform support. If every screen is to be an Xbox, that should include those attached to PlayStation consoles too - or the overall thrust of the marketing doesn't fully make sense.Somehow unifying Windows and Xbox is a top priority for Microsoft - especially when Linux offerings like SteamOS and close relative Bazzite are offering a compelling alternative. This is for handhelds, but console-like PCs are equally compelling.Watch on YouTubeThat's my take on Microsoft's journey this year: moving away from the concept of exclusive games and consoles, instead concentrating on increasing revenue, growing the size of the business and - as Phil Spencer says - turning the Xbox experience on PC from "good" to "great", a massively important investment for the future. On that latter point, I feel there's a huge amount of work to do. Whatever Microsoft is planning with Xbox and Windows, an upgraded app would be the bare minimum. We should be looking at the migration of the entire, streamlined Xbox interface to Windows, taking care of driver updates and system software upgrades for the user and comprehensively addressing the PC platform's failings, perhaps with a revamped DirectX.It sounds challenging but it can be done. Remarkably, despite not running games natively, Linux is now becoming a genuine challenger to Windows for gaming: SteamOS and offshoot Bazzite retain PC-like features but provide a console-like experience that works, even managing to mitigate shader compilation stutter in a way that DirectX has yet to match. Steam Deck works as a platform and demonstrates that Linux could power an Xbox alternative in the console space, while posing challenges to Windows on desktop PCs.For all the commentary and speculation in this piece, I'm sure there are still pieces of the puzzle missing. Since January, the multi-platform strategy has evolved to where we are now and hints on hardware have been shared, but right now, anything beyond that is basically guesswork. There does seem to be a general direction of travel here, a gradual/phased reveal for the platform holder's plans for the console and PC space - and I'm genuinely fascinated to see what happens next, and just how and when the "largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation" is revealed.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe first post-launch season of an annual Call of Duty game always marks major changes to Warzone. Whether its a brand-new map or the integration of new weaponry, Season 1 acts as a reset for the battle royale. With Black Ops 6 introducing Omnimovement along with the Area 99 Resurgence map, audio adjustments were met with widespread frustration from players unable to hear nearby opposition in the heat of battle. Thankfully, Raven Software is already addressing the issue making it much easier for you to hear those all-important footsteps.Warzones awful audio is fixedWithin the November 16 patch notes, Raven Software showcased numerous changes designed to improve the latest iteration of Warzone. To fix the sub-standard sounds, the developer has now fixed several issues with occlusion, enemy footstep, ascender, and parachute audio.As a result of the changes, players dropping into the action can now hear players deploying their chutes in addition to their movements if theyre close by. The developer has also confirmed that there are further changes in the works, a huge positive for those ending up in the gulag more often than usual.Our teams are hard at work on additional audio updates, and this is just the first of several steps were taking to improve the Warzone audio experience.Raven SoftwareThe next major Warzone update is likely to be for Season 1 Reloaded, the halfway point of the first post-launch season for Call of Dutys battle royale. The ability to hear everything in your surroundings clearly makes all the difference, especially in Warzone where several players are battling to become the last one standing. Adjusting audio so soon after applying major changes to the game is also a promising sign. Raven Software is no stranger to acknowledging the feedback of the community and its great to see the developer act quickly in a bid to improve the experience for all. With further changes on the horizon, Warzones audio is only going to continue getting better. Audio wasnt the only thing addressed in Warzones November 18 update. The developer applied a nerf to the Stim Shot to stop it from issuing a six-second speed boost alongside its instant health regeneration. Now, the equipment only features a three-second boost resulting in many rethinking how aggressive they can be in close-quarters combat. Warzone has often struggled to strike a balance with its audio. The Modern Warfare 3 era managed to find a range where footsteps could be heard over other sounds, giving players the best possible chance to react to incoming threats. Theres still room for improvement but it could be a while until audio returns to its absolute best. While youre attempting to sound out an enemy, check out when the next double XP event is set to take place.Call of Duty: WarzonePlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneGenre(s):ShooterRelated TopicsCall of Duty: Warzone Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereAs one of the biggest RPGs of all time, Baldurs Gate 3 managed to break player records on Steam on launch. However, it turns out that Larian Studios RPG is even more popular in 2024 than it was during its release year.With the arrival of mods and further optimisation of console ports, BG3 is officially more popular than ever before, and there are even stats to prove it.Baldurs Gate 3 popularity has only increasedRevealed by Larian director of publishing Michael Douse, BG3 is more popular than ever. Across 2024, continued sales of the RPG have only led to increased player counts across multiple platforms.Douse revealed that average daily peak concurrents are up 3% this year over last year, attributing increased concurrent player counts to mod support. Alongside this, average daily active users are up 20% over last year.Following the release of multiple optimisation passes with patches, Baldurs Gate 3 has also massively increased its player counts on Steam Deck. While playable on launch, the RPG did suffer from poor FSR support and rough performance in areas on Steam Deck. While some areas still chug (all of Act 3), the game is now far more playable.This has led to a massive explosion in Steam Deck users over the past year with Douse revealing the average daily Steam Deck users are up 61%.As a fun aside, Douse also revealed that the game has officially sold its third copy in Vatican City. With two copies sold in the Holy City already breaking minds, theres now an even higher chance that The Pope has boned Halsin in bear form.For more BG3 content, check out the awesome cut content mod that adds early access areas back into the game or another mod that brings a real-time pandemic into the role-playing game.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Some are all about the bass, but were all about the bedding. We are heavily invested in upgrading our sleep setups, which is why sourcing the best comforters is top on our list of priorities. Ahead, we go over some of the top comforters on the market, including both down and down alternatives. Among them, youll find cooling options for hot sleepers, heavyweight picks for cold weather, and eco-friendly comforters made with sustainably sourced materials. For the majority, no dry cleaning is required but a trip through the washer and a tumble dry is always recommended to extend the life of your comforter. (And make sure to tackle tiny spills with a quick spot clean.)Shop Our Top Picks:Best Overall Comforter: Luxome ClimaSense ComforterBest All-Season Comforter: Saatva All-Year Down Alternative ComforterBest Goose Down Comforter: Quince Premium Down ComforterBest Winter Comforter: Tempur-Pedic Down ComforterBest Down Alternative Comforter: Layla Down Alternative ComforterBest Lightweight Comforter: Puffy Deluxe ComforterSoftest Comforter: Boll & Branch Signature Comforter SetBest Cooling Comforter: Buffy Breeze ComforterBest Bamboo Comforter: Cozy Earth ComforterOther Comforters We Love:Or, jump straight to the comforter of your choice if youve been eyeing something in particular:From the best budget option to machine-wash-friendly designs, weve gathered the best comforters out there. And once youve got the perfect comforter? Dive into the best duvet covers, upgrade your bed sheets, or treat yourself to one of our favorite weighted blankets.Note: All prices listed reflect queen-size options.Best Overall Comforter: Luxome ClimaSense ComforterLuxome ClimaSense ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: 75% Polyester, 25% 37.5 PolyesterShell material: 80% Cotton, 20% 37.5 PolyesterConstruction: Baffle boxSizes: Full/Queen, King/California KingCare: Spot clean or dry cleanUpsidesDuvet tie loops in all four corners and the center of each side (compared with ties only at the corners)Full, fluffy appearance (even with a duvet cover) that gives the bed a luxurious lookHeavy and plush-feeling without causing heat buildupDownsidesPricier than other non-down comforters on our listNot machine washableWhy should you choose this comforter? The Luxome ClimaSense comforter has it all. To start, it's got the plush, fluffy look of a down comforter without the feathers, which is a win for hot sleepers and those who want vegan bedding. Our tester said it felt soft and heavylike a cotton cocoon. But the weight didn't cause her to overheat, despite being a hot sleeper with night sweats. She said the outer shell is soft-to-the-touch, but she planned to use a duvet cover and appreciated the extra duvet tie loops along the sides of the comforter.Best All-Season Comforter: Saatva All-Year Down Alternative ComforterSaatva All-Year Down Alternative ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: Down-alternative fiber and moisture-wicking lyocell fillShell material: Long staple percale cotton shellConstruction: Box quiltingSizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California KingCare: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle, no bleach, tumble dry on lowUpsidesFluffy look and feel without making your bed look like it's a bubble bathHead or foot labels to help with making the bed or inserting into a duvet coverTruly multi-seasonalgood for hot weather, cold weather, and the in-betweensDownsidesPricey, especially since it doesn't have any down fillOnly corner duvet tie loops instead of all along the perimeterWhy should you choose this comforter? You may know Saatva as the brand behind some of the best mattresses weve tried, but be aware that they make high-quality bedding as well. If youre particularly sensitive to down, this machine-washable, all-season down-alternative comforter is made of 100% hypoallergenic fibers and available in two designs: an all-year fill and a lighter weight option. Sustainable lyocell fill ensures youre warm in the winter months and cool in the summer, while the box quilted design ensures sections of fill stay evenly distributed. Our tester tried the all-year version, and said it felt durable, well-made, and seasonally versatile. She's a hot sleeper, and didn't overheat using this comforter, instead calling it breathable and airy.Best Goose Down Comforter: Quince Premium Down ComforterQuince Luxe Goose Down ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: European white goose down (650 fill power)Shell material: 100% cotton sateen shellConstruction: Baffle boxSizes: Twin, Full/Queen, and King/California KingCare: Spot clean or dry cleanUpsidesOffered in three warmths: lightweight, all-season, and ultraGoose down is sustainably sourcedVery affordable compared to similar down comfortersDownsidesNot machine washableOnly corner duvet tie loops instead of all along the perimeterWhy should you choose this comforter? Quince makes some of our favorite bedding, so we think this goose down comforter is also a safe bet for a good nights sleep. Though its available at a fraction of the price compared to similar offerings from other brands, you wont have to sacrifice quality. It's stuffed with European white goose down and available in lightweight, all-season, and ultra warm options. As a down duvet insert, it's designed with double-stitched seams and a baffle box construction to keep its fill fluffy and evenly distributed.Best Winter Comforter: Tempur-Pedic Down ComforterTempur-Pedic Down ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: American white down (650 fill power)Shell material: 300 thread count cotton sateenConstruction: Box quiltingSizes: Queen or KingCare: Spot clean or dry cleanUpsidesVery plush, fluffy, luxurious feel and look, even with a duvet coverInsulates heat very wellLight and airy feel, despite being thick and largeDownsidesNot machine washableOnly available in two sizes: queen and kingMost PopularShopping7 Best Floor Lamps to Brighten Your Space in 2024By Nora TaylorShoppingBest Airbnbs Across the United States (2024)By Kristi KelloggArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Why should you choose this comforter? Tempur-Pedic is known for its luxury memory foam mattresses, but it also offers ultra-cozy bedding like its down comforter. This thick, warm comforter is made with American white down and cotton sateen, and constructed with box quilting for even fill distribution. Our tester said it using it feels like cozying up under a fluffy cloud. She said it's very squish-able, but stays lofted and fluffy when not in use, giving her bed a regal, hotel-like look. The down kept she and her husband very warmso warm that they would use this comforter only in fall, winter, and early spring.Best Down Alternative Comforter: Layla Down Alternative ComforterLayla Down Alternative ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: Cluster Loft down alternative (equivalent to 700 fill power)Shell material: 300 thread count cottonConstruction: Baffle box (hexigon shape)Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/California KingCare: Machine wash cold and tumble dry lowUpsidesFluffy, lightweight feel helps with airflowHexigon quilting adds an attractive design element for those who don't plan to use a duvet coverAvailable in two colors: white and greyDownsidesMulti-seasonal, but may be too warm for those without a/c in the summerOnly corner duvet loops instead of all along the perimeterWhy should you choose this comforter? The Layla Down Alternative Comforter has the (for lack of a better word) poofy look and feel of real down, but stays much cooler, according to our tester. The lightweight, fluffy feel helps with airflow for those who like to keep things cool, but is also filled enough to stay warm in the winter. The cotton cover feels silky and cool-to-the-touch, and the hexagonal stitching is an attractive detail for those who want to use the comforter without a duvet cover. You can also choose between white and grey, though the corners have loops for a duvet, just in case you want a brighter color on your bed.Best Lightweight Comforter: Puffy Deluxe ComforterPuffy Deluxe ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: Cluster Loft down alternative (equivalent to 700 fill power)Shell material: 300 thread count cottonConstruction: Baffle box (hexigon shape)Sizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/California KingCare: Machine wash cold and tumble dry lowUpsidesBoxed quilting keeps fill evenly distributed throughout the whole comforterHas an airy, barely there weight and feelStays very warm without being stiflingDownsidesLooks wrinkly, so it's best used with a duvet coverTester said dimensions felt smaller than other comforters she's used (she tried the twin/twin XL size)Most PopularShopping7 Best Floor Lamps to Brighten Your Space in 2024By Nora TaylorShoppingBest Airbnbs Across the United States (2024)By Kristi KelloggArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Why should you choose this comforter? Puffy is best known for its memory foam mattresses, but it also offers a collection of cozy sleep accessories. One of our testers tried the Puffy Deluxe Comforter, which has a cotton shell and down alternative fill. The tester is allergic to down, and said the down alternative fill has the same lightweight, puffy (no pun intended) feel of down. The comforter warmed up very quickly and kept her warm all night without causing her to overheat or sweat. She especially liked how lightweight and snuggly the comforter feltshe said it wasn't much heavier than a top sheet and felt soft-to-the-touch. The Puffy Deluxe Comforter is only available in white, and has four corner loops for attaching a duvet cover.Softest Comforter: Boll & Branch Signature Comforter SetComforter SetKey Product FeaturesFill material: Recycled polyesterShell material: 100% organic cottonConstruction: Cotton voile inner lining with hidden quilt stitchingSizes: Use commercial washer and dryer, machine wash cold and tumble dry on low heatCare: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, King/California KingUpsidesNo duvet cover requiredComes with two decorative shams that match the comforterCover is soft-to-the-touchDownsidesPricey for a non-down comforterRequires commercial washer and dryer (since in-home units will most likely be too small)Why should you choose this comforter? If youre planning to skip out on a duvet cover, consider finding a silky-soft comforter with a punch of color. The Boll & Branch Comforter Set is available in five shades (white, sand, mist, mineral, and sageleaf) and two patterns (sand meadow/marigolds and bluestone meadow/marigolds). In addition to the comforter, the set comes with a pair of matching pillowcases with hidden zipper enclosures. The comforter construction may appear seamless, but there are a bunch of invisible stitches to help keep the recycled polyester fill material stuck in place. The best part? Youll never have to wrangle this comforter into a duvet cover.Best Cooling Comforter: Buffy Breeze ComforterBuffy Breeze ComforterSee all of the above benefits of the Buffy supply chain, and add to the list the fact that the Breeze is crafted for a cooler comforter experience and made of 100% eucalyptus.Key Product FeaturesFill material: TENCEL eucalyptus lyocell fiberShell material: 300 thread count TENCEL eucalyptus lyocellConstruction: Wavy quilting from head to footSizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California KingCare: Spot clean or dry clean, duvet cover recommendedUpsidesFully biodegradable and compostableLightweight and airyBreathable, soft shellDownsidesNot machine washableNot warm enough for cold sleepersMost PopularShopping7 Best Floor Lamps to Brighten Your Space in 2024By Nora TaylorShoppingBest Airbnbs Across the United States (2024)By Kristi KelloggArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Why should you choose this comforter? Looking for something more lightweight and, well, breezy? Then look to the Breeze. Its perfect for warm weather, or for anyone whos a hot sleeper in general. This cooling comforters down-alternative fill has a fill power equivalent of 600. The lighter fill will keep you cool and comfy all night long. Like the original Buffy Comforter, it has loops in every corner, so it can be used interchangeably as a comforter or duvet insert.Best Bamboo Comforter: Cozy Earth ComforterCozy Earth ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: Bamboo viscose, silk, or down alternative (you choose one)Shell material: Bamboo viscose, silk, or 60% Cotton/40% Polyester blend (in the down alternative version)Construction: Baffle box (bamboo viscose and down alternative versions only)Sizes: Twin, Full/Queen, KingCare: Bamboo viscose version or silk versionspot clean or dry clean only, down alternative versionmachine wash cold and tumble dry low or hang dry (though dry cleaning is recommended)UpsidesThree fabric options, two of which have fill options (the bamboo viscose and silk versions are available with standard or extra fill)Fabrics are breathable, moisture-wicking, and soft-to-the-touchComes packaged in a cute, reusable duffel bagDownsidesNo California King size availableDry cleaning only or strongly suggested (depending on the version)Why should you choose this comforter? Cozy Earth, also beloved for their bamboo sleepwear, makes an exceptionally snuggly comforter offered in three fabric options: 100% bamboo viscose, 100% silk, or down alternative with a cotton/polyester shell. We tested the bamboo viscose version with standard fill, and our tester loved it. She said it was lightweight, buttery soft, and cool to touch. Despite the airiness of the comforter and the cool, moisture-wicking fabric, she stayed at a comfortable temperature while sleeping. Those who need extra warmth may want the extra fill. All of the three versions work as duvet inserts thanks to corner anchor loops.Brooklinen Down ComforterBrooklinen Down ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: Natural down clusters and feathers (650, 700, or 750 fill power)Shell material: 100% cotton sateenConstruction: Baffle boxSizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California KingCare: Spot clean or dry cleanUpsidesAvailable in three fill levels: lightweight, all-season, and ultra-warmBox quilting keeps fill evenly distributedDown is ethically sourced from Hutterite Farms in CanadaDownsidesComforter isn't machine washable$9.95 fee for returnsMost PopularShopping7 Best Floor Lamps to Brighten Your Space in 2024By Nora TaylorShoppingBest Airbnbs Across the United States (2024)By Kristi KelloggArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Why should you choose this comforter? Were big fans of Brooklinentheir high-quality bedding never disappoints, and their down comforter is no exception. It comes in three varieties: lightweight (650 fill power), all-season (700 fill power), and ultra-warm (750 fill power). The hypoallergenic, antimicrobial comforter features corner loops, should you want to use it as a duvet cover instead.Buffy Cloud ComforterBuffy Cloud ComforterKey Product FeaturesFill material: 100% recycled down alternative (equivalent to 700 fill power)Shell material: 300 thread count sateen weave TENCEL lyocell shellConstruction: Quilted for even fill distributionSizes: Twin/Twin XL, Full/Queen, and King/California KingCare: Machine wash cold and machine dry or air dry (commercial washer and dryer are best)UpsidesOffered in 11 colors: white, slate blue, porcelain, heirloom silver, bone grey, french clay, rose clay, cherry petal, almond milk, fossil grey, strataRelatively affordable down alternative comforter optionCan be used alone or with a duvet (there are corner loops)DownsidesCommercial washer and dryer recommendedMay get wrinkly if left bunched up during the dayWhy should you choose this comforter? The Buffy Cloud Comforter is a favorite among AD editors and readers, and it receives high praise both as a traditional comforter and duvet insert (it has corner loops to accommodate duvet inserts). Its an all-season style that is designed to be used year-round. Alternative down fills (like this one) dont typically list a fill power, but a Buffy rep told us this has a fill power of equivalent of 700. It feels similar to the Boll & Branch Comforter, but is much more affordable.West Elm Silky Tencel Plush ComforterSilky TENCEL Plush Comforter & ShamsKey Product FeaturesFill material: 100% recycled polyesterShell material: 320 thread count Tencel LyocellConstruction: Channel stitchedSizes: Full/Queen and King/California KingCare: Machine wash warm and tumble dryUpsidesAvailable in eight colors: white, sand, frost gray, slate, dark olive, elm, stormy blue, terracottaMatching shams can be purchased separately to complete the lookEco-friendly materials, including recycled polyester and sustainably sourced Tencel lyocell from hardwood forestsDownsidesNo Twin/Twin XL size availableNo loops or ties for a duvet cover (it's meant to be used alone)Most PopularShopping7 Best Floor Lamps to Brighten Your Space in 2024By Nora Taylor