Having already swept up numerous accolades here in Aotearoa, including the 2024 Property Council Property Industry Awards Supreme Awardand a2023 Te Khui Whaihanga NZIA Local Awardfor architecture +, this latest commendation places the central Wellington office known as8 Willis Street or Stewart Dawsons Corner among an elite selection of buildings worldwide that showcase low-carbon sustainable design andperformance.We are thrilled to receive this international recognition for 8 Willis Street, says Peter Mence, CEO of Argosy Property Limited. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and all involved in the project, and to our commitment to creating sustainable, high-performance buildings that benefit both the environment and thecommunity.The building was originally built in the 1980s and underwent a deep retrofit by architecture + to ensure it met the latest seismic requirements while delivering a world-class workspace. By avoiding demolition and instead opting for adaptive reuse of the buildings structure, the project was able to substantially reduce its emissions, while embedding state-of-the-art electrification and efficiency, water conservation and rainwater storage, while creating a fantastic indoor environmental quality for its occupants. The completed building was awarded Wellingtons first6 Green Star Built rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) who nominated Argosy for the 2024 AP Leadership Award.We tend to say a 6 Green Star rating the highest rating possible indicates world leadership in green building. Argosy now has an impressive accolade to back that up. Being recognised next to some awe-inspiring projects throughout Asia Pacific is a triumph and will no doubt inspire future developments to reach for the stars, says Andrew Eagles, NZGBC chiefexecutive.Argosy was one of three finalists in the Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award Commercial Projects category, alongside major developments from China and Hong Kong, illustrating that with central government support, Aotearoa can have a role in the global effort to mitigate climatechange.Competing with some of these very large projects, including building a city from the ground up for one million people, reflects well on those involved in the project but also on the nation in general. While were a very small fish in a big pond, its exciting to see the work being done at Argosy is holding its own on the world stage, Peter Mencesays.8 Willis Streets innovative design incorporates a range of sustainable features, including reusing the old building structure, maintaining heritage features, advanced energy-efficient systems, rainwater harvesting, and extensive use of recycled and locally sourced materials. The building also offers a healthy and productive environment for its occupants, with abundant natural light, excellent air quality, and flexible workspaces designed to enhance well-being andproductivity.With 14 green-rated buildings already in its portfolio, Argosyscommitment to sustainability is apparent. The company is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices across all aspects of its operations with its sustainability goals and body of work in this area published on its website. The NZGBC nominated Argosy for its ongoing efforts to achieve Green Star and NABERSNZ ratings for its properties, as leaders in Aotearoa andfor Asia-Pacific, as one of our countrys largest commerciallandlords.AP LeadershipAwardsLeadership in Sustainable Design and Performance CommercialProjectsWinnerIntegral(China)Highlycommended8 Willis / Stewart Dawson Corner (NewZealand)AIRSIDE(HongKong)

Dropping the news on World Toilet Day (Tuesday, 19 November), the council said the money would fund a series of inclusive facilities that demonstrate high-quality design.The project is already on a roll more than half of the cash (6.5 million) has already been pumped into West End toilet upgrades, managed and coordinated by the council's infrastructure partner FM Conway. A further 6.2 million will follow in the next financial year.Loos at Victoria Embankment, Parliament Street, Piccadilly Circus and Green Park will be revamped between now and 2025, while Carnaby Street, Westminster Pier, Covent Garden and Leicester Square are gearing up to be flushed out and overhauled the following year.AdvertisementHugh Broughton Architects was commissioned for the project alongside toilet management company Healthmatic and the Contemporary Arts Society. The council said they were all chosen to assist in the complexities of working with ageing and listed infrastructure.It added that it wanted the revamped toilets to enshrine as much civic pride as the Victorians displayed when they first started looking at a proper sanitation system for the general public in the 19th century.The same material palette will be used throughout the modernised facilities, alongside playful patterned motifs designed by artist James Lambert to respond to each local area.The first project to open will be the toilets on Victoria Embankment, where Lamberts artwork has been inspired by the work of Joseph Bazalgette, the Victorian engineer who masterminded the construction of Londons sewers, and George John Vulliamy, the superintending architect to the Metropolitan Board of Works.The second site to be refurbished is one of Westminsters busiest public toilets, sitting beneath Parliament Street and linking via an underpass to Westminster underground station.AdvertisementThe third is in the Grade II-Listed underground station at Piccadilly Circus.Practice founder Hugh Broughton said: The project demonstrates Westminsters commitment to their public realm. It will create high-quality public conveniences in some of the most significant sites in central London.While our designs deliver consistency, James Lamberts engaging art will give each its own character, aligned to local context. The design will also reduce water use and ensure a low energy solution which matches Westminsters commitment to the environment.'Westminsters cabinet member for city management Paul Dimoldenberg added: Were delighted to have chosen James Lambert to not only beautify our public spaces but also to create a visual story that resonates with everyone who visits and lives in our city we hope the artwork, which will tell a story of Westminsters diversity and vibrancy, will capture the publics imagination.

Killingworth Towers in North Tyneside, a 750-flat housing estate plagued by problems, stood for just two decades before it was demolished in 1987. It was one of the shortest-lived post-war housing estates in the UK only outdone by James Stirlings Southgate Estate in Runcorn New Town, which lasted 12 years. The estate was designed by architect Roy Gazzard, and the towers faades featured an unusual textured panelised concrete. Alarge-format photograph hanging on the wall of Newcastles Farrell Centre catches your eye as you focus on what minimal detail there was within the estates architecture. As you step back, the true anonymity of these near identical blocks across the estate hits you. Theres a total lack of urban life in the image and it becomes clear why it didnt stand for long (aside from being a giant cold bridge) no one could find their way around it.Killingworth Towers in 1980 (courtesy of Amber Collective)On the floor next to this striking photograph is a quirky cast-iron manhole cover from the same estate. It has a map of the blocks embellished on top, each ironically named after a Northumberland castle, made before the towers were toppled to perhaps help residents navigate the area. Reclaimed during the estates demolition, it was sitting in someones garden until now.AdvertisementThese are both on display at Brasilia of the North, an evolving exhibition exploring the ideas, personalities and broader social, cultural and political climate that underpinned the desire to transform Newcastle into a shining, north European equivalent to the futuristic new Brazilian capital city then emerging. Today, it feels like a ridiculous comparison tomake.The exhibition is part of the Farrell Centres Concrete Dreams, an eight-month programme which features an immersive installation and a wide range of events at architectures new dedicated northern outpost. The series showcases how Tyneside was transformed in the latter half of the 20th century, as well as providing an open discussion on how one might reimagine the city of today.Exhibition room exploring Ryder and Yates 1969 Tyne Deck proposal (credit: Colin Davison)Concrete seemed an obvious topic, says the exhibitions curator, Owen Hopkins, who is also the centres director. As someone who doesnt visit Newcastle often, I associate the city less with concrete and more as a powerhouse of industrial heritage, the many bridges of the Tyne, and the home of Ralph Erskines notorious Byker Wall, a long, unbroken block of nearly 700 maisonettes built in Functionalist Romantic styling and based on participatory design a break from the Brutalist high-rise of the time.As such, the exhibition highlights some known architectural moments of the 1970s but mainly covers unknown yet fascinating aspects that play a part in the citys more recent built history.The exhibition starts in an ante-room featuring the original model of Trinity Square shopping centre and car park, designed in the 1960s for the heart of Gateshead by Owen Luder Partnership. Never that successful commercially, the car park is perhaps most famous for taking a lead role in the cult 1971 Michael Caine film GetCarter.AdvertisementNewcastle City Centre Planning Model, first built in 1963 and updated until 2010 (credit: Colin Davison)Going full circle, Hopkins reminds me that the new Trinity Square shopping centre built on the car parks former site, complete with a massive Tesco, was shortlisted for the Carbuncle Cup in 2014. The car parks original architect, Owen Luder, also happened to be a Carbuncle Cup judge that year, remarking: Whatever you thought of the car park, this project is much worse.Luders model is juxtaposed with a piece of concrete rubble salvaged during the car parks demolition and on loan from the Tyne Archives.Beyond this is a reproduction of Ryder and Yates large-scale model for the 1969 speculative proposal Tyne Deck, a megastructure over the Tyne. The proposal was for huge platforms, including a six-lane motorway, to be constructed across the river where the Gateshead Millennium Bridge now stands. It had emerged from a need to rethink the relationship between the post-industrial city and the Tyne.The analysis on which it was based was very sound, says Hopkins. It was a nuts project, he adds, but one that is crucial for understanding the rest of the exhibition and city context. It highlights the long-term, expansive thinking of many of Newcastles Modernist projects, rather than looking at the city in isolation.Display with items from the archive of FaulknerBrowns relating to its work on the Metro in the early 1980s (credit: Colin Davison)The rest of the exhibition is split into three rooms, with an additional space for a VR experience. The first room explores FaulknerBrowns Mies-inspired work on the Tyne & Wear Metro system in the early 1980s (perhaps the era's most transformative project for Newcastle); the second covers key housing estates across the city including Killingworth; and the third focuses on planning. The latter accommodates a large Newcastle City Council planning model, first created in 1963 and updated until 2010 as the city evolved. Made of timber with polystyrene additions, it is evident that many hands have created it, with some proposed additions never actually built.As a contested period in the citys history, it felt an impossible task to tell a single or linear narrative, explains Hopkins. The curatorial approach is deliberately a mish-mash of artefacts, photographs, models and books. Yet each has a particular individual story and one that adds to the overall story of Newcastles postwar history.The exhibition design also reflects this. Plinths are covered in a stretchy fabric skin printed with imagery, colour photography is chosen over black and white (as would be the case in most exhibitions on Brutalism), and all artefacts are laid out with no timeline tying them together rather a constellation of objects as Hopkins puts it, adding: Its arranged with loose connections but open to impressions and stories. And, suitably, object titles are spray-painted in a high-impact font, inspired by the graffiti with which Brutalism is associated by many.Artist impression of Kenton Bar Estate, 1966 (courtesy of Newcastle City Library Local Studies Collections)There are a few tropes of the era, however. Linear City, a theoretical studyby Napper Architects published in Northern Architect in July 1965, focused on distinct aspects of the urban and rural environments linked by a monorail. The visuals combine collage with original drawings, reminiscent of Archigram and, while they are highly whimsical, they do pre-empt several future developments such as the Metro system, the pedestrianisation of shopping and leisure areas, arterial routes and bypasses and the Kielder reservoir project.At a time when cities like Newcastle had an uncertain economic future, the concept stimulated ideas and raised aspirations for the future of the region particularly in terms of looking towards Europe.T Dan Smith (left) in Cruddas Park, west end of Newcastle, 1960s (courtesy of Amber Collective)The exhibition also covers controversies, as one would expect considering many Brutalist projects prompted protests at the time. One that is covered in depth is the fall from grace of Labour politician T Dan Smith also known as Mr Newcastle and The Voice of the North. A dominant figure in North East politics in the 60s and leader of Newcastle City Council for just five years, Smiths vision brought about many changes in the city. He was later imprisoned for corruption and, for a long time, everything he was associated with was tainted. The exhibit including footage and articles invites the visitor to decide for themselves: hero or villain?Virtual-reality set up for Alisons Room by artist and researcher Paula Strunden (credit: Colin Davison)Finally, artist and researcher Paula Strunden has created an immersive virtual reality experience of the study/office of one of the best-known figures in post-war British architecture, Alison Smithson, who studied at Newcastle University in the 1940s.The 1:1 scale installation combines the spatial experience of some of her and husband Peters influential designs instrumental in the development of Brutalism in the 50s with objects, furniture and even a talking cat. As you move through what is dubbed Alisons Room, you are invited to enter the imaginative space and explore key projects in the reimagining of British architecture. While I am usually sceptical about VR, this is unexpectedly incredible. Once you have the headset on, you are handed the cat to pet, and are transported into Alisons world. Its imaginative, escapist, educational and artistic.As a massive fan of Brutalism, I couldnt not enjoy this small exhibition. It invites you to relate to your own experience, whether you live in the city, or are just visiting, and it carefully balances architecture, history, politics, design and everything in-between.Brasilia of the North and the eight-month programme of events, Concrete Dreams, run until 1 June 2025 at the Farrell Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne. Alisons Room: An Extended Reality Archiverequires booking and runs until 20December 20242024-11-19Fran Williamscomment and share

Our Picks $136 at Amazon Best earplugs overall Minuendo adjustable earplugs View details $136 at Amazon View details $25 at Loop Best earplugs for the deep worker and sleeper Loop Quiet View details $25 at Loop View details $29 at Amazon Best earplugs for the recreational concert-goer Vibes Hi-Fidelity earplugs View details $29 at Amazon View details $20 at Decibullz Best earplugs for the heavy-duty listener Decibullz custom-molded earplugs View details $20 at Decibullz View details Table of Contents You may think that the noise you face on a daily basis isn't all that harmful, but constant exposure to loud noises can damage your hearing over time. If you constantly find yourself in loud environments, you might want to consider investing in a pair of earplugs. Most of us don't think about protecting our ears until signs of damage begin to appear. But it's easy to protect your ears if you start early, and getting a good pair of earplugs can help keep those loud sounds away from your inner ears. They also make great tech gifts. Watch this: First Impressions: Loop Dream Earplugs 01:17 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to extremely loud sounds (anything over 85 decibels) for a prolonged period of time can cause hearing loss, , even if it's a one-time thing. The CDC also says that the damage to the inner ear or auditory neural system is generally permanent. What that means is that you could potentially face some hearing loss from just one loud concert or football game. But it's not just those intensely loud sounds that harm our ear health. Even the noise pollution we interact with daily can harm your hearing. Scary, right?I tried out each earplug and wore them during my regular daily routine. I also took the earplugs to karaoke night to test them out in a loud environment.Read more:Hearing Loss Is More Common Than You Think: 5 Signs You Should Get TestedBest overall earplugs to protect your hearing in every settingFor loud concerts, noisy restaurants or deep work, I found the Minuendo Adjustable Lossless Earplugs, the most expensive on this list, to be the ideal earplug for all sorts of hearing protection. With the adjustable node on the side of each plug that reduces sound by from 7 decibels to 25 decibels, you can customize the level of sound protection to serve you in moderately loud to critically harmful-to-your-hearing environments.Best earplugs for hearing loss prevention $136 at Amazon $136 at Amazon These are the everything earplugs, with a customizable node that you can adjust for your desired level of noise reduction and they come with 11 sets of ear tips and a carrying case. They are also conveniently magnetic, which is a thoughtful touch that makes them easier to keep track of. The Minuendos were the most entertaining and environmentally versatile to use. You adjust the noise reduction node, which can reduce sound by 7 to 25 decibels, and hear the differences in sound reduction. While doing karaoke, these muffled the sound the best, out of all the earplugs I tried. Not everyone wants or needs $150+ earplugs. Avid concert-goers, musicians or anyone looking to invest in hearing protection would reap the benefits of the Minuendos, absolutely -- and that's who these plugs were designed for. But someone who wants an earplug they can wear in any situation, from loud restaurants and social gatherings to concerts and noisy transit would enjoy these plugs as well. And that's not even considering how great they were at reducing the background noise of my office and apartment -- the AC unit became inaudible once I put these on and turned them to the highest noise-reduction setting. Pros: Variety of earplug tips Most customizable sound Easy to insert Cons: Expensive Photo Gallery 1/1 $25 at Loop Best earplugs for the deep worker and sleeper Loop Quiet $25 at Loop As someone who lives on a busy New York street, it can be hard to focus deeply in my apartment without the constant interruptions of sirens or beeping cars or the occasional shouting passerby. The Loop Quiet earplugs are an affordable option that muffle sound and allow for deep, uninterrupted work or sleep to take place. The Loop Quiet earplugs reduce sound by up to 27 decibels while working, sleeping, traveling or attending events. While they aren't designated to serve super-noisy environments, the level of decibel protection surely provides a sound barrier that comes in handy in louder spaces, too. Alongside the Quiets, Loop also offers a colorful selection of affordable earplugs for concert-going, motorcycling, productivity, social gathering and parenting that screaming child of yours. The Loop Quiet earplugs were easy to install and fit snugly in my ears. I slept with the Quiets in and found it much easier to fall asleep when the sound of my loud AC unit was reduced by the plugs. While working in my busy office, the Quiets made surrounding conversation nearly difficult to understand, which allowed me to further focus on my work. It wasn't until I had tried these on that I realized how distracted I was by moderately audible office conversations around me. For their price, style and sound-muffling qualities, these are a top pick for getting work done, sleeping and subduing everyday noise, but they could also be used in louder settings if need be. Pros: Secure fit while sleeping and working Sleek design Variety of colors and styles Inexpensive Cons: Not intended for extremely loud environments Photo Gallery 1/1 $29 at Amazon Best earplugs for the recreational concert-goer Vibes Hi-Fidelity earplugs $29 at Amazon This is one unfussy earplug. It was the easiest to use and insert into my ear, and it properly dampened the sounds of the busy New York streets where I was walking and muffled the blaring sounds of karaoke songs.The Hi-Fidelity earplugs come with a carrying case and three different plug sizes. Of the four earplugs I tried, the Hi-Fidelity earplugs, which reduce sound by up to 15 decibels, reduce noise the least amount, but they are still an effective and affordable choice for attending loud events.These earplugs, according to Vibes' website, are primarily for listening to live music. Wearing these during karaoke, I thought that they reduced the harsh noise well without making everything difficult to hear or understand. Some earplugs, like the Minuendos, are so good at reducing noise it is hard to interpret the world around you, but the Hi-Fidelity Earplugs balance both ends of that spectrum. With their 15-decibel sound reduction, you could also use them in other moderately loud environments, like parties or restaurants.The Hi-Fidelity earplugs function as an inexpensive option for the occasional attendee of live events. Plus, they are simple to use and insert. Pros: Easiest to insert and removeLightweightSecure fitInexpensiveCons: Less sound protection than other earplugs Photo Gallery 1/1 $20 at Decibullz Best earplugs for the heavy-duty listener Decibullz custom-molded earplugs $20 at Decibullz You are going to have to put in some work to have the Decibullz Custom-Molded Earplugs work for you, but once they are fit to your ear, they reduce sound by up to 31 decibels, the highest level of sound reduction on this list. What made these difficult to install was their finicky nature as you are heating them in boiling hot water and then molding them to your ear shape. You have to remove earrings and piercings before putting the hot mold in your ear, because there is a risk the mold will stick to them. My mold wasn't hot enough the first time I tried to fit it to my ear; the second time that I heated the product, I had to exercise caution in fitting the hot plastic to my ear. After the mold is fitted to your ear, you are instructed to wait five minutes with it in. Putting a hot product that comes with multiple warnings near a sensitive part of your face can be distressing, especially considering there are other earplug options that will protect your hearing without the customizing fuss. The earplugs come with three sets of triple flange tips and one set of foam tips, a carrying pouch and thermoplastic custom molds, which you heat in boiling water and then mold to your ear for a tight fit. It can be a bit daunting to fit the product to your ear, but fortunately, if you don't get it right the first time you can remold it. It can be uncomfortable to put something that has been sitting in boiling water into your ear, then press on it to shape it properly. I ran into some trouble with that. While some of the other earplugs I reviewed were designed for concerts or moderately loud events, these are designed for the next level of loud environments, like shooting guns or construction work. For $26 you are getting stellar sound protection and a tailored-to-you earplug. But that's only if the product is properly molded to your ear. What I found when I was using these during karaoke was that they didn't work any better than the other earplugs I tried, even though they promised higher sound protection. Pros: Remoldable thermoplastic custom molds, in case you mess up molding to your ear the first timeHigh sound protectionVariety of tips with triple flange and foamInexpensive Cons: Molding hot plastic to the shape of your ear can be uncomfortableIf not molded correctly you don't get the benefits of enhanced sound protection Photo Gallery 1/1 How we tested the best earplugs for preventing hearing loss To test the earplugs, I wore them as I worked, slept and socialized throughout one week and considered the price, fit, comfort, quality of noise reduction and usability of each. I switched between the earplugs during my office work and while I was out at bars, walking around or on the subway. For earplugs that were designated to serve noisy environments, the Decibullz and the Vibes, I brought them to louder places, like karaoke and wore them on walks around my bustling block. For the Loop Quiet earplugs that were meant for reducing background noise, I worked and slept with them. For earplugs that could serve both environments, like the Minuendos, I wore them as often as I could. For more on how CNET tests the products and services it reviews, here is a full explanation.Fit and comfort: I wore these earplugs as I slept, worked, hung out and walked throughout the week to test their comfort.Noise reduction: To test how well these earplugs reduced noise, I would switch between different earplugs in the same environment to compare their noise reduction properties to one another.Usability: I considered the styles and accessories such as carrying cases and variety of tips that the earplugs came with, and how likely I would be to use them in my everyday life. Show more Factors to consider when choosing earplugs for hearing loss prevention When purchasing an earplug for hearing loss prevention, consider the level of decibel protection it will provide. A higher number of decibel protection can take the dangers of loud arenas down a couple of notches. The earplugs I tried offered anywhere from 15 to 31 decibels of protection. Another essential factor to consider is the question, "will you actually wear these?" That all comes down to the style and fit of the earplug. Consider how comfortable it is to have the earplug in your ear, would you be fine wearing it for an hour? Three hours?As I spent time with these earplugs, I began to recognize the various purposes for which someone would use this product. I don't go to concerts as often as I do work in a noisy apartment, so an earplug that muffles the noise in my apartment suits me better than one that reduces the level of sound by 30 decibels. But a musician or someone who attends a live music event every week will demand more sound protection.Read more: What Musicians Can Teach Us About Noise and Hearing Loss Show more The importance of protecting your hearing We live in an incredibly noisy world and it can be nearly impossible to avoid the cacophony and protect our ears. Luckily, you don't have to. That's where earplugs come in.Wearing earplugs in loud spaces like at concerts (being in the front row at a rock concert produces 140 decibels of noise, according toUniversity of Iowa Health Care's website), at noisy restaurants (around 60 to 80 decibels), while using heavy machinery (around 110 decibels) or riding the subway (around 90 decibels) can not only prevent hearing loss but also tinnitus.I should add that, before I wrote this article I was not an avid earplug user. But as I worked, walked around and traveled with these earplugs in, I quickly became converted to an earplugs-for-everything advocate. They helped me focus more on my work with less distractions. They made the commute on the subway nearly silent.We've compiled a list of earplugs that will dampen the noisiest concerts and loudest subway rides, but also provide clarity as you work and move, because you shouldn't only care about your hearing health in particularly blaring situations.For more on hearing tips, here are10 tips to lower your risk of hearing lossandfive ways to take care of your hearing aids. Show more Best earplugs to protect your hearing FAQs What are the best earplugs to block out noise? The Minuendo adjustable lossless earplugs were the best I tested for a variety of noise environments, from blocking out background noise to reducing harsh sound in extremely loud spaces. Show more

Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands and Connections puzzles.TheNew York Times Crossword Puzzleis legendary. But if you don't have that much time, theMini Crosswordis an entertaining substitute. The Mini Crossword is much easier than the old-school NYT Crossword, and you probably can complete it in a couple of minutes. But if you're stuck, we've got the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. Completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Nov. 19, 2024. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers1A clue: __ Pilkey, children's author who created Captain Underpants and Dog ManAnswer: DAV4A clue: Person who prefers to keep to themselvesAnswer: LONER6A clue: Boiling with rageAnswer: ANGRY7A clue: Protrude, like a bodybuilder's musclesAnswer: BULGE8A clue: Casual topAnswer: TEEMini down clues and answers1D clue: ___ holes (treats that are actually balls, not "holes")Answer: DONUT2D clue: Geometry class measurementAnswer: ANGLE3D clue: On the ___ of tearsAnswer: VERGE4D clue: Lecture's counterpart, in college science coursesAnswer: LAB5D clue: Bread that might be marbledAnswer: RYEHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is not only the game with the weirdest semicolon placement in the industry, it also feels like one of the most-patched current-generation titles, after launching with a host of issues on PC and consoles alike. Jedi: Survivor recently received a PS5 Pro patch too, granting owners of the premium Sony console the potential for enhanced visuals and improved performance, but sadly only one of those objectives has been met here.Starting with the basics, the PS5 Pro version of the game comes with two revised modes, a performance mode and a quality mode. It's the performance mode that is more interesting, as it features the return of ray tracing features. You may remember that the game actually launched with RT effects in both modes on PS5, but this was subsequently removed in the performance mode to improve image quality while hitting the 60fps target more consistently. The new PS5 Pro performance mode brings those RT effects back, including RT reflections, RTGI (global illumination) and RTAO (ambient occlusion). Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie discuss the Jedi: Survivor situation on PS5 Pro in this video companion to the article. Watch on YouTubeUnfortunately, the quality of these effects can be limited versus the game running on the base PS5 in quality mode. For example, reflections lack some geometry and even lighting in some parts of the first level, though later levels do show more similar outcomes. The RTGI and RTAO here are also quite subtle, to the point that we couldn't confirm that RTAO was even present in the game until it was specifically mentioned in an EA blog post accompanying the PS5 Pro patch. Still, the RT can improve the look of many scenes, and it's nice to see it in a 60fps-targeting mode. The other key change here is the addition of PSSR upscaling, which promises better image quality than the FSR 2 used previously. Unfortunately, this promise is far from realised, with an extremely unstable resolve that looks dramatically worse than the PS5's performance mode - you can see a kind of shimmering or pulsing constantly as artefacts appear and disappear across the screen. This is particularly prominent on natural environments with foliage, which flip from dark to light and back again with distracting regularity. Artificial environments, like city streets, do fare better, but there's still more aliasing, breakup and temporal instability than on the PS5 performance mode. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. One upshot to the PS5 Pro patch is that the game does run at a clean 60fps in almost all situations, including the famous Koboh run that almost always dropped frames before. The one exception we found is a particular river with prominent RT reflections that drops frames and causes a small amount of screen tearing, but frame-rate overall is slightly improved versus the performance mode on the base PS5, so we can call this a small victory. The other potential upside is that the game can look a little more detailed in still shots. EA claims the PS5 Pro version is upscaling to a higher resolution, specifically quoting a 1200p internal resolution and 1800p output on PS5 Pro, versus circa 1080p upscaled to 1440p on the old patch. Our pixel counts suggest a much lower internal figure though, circa 900p on average and ranging from sub-720p to just above 1080p, not much higher than the base PS5,per the table below. Without any huge boost to internal resolution versus base PS5 and the worse temporal instability, the PS5 Pro experience is now objectively worse than what preceded it, despite the performance improvements and the inclusion of RT. Pixel CountsShot 1Shot 2Shot 3Shot 4PS5 Performance900p1008p648p1008pPS5 Pro Performance900p1224p648p1008p The performance mode on PS5 Pro now sports RT reflections, though geometry and lighting in those reflections can be limited versus the quality mode on the base PS5. | Image credit: Digital FoundryThat brings us to the 30fps quality mode, which is thankfully a little more straightforward. There's more detail in terms of RT reflections and RT GI here compared to the performance mode, though lighting pop-in is more noticeable and sometimes when switching between modes, the RT global illumination fails to load in correctly and surfaces appear completely black. Otherwise, the same PSSR grain issues persist in the quality mode, albeit to a lesser extent thanks to this mode's higher internal resolution, and the image looks a little softer overall than the 4K resolve in the quality mode on the base PS5. That's despite a slightly higher internal resolution in most of the shots we tested, and speaks to the issues that PSSR is experiencing at present. Performance is at least nigh-perfect, with a locked 30fps throughout everywhere except for the RT river run, which has one-off frame drops. Previously, this area dropped to 11fps (!!) at worst on the base PS5 Pro in quality mode, so this is an improvement at least. Pixel CountsShot 1Shot 2Shot 3PS5 Quality1728p1440p1008pPS5 Pro Quality1728p1584p1296p It is possible for the lighting to break when switching to the quality mode, eg the black holes below the grass and the missing lighting inside the ship shown here. | Image credit: Digital FoundryGiven that there's a PC version of Jedi: Survivor, it made sense for us to test the game's PSSR implementation versus DLSS. Using the PC's high settings with RT enabled and DLSS performance mode at a matching 1800p resolution, we saw Nvidia's upscaling solution provide significantly better image in terms of stability and resolve, with no obvious flickering in many areas and none of the characteric PSSR grain. The DLSS implementation isn't faultless, and some pulsing of foliage is visible, but the overall outlook is much less jarring to behold and apparant detail is higher almost across the board. Given these results, it seems clear that Jedi: Survivor and PSSR each require further fine-tuning - and it's a bit surprising that the PS5 Pro patch was released with such obvious visual anomalies. It would be nice to see the option to opt for the earlier PS5 modes while these rough edges are being smoothed over in the new PS5 Pro modes, though this doesn't seem likely despite fan requests. In the short term, if the PSSR issues we've also seen in Alan Wake 2 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard when running on low internal resolutions can't be solved, then returning to FSR 2 might be the best option if PSSR improvements are still far away. Alternatively, perhaps RT could be removed once again in exchange for slightly higher internal resolutions. For the moment, we can't recommend playing Jedi Survivor on PS5 Pro in performance mode. The distracting PSSR grain is just too much of a visual sacrifice, despite the mode's excellent 60fps lock and better RT effects. The quality mode does fare better and might be worth a go, offering a higher resolution than the quality mode running on base PS5 with a near-perfect 30fps, but suffers from the same PSSR issues - albeit to a lesser extent. It's an altogether disappointing release at present, and definitely not one that matches expectations for new owners of a $700 do-anything premium console. But there is hope the situation will be addressed: after the video embedded above was published, Respawn says that it is aware of the issues and is investigating them.

PlayStation in talks to buy Elden Ring, Dark Souls developer FromSoftwareVia purchase of parent company Kadokawa. News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Nov. 19, 2024 PlayStation maker Sony is currently in talks to acquire FromSoftware, the developer behind Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne, as part of a buyout of its owner, the Japanese publishing giant Kadokawa.That's according to a Reuters report which claims a deal could be signed in weeks, via sources with knowledge of discussions between the two companies. Both Sony and Kadokawa declined to comment on that report.Launched in 2022, Elden Ring has now sold more than 25m copies worldwide.Sony already owns a 14 percent stake in FromSoftware, and already has ownership of both the Bloodborne and Demon Souls franchises. FromSoftware, meanwhile, owns the rights to Elden Ring and Sekiro. This deal would see all of that sat firmly under PlayStation's roof.Kadokawa owns various other studios, too. These include Octopath Traveler and Tenchu developer Acquire, which recently developed Mario & Luigi: Brothership for Nintendo Switch, Shiren the Wanderer studio Spike Chunsoft and RPG Maker developer Gotcha Gotcha Games.Outside of video games, Kadokawa is also a huge name in anime and manga, and would be a significant addition to Sony's existing portfolio that includes Crunchyroll and Funimation. PlayStation's other recent purchases include UK studio Firesprite, plus Housemarque and Nixxes, all in 2021. Most recently, Sony bought the Jade Raymond-founded startup Haven Studios in 2022, currently working on Fairgame$.More to follow.

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 hereArrowhead Studios has expressed an interest in adding crossover IPs to Helldivers 2, as long as they dont dilute the studios own game. This means that players could rock outfits or weapons from Warhammer, Halo and other sci-fi series, as long as it makes sense for the developers.In an interview with Korean outlet Inven, Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani revealed that crossovers are being planned at the studio. However, theres still no concrete details on what crossovers the studio is actually working on.Helldivers 2 crossoversSpeaking to Inven, Jorjani explained that the studio is planning crossovers, but Arrowhead doesnt want to oversaturate the game and turn it into a blend of other franchises.We are also planning crossovers (collaborations) with other IPs, Jorjani said. We dont want to do too many crossovers, but we are considering appropriate collaborations that fit the games atmosphere. For example, collaborating with Power Rangers would be difficult in terms of concept, but maybe we could do something like Black Ranger?Arrowhead has not announced any concrete plans for crossovers, but the studio has discussed a few cool ideas for the game. In the interview, the Helldivers 2 devs cited Warhammer and Starcraft as neat possible crossovers, but CCO Johan Pilestedt made sure to note that nothing has been decided yet.Alien seems like a pretty good theme. What do you think? What would be good? asked CEO Shams Jorjani. Bringing in the Zerg from Starcraft would be good, and bringing in Terran Marine weapons would be good too. Something like a Gauss rifle.No matter what gets added, the team is very keen to make sure that every crossover added in future updates fits the game. While crossovers are always cool, series like Call of Duty have ended up destroying their own aesthetic with skins from series like The Boys and even Nicki Minaj.I think we need to be very careful and cautious when applying any skin or cosmetic, Jorjani said. For example, even if I like a certain skin, I dont want it to ruin the game experience of my teammates. I think the whole process has to be done carefully.For more Helldivers 2 content, read about the long-awaited arrival of vehicles in a new update or the scrapped Super Earth city environments found within the game files.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe 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 hereArrowhead has a lot of exciting plans for the future of Helldivers 2. The Democracy Space Station has just been activated, the Illuminate are still inbound, and there has been a lot of content unearthed through datamines. While not all datamined content will become reality, Arrowhead has claimed in a new interview that vehicles will be added soon in Helldivers 2.While we are past the 60-day roadmap of massive buffs, Arrowhead has revealed their intentions for the near future. They are working on improvements for the DSS following poor response from players, meanwhile, they are also looking to fix excessive ragdolling while also revamping the jet pack.As for leaks, datamines have uncovered a mysterious new weapon, and other leaks have revealed old Dune weapons and armor possibly reserved for a Premium Warbond. Vehicles were leaked earlier this year, and now Arrowhead has said they will be added soon for Helldivers 2 fans to enjoy.Vehicles will be added soon to Helldivers 2Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani and Helldivers 2 creative director, Johan Pilestedt, recently spoke at Korean gaming conference, G-Star. The interview is posted on Korean outlet, Inven, and it has thankfully been translated on Reddit by user Creepy_Ad3991.During the conference, they were asked if they could talk about wheeled vehicles, armored vehicles, or reconnaissance vehicles.Both Jorjani and Pilestedt initially responded in jest with Pilestedt joking Super Earth is conducting various experiments to improve the mobility of Helldivers. Jorjani also joked Vehicles are too expensive. Super Earth is sensitive to the economics of the battlefield and doubts the driving skills of Helldivers.After also jesting about whether or not Helldivers are old enough to drive, Pilestedt added On a more serious note, vehicle updates are in the plans. It will be added soon, but I dont think I can go into more detail than that.It is a translated interview, so there may be some inaccuracies with specific wording, but the above is good news to hear. Granted, soon is a very loose phrase that has no specific ETA, but at least we know vehicles are officially planned for a future update.There were gameplay leaks of vehicles earlier in the year. Footage still exists on X from Mr_Rebs_, but other gameplay footage has been removed. Either way, vehicles were leaked, and they are officially on the way albeit with no specific release window.For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to thebest warbonds ranked, along with thebest stratagemsandbest throwables. We also have a guide to thebest weapons, and, if youre coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch oftips and tricksto help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

We designed the building two times, Ken Lewis, partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the firm responsible for One World Trade Centers design, explains to me. Lewis, who was the project manager for the new building, worked with design partner David Childs, and managing partner TJ Gottesdiener, to complete the herculean task. The NYPD feared that our first design was too close to the highway and would be built with too much glass, leaving occupants more exposed than necessary. The first design, according to Lewis, was done hand in glove with Daniel Libeskind, the Polish American architect responsible for the master plan to develop the 16 acres destroyed in the tragedy. Yet after the initial plans were scraped, SOM had to take a slightly different path in filing the void of New York's skyline. It was agreed upon that three elements would play a vital role in One World Trade Centers design. First was the need to replace the symbolic hole in our skyline that was made with the loss of the Twin Towers, and the 10 million square feet they occupied, Lewis says. Second was configuring ways in which multiple companiesfrom media organizations to financial firmscould seamlessly occupy floors within the building."The stainless steel corners of the new tower glow at dawn and dusk, just as the old Twin Towers did," Lewis explains.Photo: Getty ImagesThe third requirement was arguably the least obvious, yet most metaphorical. Our focus, which was led by David Childs, was to lean into specific memory elements of the old Twin Towers. Childs and company accomplished this by sculpting the structure into a platonic solidin other words, a square at the top and bottom, but with 45-degree lines that connected to make an eight-sided figure. Due in large part to its proximity to the harbor, Lower Manhattan has a particular quality of light thats different from the rest of the city, Lewis explains. And the best way to reflect that [light] is through an antiprism composed of a series of alternately oriented triangles.Whats more, SOM pushed for a specific (and expensive) type of thick glass throughout the building that was uninterrupted for the span of an entire floor. (Each individual glass window unit is 13 feet 4 inches tall.) This is one reason why, when viewing One World Trade Center from a relatively close distance, it becomes an event; a solid surface transferring an ethereal moment of clouds moving, shaping, and disappearing. And if viewed from a distance, the stainless steel corners of the new tower glow at dawn and dusk, just as the old Twin Towers did. What we didnt anticipate, however, was how on certain days, an entire glassed triangle, from the top of the building to its bottom, just lights up.And while the building with its spire is ceremoniously 1,176 feet tall (as Libeskind initially ideated), the top features a prominent band of stainless steel which, at its bottom measures 1,362 and 1,368 at its top; the exact heights of the former Twin Towers.Photo: Getty Images/Philippe TurpinArchitecture isnt just steel, cement, and glass being erected, and then we move on to something else, Libeskind explains to me from his studio office, mere blocks away from One World Trade Center. Architecture is the atmosphere, the story being communicated to the viewer directly through light, proportions, and materials. In designing the master site plan, Libeksinds fingerprint would be on nearly every part of the World Trade Centers 16-acre plot, a tall order that required deep consideration. For any architect, optimism isnt an attitude, its a requirement. To build a strong foundation, to build something where people will inhabit, to build for something thats still to come in an unknown tomorrow, architects must maintain an optimism.A view of one of the two memorial pools at dusk.Photo: Getty Images/Siegfried LaydaLibeskind exuded this sense of hope into the master plan by tapping into our collective memory since, as he puts it, the future is always tethered to whats come before. He pushed to leave voidsin the form of a memorial later designed by Michael Aradof where the original Twin Towers once stood.