Market slowdown has led to reduction in supply and stock levels, industry group warnsA rapid increase in demand for construction projects would be difficult for the existing materials market to supply, according to the Construction Leadership Council.The organisations material supply chain group said the slowdown in demand over the past two years had led to a reduction in supply and stock levels.While this has been more than adequate for current conditions, a rapid surge in demand in the coming year may result in supply issues, said group co-chairs John Newcomb and Peter Caplehorn in a statement.Source: ShutterstockA building boom could see suppliers struggle to fill orders for materials, the CLC has warnedThe pair, who are chief executives of the Builders Merchants Federation and Construction Products Association respectively, said the second half of this year had seen more investment, leading to a stronger pipeline of new orders.They also pointed out that, while new housing remained flat, the government was working on plans to stimulate the market, with a goal of building 1.5 million homes in this parliament, an average of 300,000 homes a year.Brick capacity in the UK is around two billion currently, which is half what it was in the 1970s when the UK last built that volume of homes.Added to this, much of the structural timber used in the UK is imported from Europe, they said.While the UK has stock on the ground at the moment, log prices have increased in Sweden and suppliers are able to manage supplies to achieve the price they want.If the UK wants to expand the use of timber construction, we will have to compete for its supply within a global market.Caplehorn and Newcomb also warned of price increases for several products in January ranging from 3% to 8%, largely stemming from higher energy costs.The group said product availability was currently good overall and that previously reported issues regarding aerated blocks continued to be managed by allocated supply.

Government advisor tells City to throw out Brookfields 54-storey City tower submitted in SeptemberStreet level view of the proposals for 99 BishopsgateThe governments heritage advisor has called for RSHPs 99 Bishopsgate tower to be refused due to fears it would harm views of St Pauls Cathedral.Historic England, an influential consultee on major planning applications, said it strongly objects to the 54-storey scheme on the edge of the City of Londons eastern cluster of towers, which was submitted for planning in September.The tower is described by RSHP as a transitional building blending the clusters tall buildings with the neighbouring conservation areaDeveloped for Brookfield, it is described by RSHP in planning documents as a transitional building blending the townscape character of the cluster with the mainly brick buildings of the neighbouring conservation area.But Historic England said it would create a cliff edge on the border of the cluster which would harm protected views of the grade I-listed St Pauls, which is considered the most important heritage asset in the City.It added that allowing the allowing this steep edge to the cluster, rather than a gradual increase in height as has been envisaged under the Citys planning guidance, would greatly diminish the townscape benefit of clustering tall buildings as a means of protecting Londons historic environment, which is one of its core purposes.While RSHPs designs include a chamfered corner on the top edge of the tower which aims to acknowledge strategic views of the cathedral from Waterloo Bridge, a prime tourist spot, Historic England said this feature offers little mitigation and the buildings impact on the significance of the cathedral would still be most damaging.The scheme has also been criticised by a London Review Panel, an independent body funded by the Greater London Authority which provides advice on major planning applications.At a meeting attended by the towers lead architect Graham Stirk and Brookfield president Dan Scanlon, the panel said it did not support the complete demolition of the existing 1970s building and urged the approach to be reconsidered.The plans would see the sites existing 28-storey tower, which serves as the UK headquarters of Multiplex, set to build the tower, flattened to street level and the retention of its concrete raft and piles, which would form the base of the replacement scheme.The project team for 99 Bishopsgate includes T&T Alinea on costs, AKT II on structural engineering, Ramboll on MEP services, Atelier 10 on sustainability, Momentum on transport, GIA on sunlight and wind, Trium Environmental Consulting on environment and Andy Sturgeon as landscape architect.Planning consultant DP9, communications consultant Kanda Consulting and heritage and townscape consultant The Townscape Consultancy are also on the team.

The Older Peoples Housing Taskforce has estimated that the UK should be building between 30,000 and 50,000 new later living homes every year in order to support its growing population of older people but is only building around 7,000 a year.Julienne Meyer, professor of care for older people at the School of Health and Psychological Sciences at City, University of London, who chaired the task force, said we are at a sliding door moment [where] the number of people of pensionable age is rising faster than people of working age, while the housing market itself falls significantly short on the needs of older people.The Older Peoples Housing Taskforce was set up to assess the UK market for specialised and supported later-living options, across both the public and private sectors. It concluded its research in May 2024, and published a report this week.AdvertisementThe research focused in particular on the private market for people on middle incomes and looked at options for how to secure better choice, quality and security for older peoples housing.On top of housing delivery, the report found that the UK housing market is failing older people on leasehold options, which are unaffordable for the majority of English households aged 75 years and over; on accessibility, with only 12 per cent of older people having level access to their building; and on awareness of options with older people unaware of the options available to them.More than 9 out of 10 over-65s live in mainstream housing in the UK, while just 0.6 per cent live in specialist housing with care, according to the research a 10th of the proportion achieved in countries such as the USA and New Zealand.The taskforce has made nine core recommendations to the government regarding housing for older people, plus an overarching recommendation that the government establish a new delivery capability to carry this transformative work forward.Among its nine recommendations are: standardising definitions for older peoples housing; incentivising a diverse range of older peoples housing; ensuring more specialist housing for older people is built; ensuring its inclusivity; ensuring its affordability; and strengthening planning policies around it.AdvertisementIn her foreword to the report, Meyer insisted that a big step in the right direction would be for system-wide recognition that age-friendly and inclusive homes and neighbourhoods work for everyone, whereas design for younger ages does not always address issues presented later in the life course.Meyer added: Ensuring suitable, accessible and affordable housing for later living is a societal obligation on which the current housing market falls significantly short. Source:Pillar VisualsA newly-improved 'integrated retirement community' by RCKa in ChigwellHousing minister Matthew Pennycook said the government would give careful consideration to the findings as part of its commitment to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years.In a ministerial statement on Tuesday (November 26), Pennycook said the government will ensure that considerations around older peoples housing inform our approach to the planning policy changes that it has promised.He added that government proposals for the promotion of mixed-use sites including housing designed for specific groups, such as older people, were tested during the recent consultation on National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) reforms. The results of the consultation are yet to be published.Pennycook said the government was also working closely with the Planning Advisory Service to try to provide more clarity on how planning use classes apply to specialist older people's housing, as per the reports recommendations.He added: The government is committed to helping older people to live comfortably and independently at home for as long as possible.Tim Riley, who leads on retirement living projects for architecture practice RCKa, has criticised the report for being too broad in its recommendations, which he says, lack priority.Riley said the taskforce was right to recommend ways to provide more age-friendly housing but added: What we urgently need is recognition of the sector within the NPPF and dedicated planning policy.British Property Federation assistant director of policy Theo Plowman described the housebuilding figures for older people as stark.He added: National and local planning systems must enable greater volumes of age-appropriate housing. This means ensuring local plans adequately reflect the need for specialist housing and mainstream developments incorporate these principles. A long-term national housing strategy for an ageing population is urgently needed to prepare for the profound impacts of our ageing society. Such a strategy would help people live healthier, more independent lives, make better use of housing stock and reduce pressure on health and social care services.RMArchitects director Richard Morton, who was the sole architect on the task force and heavily involved in the reports design recommendations, said two of the recommendations stood out to him: the need to design not only for physical accessibility but for the many less visible challenges of increasing age, including sensory loss and dementia; and the need, not only to produce an updated design code but to institute an ongoing system for all incoming design guidance to be reviewed for its impact on the older population.Morton added: 'With ten million of us now over 65 it is hugely important that we radically improve the supply and the quality of housing for our older population. Im delighted that the importance and strength of this new report, commissioned by a Tory government, has been taken on board by the new minister and I look forward to seeing its many recommendations put into practice.'Jenny Buterchi, a partner at PRP with experience of delivering later living schemes across the country, added: 'The report rightly emphasises the importance of creating design guidance, including a national design code, for age-friendly and inclusive housing that focuses on the health and wellbeing of our older population. I fully support the imperative to design inclusive communities that cater for a range of health, mobility and cultural needs.'The recommendations for funding, legislative and planning reform could create a real impetus to drive forward supply, I hope to see these filter through to government policies and industry change in the near future.'2024-11-27Anna Highfieldcomment and share

The London-based practice developed the scheme in partnership with Retirement Villages Group (RVG), for a former green-belt site in Froghall Lane, Chigwell. The land was removed from the green belt in 2023 under the adopted local plan and allocated for specialist housing for older people.The 'integrated retirement community' will consist of energy-efficient, high-density villas of between two and six storeys, arranged around a central avenue that links to 1,050m of communal facilities. Parking is pushed to the sites periphery to encourage social connections and active lifestyles.RCKa says its Essex village-inspired scheme combines traditional settlement concepts with contemporary design to enrich the lives of residents while acting as a vital social hub for the wider area.AdvertisementThe housing will consist of 70 per cent two-bedroom apartments, 20 per cent three-bedroom apartments, and 10 per cent one-bedroom apartments.The project aims for net-zero in both embodied carbon and operational carbon, according to the practice.The site was originally allocated for 105 specialist retirement homes under the Epping Forest local plan, but RCKas scheme increases the allocation density by another 37 per cent.Epping Forest District Councils planning committee granted planning permission for the scheme on 13 November.The permission is subject to a legal agreement to secure planning conditions including an off-site affordable housing contribution of 1 million, a health contribution of 150,000, an NHS ambulance contribution of 29,000, and a libraries contribution of 11,000.AdvertisementPlanning officers said the scheme addresses a critical need for specialised housing as per the sites allocation, and has good sustainability aspirations.Officers described the scheme as an improvement on applications previously refused for the site, adding: It is considered that the arrangement of the buildings around this accessible central landscaped area would have a convivial feel and it is hoped that this would, in turn, create a strong sense of community for future residents.RCKa ChigwellThe project is the third collaboration between RCKa and RVG to provide retirement living. It follows a scheme on the outskirts of Chester set to complete in early 2025, and a scheme in West Malling, Kent, which recently started on site after being approved late last year.RVG development director Duncan Matthews said the approval followed months of constructive consultation with Epping Forest officers, local stakeholders, and ...]our consultant team.He added that the Chigwell scheme would offer older people 'a community where they can live happier and healthier later lives', as well as providing new jobs and amenities for the wider community.RCKa director Tim Riley said the project represented the practices commitment to designing sustainable, inclusive spaces that enrich the lives of residents and the wider community and that it would provide a place that Chigwell can feel truly proud of.On a wider level, Riley has called on the government to introduce dedicated planning policy to support age-friendly housing, explaining: What we urgently need is recognition of the sector within the NPPF.A major report published this week found that the UK is falling tens of thousands of homes short on delivering the quantity of housing needed for its ageing population.Research by the Older Peoples Housing Taskforce found that between 30,000 and 50,000 new later-living homes need to be delivered every year in order to support the growing elderly population but only around 7,000 are being built.The task force has made nine core recommendations to the government regarding housing for older people, plus an overarching recommendation that the government establish a new delivery capability to carry this transformative work forward. Source:Pillar VisualsRCKa ChigwellPROJECT DATALocation Land west of Froghall Lane, ChigwellLocal authority Epping Forest District CouncilType of project Retirement housingClient Retirement Villages Group LtdArchitect and Lead Designer RCKaProject Manager and Quantity Surveyor Cast ConsultancyPlanning Consultant Iceni ProjectsServices and Sustainability Hoare LeeStructure and Civil Engineering SymmetrysLandscape Architecture CamlinsCommunity Engagement Redwood ConsultingEcology Consultants Ecology SolutionsHighways Consultants Markides AssociatesReal Estate Advisers NewsteerMain contractor TBDFunding UndisclosedTender date 2025Start on site date 2025Completion date TBDContract duration TBDGross internal floor area 181,800mForm of contract and/or procurement TBDAnnual CO2 emissions NZC (Operational and Embodied)Total cost Undisclosed

Our Experts Written by Russell Holly Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Table of Contents Table of Contents There are countless Black Friday dealslive right now, but not all of them are worth your time or money. If you've been browsing to complete your holiday shopping list, it can feel overwhelming trying to locate the discounts that are legit, and worth your time before they sell out. 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We're big fans of Jackery when it comes to the best portable power stations, and now you can get the brand's Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit at a steal for Black Friday. With a $3,200 coupon on Amazon, you can get the SG2000 Plus Kit with a 6kWh capacityfor just $3,399. This kit comes with the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, SolarSaga 200W solar panels and two expandable battery packs. Don't wait too long, because this special Black Friday deal won't last.See at AmazonWith its 6,128.4Wh capacity, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit can power heavy-load devices up to 3,000 watts, which can include RVs, air conditioners and more for both in-home andoutdoor use. With an 1,800-watt AC input and 1,000-watt solar input, the generator requires only 1.3 hours to charge from 0% to 80% battery level. With six SolarSaga 200-watt solar panels, it will take approximately 1.6 hours. Thanks to the two included expandable battery packs, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus' power increases to 12kWh. If you connect another Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Power Station, you can reach a capacity of 24kWh, voltage of 240 volts and output of 6,000-watts. Despite this high power, the SG2000 Plus uses advanced lithium technology and a built-in cooling system to make it temperature-resistant, ensuring safety. Plus, the generator is shock-resistant and fire-protected. Though Jackery provides a five-year warranty, the SG2000 Plus was made with ChargeShield Fast Charge Technology that increases its life by 50%. With the LiFePO4 battery, you can get up to an additional 10 years of usage, while Smart Shallow Charging mode makes the generator even more efficient. Perhaps the best part is that you can use the Solar Generator 2000 Plus indoors, because it's whisper quiet at just 30 decibels. Or if you're using it while camping, you can still enjoy the peaceful quiet of nature. Note that with purchases like this, you might also have the potential to unlock a 30% residential clean energy tax credit, depending on if you qualify. You'll want to reach out to your utility provider for more information and requirements for the Residential Clean Energy Credit Program. Why this deal matters By far, this is the best deal we've seen for the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit on Amazon, which is an exciting $3,200 off. Normally, the kit is $6,599, but now it's down to $3,399. In the past, we've seen Jackery offered for a few hundred dollars off on Amazon, but never $3,200, making this deal, well, a big deal. However, if you do want to get an extra $100 off, Jackery is offering a $3,300 discount on its website as part of its Black Friday deals up to 50% off. For more discounts for the holiday season, check out the best Black Friday deals we've had our eye on. These Impulse Buys Under $25 Actually Make Great Gifts See all photos

November 27, 20243 min readYour Friends Shape Your Microbiomeand So Do Their FriendsAnalysis of nearly 2,000 people living in remote villages in Honduras reveals whos spreading gut microorganisms to whomBy Saima Sidik & Nature magazineFriends share more than just food when they dine together. ljubaphoto/Getty ImagesA shared meal, a kiss on the cheek: these social acts bring people together and bring their microbiomes together, too. The more people interact, the more similar the make-up of their gut microorganisms is, even if individuals dont live in the same household, a study shows.The study also found that a persons microbiome is shaped not only by their social contacts but also by the social contacts connections. The work is one of several studies that raise the possibility that health conditions can be shaped by the transmission of the microbiome between individuals, not just by diet and other environmental factors that affect gut flora.In the quest to understand what shapes a persons microbiome, social interactions are definitely a piece of the puzzle that I think has been missing until recently, says microbiologist Catherine Robinson at the University of Oregon in Eugene, who was not involved in the work.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.The research was published in Nature on 20 November.Whats mine is yoursThe study has its roots in research published almost 20 years ago that investigated how obesity spreads in social networks. Certain viruses and bacteria found in the gut microbiome are known to change a persons risk of obesity, and social scientist Nicholas Christakis wondered whether friends pass these microbes to each other in addition to influencing each others eating habits. This was a kernel of an idea that I just couldnt let go, says Christakis, who is based at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.Since then, several publications have suggested that social interactions shape the gut microbiome. Christakis and his colleagues travelled to the jungles of Honduras to add to this emerging literature. There, they mapped the social relationships and analysed microbiomes of people living in 18 isolated villages, where interactions are mainly face to face and people have minimal exposure to processed foods and antibiotics, which can alter the composition of the microbiome.This was an enormous undertaking, Christakis says, because the team had to set up shop in a remote location, then get the samples back to the United States for processing.Spouses and individuals living in the same house share up to 13.9% of the microbial strains in their guts, but even people who dont share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%, the researchers found. By contrast, people who live in the same village but who dont tend to spend time together share only 4%. There is also evidence of transmission chains friends of friends share more strains than would be expected by chance.The results add depth to scientists understanding of what shapes the microbiome, partly because the team looked at subspecies of the gut microbes, says microbiologist Mireia Valles-Colomer at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, who was not involved in the work. Social contacts might share the same microbial species by chance, but theyre much less likely to share the same strains unless theyve passed them to each other.Rethinking transmissibilityResearch like this is changing completely the way we think, because it suggests that risk factors for conditions with links to the microbiome, such as hypertension and depression, could spread from person to person through their microbiomes, says computational biologist Nicola Segata at the University of Trento in Italy. Segata was not involved in the current work, but he has worked with Valles-Colomer and members of Christakiss team in the past on similar research.In the case of depression, which can be difficult to treat, combining existing therapies with microbiome-targeting treatments might improve care, says Valles-Colomer.But people should not avoid social interactions for fear of catching others microbiomes. Social interactions can spread components of healthy microbiomes and have myriad other benefits. Valles-Colomer says, Close contacts are not bad for us. The opposite they are beneficial!This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on November 20, 2024.

OpinionNovember 27, 20245 min readChoosing Empathy Is Critical to DemocracyIf we lose sight of why empathy matters, both individual dignity and democracy sufferBy C. Daryl Cameron Denis Novikov/Getty ImagesIn the weeks before and after the U.S. presidential election, many of us are asking about the role of empathy in American politics. Does it matter whether candidates express care for their constituents, and what does a persons vote says about their ability or willingness to empathize with others?Empathy is important to democracybut its complicated to understand, as scientists and philosophers have long tried to study in practice. I am one of those scientists. As we use it in our day-to-day lives, we often mean sharing others emotions, such as feeling someone elses sorrow or joy, but can also mean showing compassion or concern for their suffering or understanding and believing their hurt or joy.In terms of the November election, how much did empathy matter? And in a challenging, exhausting, and polarized political environment, how do we remain empathetic? Do we even need to? Here, I argue that we need to remember our responsibility to choose and control the expanse of our empathyand we can do so by reflecting on why we care and engage, whether that be to uphold our values, feel good, or better know the world. As research in my lab and in my field has shown, callousness is a decisionwe are the authors of our empathy, and numbness isnt a foregone conclusion.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.I believe that showing empathy is a choice. We must be mindful of social pressures that might steer these choices in particular directions if we dont take the effort to manage our empathy ourselves. Extending empathy across political divides can be important, but so too can sustaining motivations to empathize with the most marginalized, particularly if they are targeted by other political groups. Common ground may risk minimizing such harms.To me, empathy is a strength, not weaknessa way to attend to the people we value most. If we let ourselves become callous to others needs, we risk losing sight of democracy and the importance of treating each other with dignity. Especially in the current climate, we should double down on desires to empathize, and remember that the willingness to empathize may be just as important as the ability to do so. The effort matters.Exit polls tell us that having empathetic leaders may not be as important to many voters. Of four qualities ascribed to candidates in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, only 18 percent ranked empathy (cares about people like me) as most important. Though perhaps surprising, this is consistent with findings that people value leaders who care impartially, and who exhibit schadenfreude and relish pain in political opponents. Of that 18 percent that prioritized empathy, only one quarter supported Trump. Yet the pressing question may not be for whom empathy mattered most, as our research has shown that voters can overestimate partisan differences in concern.What matters more is how we sustain willingness to empathize, as a value and social norm. How do we avoid numbness, as in the New Yorker cartoon about isolation as self-care?Before politics enters the picture, we know that people find empathy to be exhausting and effortful. My team has found that people typically choose to avoid empathizing with strangers, finding it taxing. If empathy is like complex math, then people might take the easy road and avoid the problem set. But it matters who these feelings are about, as people choose empathy and compassion more for close others. When adding in political dynamicssuch as what political opponents or peers think of our empathizingit may make the calculus of empathy even more challenging.Post-election, there have been increases in harassment of Black people and girls and women. Such incidents suggest we need to be mindful that we not normalize counter-empathy, especially for marginalized populations. Others suggest we empathize with working class voters, and learn more about those who may feel they havent been heard. Norms can shape how we think about empathy. For instance, when parents demonstrate who is worth their empathy, children often follow. People who are motivated to empathize with marginalized communities should reflect on and defend those values.Lastly, electoral outcomes prompt the question of whether people should empathize across party lines. Again, motivations matter. When people believe that empathy across partisan lines is useful for political dialogue, they show reduced hostility and increased support for democracy. Yet would people find it appropriate to empathize with others who express counter-empathy in return? Such empathy might seem risky in a world with much schadenfreude. Take the Daily Wire TikTok on liberal tears, or an unconfirmed, yet viral Reddit post (over 48,000 upvotes on the Leopards Ate My Face Reddit forum) about Trump supporters learning about possible negative consequences of their vote. People can learn from consequences of empathizing, and if they are punished instead of rewarded, they may withdraw.So how do we sustain empathy in the face of exhausting headwinds? First, in order to continue cultivating empathyespecially for the most vulnerablewe can remind ourselves of the prosocial power of shared adversity. Shared experiences can build common ground. But it is important to not forget that finding common ground across partisan lines can mask real differences of opinion about how marginalized groups are considered and treated. Encouragements for cross-partisan empathy should not assume that different political groups all express their values in the same way.Another point is that empathy and compassion can refresh us on what we value. Compassion for those in need can associate with and cause outrage and punishment on their behalf. Moral outrage, in turn, can support collective action to help those in need, and people lean into moral outrage when their commitments are clearly defined. Being able to harness outrage wisely may be key to political engagement and democratic dialogue. Handling empathy strategically may facilitate outrage and civic participation (e.g., after Roe v. Wade was overturned). By reminding ourselves of why we care to begin with, we can support sustainable choices to engage rather than grow callous.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Eight years after its rocky launch, No Man's Sky finally hits "Very Positive" reviews threshold on SteamHello, you fool, I love you.Image credit: Hello Games News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 27, 2024 No Man's Sky didn't get off to the smoothest of starts, but eight years after its controversial launch, Hello Games' exploratory space sim has reached a significant milestone, finally gaining enough favourable player reviews on Steam to shift its overall rating to "Very Positive".When No Man's Sky released back in August 2016, player sentiment was such that it quickly found itself damned with an "Overwhelming Negative" rating on Steam. It took two years and a number of significant updates for No Man's Sky to secure enough positive reviews that its average tipped over to "Mixed", and then a further three years after to that to reach an all-time user review average of "Mostly Positive" in 2021.As Hello Games' Tim Woodley explained at the time, "Each percentage point becomes exponentially harder to earn as you move up the ratings. Moving from 20 percent positive to 21 percent positive may only require a few hundred positive reviews whereas moving from 69 percent to 70 percent needed 10,000 positive reviews. This is why it's so rare for games to change their All-Time rating and why we'd assumed that we might never be able to."This year's biggest No Man's Sky update overhauled world generation.Watch on YouTubeAnother three years - and a total of 35 free content updates - later, No Man's Sky has finally achieved the seemingly impossible, turning its initial "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating into "Very Positive". That means 80 percent of its 245,857 Steam reviews are positive - which is to says it's secured 196,686 blue thumbs up versus 49,171 red thumbs down. Addressing the milestone, studio boss Sean Murray wrote, "Holy shit you guys - it happened. ALL REVIEWS: Very Positive. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea what this means to us."No Man's Sky's next challenge, then, will be to nudge into the prestigious "Overwhelming Postive" category inhabited by the likes of Sekiro, Persona 5, Baldur's Gate 3, Stardew Valley, Hades, Dead Cells, the Silent Hill 2 remake, and Half-Life: Alyx. That's a significantly tougher goal, however, requiring 95 percent of life-time reviews to be positive. In other words, assuming No Man's Sky doesn't receive a single negative review from this point forward, it'll need a total of 983,420 positive reviews - or 786,734 more than it has now. By which point the actual universe might be 16 minutes away from obliteration.Regardless, the shift to "Very Positive" is still an incredible achievement, and testament to the incredible work Hello Games has put into its space sim over the last eight years. No Man's Sky's most recent update released earlier this month, introducing cross-save support, PlayStation 5 Pro enhancements, and the return of Mass Effect's Normandy. It's the sixth major update this year, following on from October's spooky The Cursed (which, among other things, introduced flying saucer ships for players), while other 2024 additions have included fishing, refreshed space stations, and a massive world generation overhaul.Up next for Hello Games is its procedural planet adventure Light No Fire, which we've not had an update on since last year's reveal. Perhaps we'll finally see more during December's The Game Awards, but regardless, it sounds like No Man's Sky journey is far from over.

Baldur's Gate 3 getting new subclasses, cross-play, and more next yearPublic testing starts soon.Image credit: Larian Studios News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 27, 2024 Larian would like you to know it's still not done with Baldur's Gate 3. The studio has now revealed what's next for the multi-award-winning RPG, with cross-play, a photo mode, and 12 new subclasses all set to launch next year.As detailed over on Steam, Larian currently has "one more major patch" in the works for Baldur's Gate 3 - officially known as Patch 8 - and it's set to introduce "some of the most eagerly awaited features", starting with cross-play.Baldur's Gate 3 already supports cross-progression, of course, enabling players to pick up from where they left off regardless of the platform they move to. From next year, however, they'll also be able to team up with players from other platforms, seamlessly adventuring their way across western Faern with pals on PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, and PC.Baldur's Gate 3 for dummies.Watch on YouTube"Once the update is live," Larian explains, "you'll be able to invite your friends to join your cross-play lobby directly, regardless of platform and find available multiplayer lobbies with friends on other systems using the Larian Network."Patch 8 also introduces a new photo mode, featuring a "whole slew of options to let you customise and edit your in-game photography, with various levels of freedom depending on whether you're using it while adventuring, or during combat, dialogue, and cinematic scenes."Players can, for instance, turn on a camera reticle and composition grid at the press of a button, while lens settings include adjustments for field of view, exposure, depth of field, and focus. It's also possible to hide characters you don't want to appear in shot - whether they be players, party members, NPCs, or enemies - and Larian is also including facial expressions and over 40 static and animated poses (each with their own variations!) that can be applied to characters prior to taking a shot. And that's still not quite everything, with photo mode also featuring post-processing effects - including contrast, saturation, highlights, brightness, and vignette - plus a selection of stickers and frames to add those final flourishes.Perhaps the biggest additions in Patch 8, though, are those new subclasses, with Larian introducing one for each of Baldur's Gate 3's existing classes - meaning the Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard are all represented. The new subclass names are listed below, but you'll be wanting to read Larian's full post for some detailed descriptions on each.Bard - College of GlamourBarbarian - Path of GiantsCleric - Death DomainDruid - Circle of StarsPaladin - Oath of the CrownFighter - Arcane ArcherMonk - Drunken MasterRanger - SwarmkeeperRogue - SwashbucklerSorcerer - Shadow MagicWarlock - HexbladeWizard - BladesingingLarian says it'll be stress-testing Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 ahead of release in order to get player feedback. "The goal," it explains, "is to go beyond our internal testing and help us catch things before they can become an issue once a patch has been released." The stress test begins in "early January", and those wanting to get involved - it's open to players on Xbox and PlayStation, as well as PC - can register their interest beforehand, so expect further details soon.So that's a bunch of good news for Baldur's Gate 3 players following this week's good news for Larian - which reportedly posted a 249m (207m) pre-tax profit for 2023, in no small part thanks to the runaway success of its smash-hit RPG.