Jaguars bizarre rebranding continues with the Type 00 concept electric carJaguars bizarre rebranding continues with the Type 00 concept electric car / The new face of Jaguar is very long, and very Miami Pink or London Blue if you prefer.By Richard Lawler, a senior editor following news across tech, culture, policy, and entertainment. He joined The Verge in 2021 after several years covering news at Engadget. Dec 3, 2024, 2:44 AM UTCShare this storyJaguars new ethos is copy nothing, and the first concept car of its new era is trying to deliver.The leaks earlier were accurate, with the Type 00 two-door coupe presenting a long hood that leads to a low roof and fastback rear profile that foregoes any rear window. Jaguar chief creative officer Gerry McGovern said in a presentation that when Jaguar was at its best, it threw away the design rulebook and created E-Type and the XJS...objects of desire. This car is supposed to be another step in that direction.1/111/11RelatedJaguar is now JaGUarThere are plenty of details, like its 23-inch wheels, oval steering wheel, three brass bars running through the cabin, butterfly doors, and a stone plinth separating the seats. We also cant miss the Lincoln Nautilus-like thin display along the inside of its windshield that remains when the main interior screens fold away and out of sight. Theyre all here as a design preview for the first new-generation production Jaguar on the way, an electric four-door GT that will be presented late next year.Jaguar is projecting up to 430 miles of range and fast charging that can add up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes for the real car. But for now, all we have to see is the sleek concept vehicle, presented in Miami Pink and London Blue at Miami Art Week, and a very standard-looking invitation to sign up for more information.Most PopularMost Popular

Combing through the deluge of ongoing Cyber Monday deals can be a daunting task, but the most affordable end of the spectrum is always a good place to start. In fact, there are still plenty of discounts available on budget-friendly gadgets and goodies, many of which are under $30. Youre not just getting junk, either.If you know where to look, its not hard to find something useful for your arsenal. Right now, for example, you can get a great smart speaker in the fifth-gen Echo Dot, pick up a fun game like Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or even level up your home security with cameras like the Blink Video Doorbell or Ring Indoor Cam. Many of the deals make for great stocking stuffers, too, or serve as an easy way for you to engage in some retail therapy without the heavy monetary commitment.Either way, here are the best Cyber Monday deals under $30. If youre looking for more bargains for holiday gifting or other purposes, be sure to check out our favorite holiday gifts for under $50 and under $25.RelatedFeatured dealsHulu (monthly subscription)$1$1090% off$1$1$1090% offUntil December 2nd at 11:59PM PT, youcan get a year of ad-supported Hulufor 99 cents a month or $11.88 for the year. You can also get a Hulu with Disney Plus bundle for $2.99 a month for the next year.$1 at Hulu (with ads) $3 at Hulu and Disney Plus (with ads)ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger$22$4045% off$22$22$4045% offA compact, flexible Qi2 charger for vent and dash mounting. Read our review.$22 at Amazon$25 at ESR (with code BF24CM)Elden Ring$20$5060% off$20$20$5060% offElden Ring, the latest FromSoftware title, takes theDark Soulsformula to a vast open world. Read our review.$20 at GameStopAmazon Echo Dot (fifth-gen)$23$5054% off$23$23$5054% offThe fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.Hoto 3.6V Electric Screwdriver Kit$30$7057% off$30$30$7057% offHotos electric screwdriver is perfect for making small- to medium-sized repairs around the house. In addition to a USB-C port, the screwdriver comes with a magnetic case and 25 steel bits.LEGO Icons Plum Blossom $24$3020% off$24$24$3020% offLegos 327-piece Plum Blossom set is a fun way to add faux flora to your home. The set depicts a plum branch emerging from a blue-and-gold flowerpot on a wooden stand all made from Lego, of course.TheLegend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom$30$7057% off$30$30$7057% offTears of the Kingdom is the latest installment in the Zelda franchise. The storyline and gameplay are similar to Breath of the Wilds, but enough has changed to make Links return to Hyrule plenty special. Read our review.Streaming dealsAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)$22$5056% off$22$22$5056% offThe latest version of Amazons zippy Fire TV Stick 4K streams in 4K resolution, as its name suggests, and features support for Wi-Fi 6, Dolby Atmos / Vision, and HDR10 Plus.Max (with ads, per month)$3$1070% off$3$3$1070% offMax is home toGame of Thronesand its spinoff,House of the Dragon,as well as shows and movies likeFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy,The Last of Us,The Penguin, and more. As a part of its Black Friday / Cyber Monday promotion, Max is letting new and returning subscribers sign up for its monthly, ad-supported tier for just $2.99 for the first six months.$3 at Max$3$3$1377% offParamount Plus and Showtime grant you ad-free access to live sports as well as movies and shows from both platforms, includingStar Trek,Top Gun: Maverick,Yellowjackets. Until December 4th, wew and returning subscribers can sign up for the ad-free Paramount Plus with Showtime plan for $2.99 a month for two months.$3 at Paramount PlusNow until 3AM ET on December 2nd, you can get an entire year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $19.99 ($60 off) or six months for $1.99 a month ($36 off overall). The streaming service is great for sports fans, featuring live broadcasts for NFL Sunday Night Football games, college basketball, Premier League soccer, WWE premium live events, golf, and more. It features scores of other programming, too, including on-demand movies and original shows.Smart home dealsEcho Pop$18$4055% off$18$18$4055% offAmazons colorful Echo Pop offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function asan Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.Eve Energy Smart Plug (Matter)$30$4025% off$30$30$4025% offNot only does this smart plug offer the most detailed energy monitoring of any we tested, but it also works with Matter over Thread. Its an especially good choice for Apple Home and SmartThings users, as it now offers energy monitoring on those platforms, through the Eve app and SmartThings app, respectively.$30 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)Kasa smart plug HS103 (four-pack) $20$3033% off$20$20$3033% offKasas smart plugs are a solid, inexpensive option that can monitor your energy usage and are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.$20 at AmazonYou can get a three-pack of Tapo Smart Plug Minis (P125M) for $18.99 ($31 off) at Amazon and $23 at B&H Photo and Newegg. Theyre sleek and attractive, and because they support Matter, theyll work across smart home ecosystems, whether youre using Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings.The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug (TP25) has dropped to an all-time low of $14.99 ($50 off) at Best Buy. Youll get two outlets in the Matter-ready device, and you can control them with your voice using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. The plug also features a strong enclosure with IP65 water and dust protection, making it suitable for powering holiday lights and yard-bound installations all year long.Amazon Smart Plug$13$2548% off$13$13$2548% offAmazons apt-titled Smart Plug doesnt require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, allowing you to control a range of devices with just your voice.$13 at Amazon$13 at Best BuyBlink Video Doorbell$30$6050% off$30$30$6050% offBlinks buzzer is the best if youre looking for a budget-friendly option with motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. SwitchBot Smart Switch Button Pusher $20$2931% off$20$20$2931% offIf youve ever wished you had a robot that could push a button for you, thats precisely what Switchbots Smart Switch does. It's simple, smart, and works on anything with a button; stick it on the device you want to turn on or off, and youre set. $20 at AmazonYou can get a Blink Mini 2 security camera for $19.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The inexpensive 1080p camera builds on the original with a wider field of view, a small spotlight, and person detection (the latter of which requires a subscription). It also has color night vision, improved low-light performance, and weatherproofing for outside use with an optional adapter. Cloud recording also requires a subscription, but if you want offline and local video recordings, youll need the optional Sync Module 2. Read our review.The second-genRing Indoor CamAmazonand Best Buy for $29.99 ($30 off), which matches its best price to date. Unlike its predecessor, the indoor security camera features color night vision and a physical privacy cover, allowing you to turn off video and audio recording. The wired camera is similar to its predecessor otherwise, though, and features sharp 1080p HD resolution, a built-in siren, and two-way audio.Charger and mobile accessory dealsAnker MagGo Qi2 Certified 15W Wireless Charger$19$2421% off$19$19$2421% offThe latest version of Ankers magnetic MagGo charging pads supports 15W Qi2 and has a five-foot USB-C cable.The iOttie iTap 3, which holds MagSafe-ready iPhones or any smartphone with a compatible magnetic case, is on sale for around $18.95 ($11 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and iOtties online storefront. It adheres to your windshield using an adhesive-topped suction cup, and theres also a handy telescopic arm with a ball joint that lets you dial in the most comfortable positioning for your smartphone.Belkins BoostCharge Dual Wall Charger 42W has dropped to a new low of $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. It has one USB-C and one USB-A port for simultaneous charging and folding prongs that make it easier to slip into a bag or pocket while traveling. Its USB-C Power Delivery port meets the fast charging speeds of most smartphones, but you can also use it to charge tablets and laptops at a respectable rate.If youre not ready to pony up for a Qi2 charger, Ugreens Magnetic Wireless Charging Station has fallen to an all-time low of $23.99 ($16 off) at Amazon. Unlike the newer Qi2 offerings that provide 15W charging speeds, Ugreens charger can only supply 7.5W of power to MagSafe-compatible devices, or 5W to a pair of wireless earbuds or any Qi-ready device if youre using the integrated charging stand located on the bottom.The2024Tile Mateis available for an all-time low of $19.98 ($5 off) from Amazonand Tile. Whether youre team Android or iPhone, the Bluetooth tracker will help you locate items its attached to when youre within 350 feet. You can also double-tap a button to locate your phone, or with a $14.99-a-month Life360 Gold subscription, discretely send SOS alerts to contacts or hail emergency services.2024Tile Pro$28$3520% off$28$28$3520% offThe latest Tile Pro is the companys most capable Bluetooth tracker and has an even wider range than its predecessor at 500 feet along with a user-replaceable battery, unlike other Tiles. Like the 2024 Tile Mate, however, its platform-agnostic and can also send SOS alertsif you pay for the $14.99 monthly Life360 Gold subscription.Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet$24$3020% off$24$24$3020% offMofts phone stand and wallet sticks to the back of your phone, either by MagSafe or adhesive, and fits three of your most precious ID or payment cards.$24 at AmazonNow through December 2nd, Moft is taking up to $60 off a variety of cases, stands, and other accessories. The ongoing promo includes MoftsInvisible Phone Stand and Wallet, which is capable of holding up to three cards and was our favorite adhesive phone grip in 2022. To get the $60 discount, youll have to order over $200 and apply the code BF60. However, you can also spend much less and still save, with Moft offering $10 off if you spend over $50 (with code BF10); $20 off if you spend more than $100 (using code BF20); and $37 off if you spend over $150 (with code BF37).If you want a basic Qi2 charging puck, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad) is our favorite on the market. Its currently on sale at Amazon for Prime members without an AC adapter for an all-time low of $19.19 (about $5 off) a price Anker is nearly matching with offer code WSPEV2OTG3CH. Prime members can also buy the charger with anadapter for $23.99 ($6 off). The magnetic charging pad supplies a maximum of 15 watts of power to compatible iPhones and comes with a five-foot USB-C cable.Epicka universal travel adapter $20$2520% off$20$20$2520% offEpickas universal travel adapter is an all-in-one adapter that includes four different plugs that cover over 150 countries.$20 at AmazonIf youre trying to consolidate your charging gear as much as possible, Ankers 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C cable is a worthy remedy on the cable end, one thats on sale for $19.99 ($6 off) at Amazon. You can charge one device up to its maximum 140W supported speed or split the load to two devices simultaneously. The braided cable stretches four feet, with the split end adjustable up to one foot.PopSockets Cyber Monday sale takes up to 50 percent off several accessories, including its MagSafe PopWallet Plus, which can be had for as low as $28 ($12 off), depending on the color. You can also get a MagSafe PopGrip starting at just $15.You can get Belkins Secure Holder which is essentially an AirTag lanyard with a lockable cable starting at just $13.99 ($5 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which matches its all-time low. Its a little more secure than other holders that use keyring loops, as its not easily cut and requires an Allen key to install or remove.Anker 321 Power Strip$14$2646% off$14$14$2646% offThis all-in-one 20W power cube boasts three AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port.$14 at AmazonEufys new SmartTrack Card E30is on sale for $23.99 ($11 off) at Amazon and directly from Eufy (with promo code WS24T87B1). Unlike its predecessor, the Eufy Security SmartTrack Card, Eufys latest tracker is rechargeable and should last you up to a year before you need to charge it again. It also sports a slim design which makes it ideal for a wallet and compatibility with Apples vast Find My network. If youre really tight on cash, the last-gen Eufy Security SmartTrack Card is also on sale for $16.88 ($14 off) at Amazon, which is nearly its best price to date. Just bear in mind it doesnt have a replaceable battery, though the one it does should last for up to three years.Earbud dealsJLab Go Air Pop$20$3543% off$20$20$3543% offThe JLab Go Air Pop is an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug, so youre never without a charging cable.$20 at AmazonKZ ES4 earbuds$17$2119% off$17$17$2119% offThe wired KZ ES4 is a pair of inexpensive but high-quality earbuds with a funky design. Theyre designed to hook around the back of your ear, which helps keep the weight of the removable cable from yanking them out.$17 at AmazonYou can also buy Amazons newer Echo Buds for just $24.99 ($25 off) at Amazon. The wireless earbuds lack noise cancellation, but they support multipoint pairing and integrate well with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. They also feature a semi-open design that makes it easier to hear your surroundings. Gaming dealsFinal Fantasy XVI$25$5050% off$25$25$5050% offThe latest mainline Final Fantasy game is a bombastic rollercoaster of an RPG infused with a dose of Game of Thrones medieval intrigue and gritty violence. Its also quite the cinematic spectacle of the PS5s graphical prowess. Read our review.$25 at Best BuyOctopath Traveler II $25$6058% off$25$25$6058% offOctopath Traveler II is the latest game in the roleplaying video game series Octopath Traveler, where you play one of eight travelers exploring land.$25 at Best BuyPowerA Enhanced Wired Controller$23$3839% off$23$23$3839% offThe PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller is a good budget-friendly alternative to the Switch Pro Controller. It features remappable back buttons as well as Bluetooth connectivity and comes in a variety of designs and colorways. $23 at Best Buy$30 at AmazonThe PlayStation 5 version of Gran Turismo 7 has dropped to $29.99 ($40 off) at Best Buy and Target, which is its lowest price to date. The sim racer has elegance and reverential regard for racing culture. It features hundreds of cars that you can deeply customize with fully tunable vehicles and unique liveries. You can also race in virtual reality with a PlayStation VR2 headset. Read our review.If you enjoyed HBOs fantastic adaptation of The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part I is on sale for the PlayStation 5 at Best Buy and GameStop for $29.99 ($40 off), an all-time low. Its a remarkable remake of the classic title from 2013, with faster load times, better visuals, and other welcome tweaks. Read our review.If youre a fan of fighting games, Tekken 8 on PlayStation 5 is available for its lowest price to date of $29.99 ($20 off) at Walmart. The latest installment in the long-running fighting franchise has 32 characters, including mainstays like Nina Williams and King. In addition to classic arcade modes and multiplayer, theres a new Arcade Quest mode thats slightly meta: you build a custom avatar and try to become the champ at actual, in-game arcades.Board game dealsCatan$25$5555% off$25$25$5555% offIn the iconic board game classic Catan, players strategically compete and trade for resources.$25 at Walmart$39 at AmazonSplendor$13$4068% off$13$13$4068% offA strategy card game in which players compete to build Renaissance Europes most lucrative and prestigious jewelry business.$13 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)$20 at TargetAzul, a four-player puzzle game that challenges you to tile mosaics in a palace, is down to $13.33 (68 percent off) at Amazon with a coupon, which is an all-time low. Its easy to learn and suitable for ages eight and older, but it has just the right amount of depth and competitiveness to keep family and friends coming back for more.Ticket to Ride is another classic board game down thats starting at $25.49 (about $30 off) at Target. Thats one of the better prices lately on a cutthroat card game, which challenges you to build the longest locomotive route across America before your other tycoon opponents.Other miscellaneous dealsAeroPress Original Coffee Maker$30$4025% off$30$30$4025% offThe AeroPress has made a name among enthusiasts for its great brewing ability and extreme portability. Its simple, hands-on operation can make your morning coffee ritual more fun and engaging than a traditional drip-style maker.$30 at Target$30 at AeroPress (with code BFCM25)Slice Safety Cutter$5$729% off$5$5$729% offThe slice is a petite cutting tool with a ceramic blade thats quick, easy, and safe.$5 at AmazonA 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card with V30 speeds has dropped to $29.99 (about $32 off) at Amazon and B&H Photo, which is only $1 shy of its lowest price to date. Its not the fastest SD card you can buy, but its speedy enough for continuous 4K video recording for most standard camera modes. That also means it should be more than capable of moving photos and any other files youd need to store on them without excruciating delays.Amazon Prime members can buy theGlocusent book lightstarting at $17.98 (about $4 off) at Amazon, which is an all-time low. The light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever youre reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.Logitechs Brio 101 webcamis down to $24.99 ($15 off) atAmazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its all-time low. The entry-level 1080p camera comes with a built-in privacy guard and features a built-in microphone; it also uses a standard USB-A connector for plug-and-play use.ChomChom pet hair remover$12$2857% off$12$12$2857% offThe ChomChom is a reusable cat and dog hair remover that works great for furniture.$12 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)Those with sensitive ears who are planning to spend quality time at music festivals, concerts, and the like may want to consider picking up a pair of earplugs like the Loop Experience 2, which are on sale for an all-time low of $27.95 ($7 off) at Amazon. They offer a universal fit and a noise reduction rating of 12dB, meaning they wont block out enough sound that you wont be able to enjoy the ambient vibes.If youre looking for a more innovative way to eat cereal, the CrunchCup is on sale at Amazon for an all-time low of $17.56 (about $6 off). The absurd, two-cup contraption takes some getting used to, but once you get it down, its a handy way to consume breakfast on the go. Just pick your cereal wisely not everything Kelloggs makes is spout-friendly.Update, December 2nd: Updated to reflect current pricing/availability and added several new deals for Cyber Monday, including one for Eve Energys Smart Plug with Matter.

In todays world, large language models have shown great performance on various tasks and demonstrated different reasoning capabilities. This is important for advancing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its use in robotics and navigation. Spatial reasoning includes quantitative aspects (e.g., distances, angles) and qualitative aspects (e.g., relative positions like near or inside). While humans excel at these tasks, LLMs often struggle with spatial reasoning, which is one essential part of reasoning and inference and requires understanding complex relationships between objects in space. These problems show that effective and well-connected approaches are needed for spatial reasoning improvement in LLMs.StepGame or SparQA, which require multi-step planning. Researchers have developed strategies like Chain of Thought (CoT) prompting and newer approaches like visualization of thought to enhance reasoning. Recent advancements like using external tools or combining fact extraction with logical reasoning through neural-symbolic methods, such as ASP, offer better results. However, challenges exist in the form of testing on limited datasets, underutilization of methods, and weak feedback systems. These problems show that effective and well-connected approaches are demanded for spatial reasoning improvement in LLMs.Stuttgart University proposed a systematic neural-symbolic framework to enhance the spatial reasoning abilities of LLMs by combining strategic prompting with symbolic reasoning. This approach integrates feedback loops and ASP-based verification to improve performance on complex tasks, demonstrating generalizability across different LLM architectures.The study explored methods to improve spatial reasoning in LLMs using two datasets: StepGame, with synthetic spatial questions involving up to 10 reasoning steps, and SparQA, featuring complex text-based questions with diverse formats and 3D spatial relationships. Three approaches were tested: ASP for logical reasoning, an LLM+ASP pipeline combining symbolic reasoning with DSPy optimization, and a Fact + Logical Rules method embedding rules in prompts to simplify computations. Tools like Clingo, DSPy, and LangChain supported implementation, while models such as DeepSeek and GPT-4 Mini were evaluated using metrics like micro-F1 scores, showing the adaptability of these methods.The LLM + ASP approach on the SparQA dataset showed accuracy improvements, especially for Finding Relation and Finding Block questions, with GPT-4.0 mini performing best. However, Yes/No questions were better with direct prompting. Error analysis showed problems with grounding and parsing, which required specific optimizations for each model. The Facts + Rules method outperformed direct prompting, which showed an accuracy improvement of over 5% in SparQA. This method translates natural language into structured facts and applies logical rules, especially Llama3 70B in the case of extended reasoning. The neural-symbolic methods also outperformed the accuracy of both datasets. StepGame got 80% above, and SparQA approximated at about 60%. This significantly improved over baseline prompting, with accuracy increasing by 40-50% on StepGame and 3-13% on SparQA.The key factors for success were the distinction of semantic parsing and logical reasoning, clear spatial relationships, and multi-hop handling. Therefore, the methodology performed much better in the simpler, well-defined environment than the complex natural SparQA datasets.In summary, the proposed framework boosts LLMs spatial reasoning capability. Indeed, experimental results work more significantly than conventional neural-symbolic systems while increasing performance upon difficult spatial reasoning tasks related to several different types of LLMs. While the approach achieved over 80% accuracy on StepGame, it averaged 60% on the more complex SparQA. Thus, there is a scope for future advancement in this method to achieve greater performance and better results. This work lays a critical foundation for future breakthroughs in AI and can serve as a baseline for future researchers!Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. If you like our work, you will love ournewsletter.. Dont Forget to join our55k+ ML SubReddit. Divyesh Vitthal Jawkhede+ postsDivyesh is a consulting intern at Marktechpost. He is pursuing a BTech in Agricultural and Food Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He is a Data Science and Machine learning enthusiast who wants to integrate these leading technologies into the agricultural domain and solve challenges. FREE AI WEBINAR: 'Fast-Track Your LLM Apps with deepset & Haystack'(Promoted)

Give the practical gift of clean floors this holiday season. Robot vacuums may not be the most entertaining or exciting products out there, but just about anyone will appreciate a tool that takes a couple of chores off the to-do list. The Cyber Monday deals happening right now are some of the best of the year for robot vacuums. So, if these handy little devices are something youve considered investing in, the time to buy is now. One of the best deals out there comes from the Amazon Cyber Monday sale. The Roborock Qrevo S has gotten over $300 knocked off its list price, costing just $459.99. Ive tested a few Roborock robot vacuums, and the brands products are some of the best Ive seen when it comes to performance. Although I didnt have any hands-on experience with the Qrevo S, Im confident this model is just as great as the others Ive tested, while the rich feature set makes it a great value. Save over $300 on the Roborock Qrevo SRoborock Qrevo SGrab the Roborock Qrevo S for high-end performance at a mid range priceIn addition to a robot vacuum with powerful 7000 Pa, two mopping pads offering 200 RPM for deep scrubbing, and precision obstacle avoidance to keep from getting stuck, the Qrevo S comes with a base full of handy features. The base station empties the robots dust box and takes things even further by washing and hot air drying the mopping pads to keep smells at bay. Everything is controlled by an app on your phone its the best robot vacuum app Ive tested so you can send the robot out to clean from just about anywhere. Other Killer Cyber Monday Robot Vacuum Deals The Roborock Qrevo S is an awesome midrange vacuum, but Ive selected some other quality options from brands Ive tested and love, including the 2-in-1 vac and mop: Eufy x10. Whether youre after a basic budget option for lighter cleaning needs or a top-tier vacuum with all the bells and whistles, check out my favorite Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals below:Eufy x10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and MopiRobot Roomba j7+Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and MopNarwal Freo X Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop ComboShark PowerDetect NeverTouch Robot Vacuum and MopShark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & MopEufy X8 HybridiRobot Roomba Vac Robot Vacuum (Q0120)Roborock Q RevoEcovacs DEEBOT T30SGrab One of These Sale Stick Vacuums to Pick Up Any Mess the Robot Cant ReachRobot vacuums are great for quick and easy cleaning of your floors. However, even the best ones arent able to clean everywhere. Stairs, furniture, and other spots just arent reachable, and a stick vacuum is the simplest solution to get those other areas for a spotless clean. Luckily, Cyber Monday is a great time to buy stick vacuums as well, take a look at my top deals below:Shark Pet Cordless Stick VacuumShark Cordless PowerDetectLEVOIT Cordless Vacuum CleanerEureka Lightweight Cordless Stick VacuumElectrolux ErgorapidoDyson Gen5outsizeDanielle is a freelance tech writer for IGN based in Los Angeles who spends most of her time updating buying guides. When shes not writing, youll probably find her obsessively reading, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, or scouring the web for anything related to music history.

The return of college football to the gaming space is a cause for celebration for many. From the ability to represent their alma mater or just engage with the incredible energy present in collegiate sports, there is a lot to like. College Football 25 arrived July 16 earlier this year as the highly anticipated return of the beloved sports series. It became a smash hit, pulling in as many as 700,000 players in its first day of early access and a staggering 2.2 million by the end.If you havent played EA Sports College Football 25 yet, you are in luck. Right now you can grab the game for just $29.99. Will this deal last past Dec 2 (Cyber Monday)? We're honestly not sure. Amazon may surprise us all, while Best Buy has a countdown clock to bring on the urgency. Get EA College Football 25 for $29.99EA SPORTS College Football 25 - PlayStation 5EA SPORTS College Football 25 - Xbox Series XCollege Football 25 had big updates in August 2024, including several improvements to overall gameplay and the Dynasty and Ultimate Team modes. There are new formations to teams' playbooks, switch stick delay settings, and fixes for bugs such as defenders slipping through double teams without the right animation.In Will Borger's EA College Football 25 review, he said: "I find myself thinking a lot about that guy I overheard who is buying a $500 console just to play College Football 25. I wonder if he, as someone who doesnt play a lot of video games, is having fun because despite the NCAAs wider appeal, it feels like anyone who doesnt already know how to play EAs football games is likely to have a bad time. If you know and love college football and just want to pop into Dynasty, build up your favorite school, and play some football that looks good and handles well, College Football 25 is the game youre looking for. If youre expecting a great off-the-field experience at your program of choice, however, youre going to be disappointed. PlaySure, maybe EA will fix the UI issues, add a proper tutorial, and flesh out the modes a bit more in next years iteration; we tell ourselves that a lot in sports (and sports games) to comfort us when were let down. Well get em next year. But promises of tomorrow arent certain, and theyre not what youre buying when you get College Football 25. It isnt a bad game, and it certainly gets the on-field action right, but its not a great one, either. Like any good-but-not-great football team, theres a solid foundation here; you just hope it can reach its full potential somewhere down the line. Well get em next year, right?"Amazon Cyber Monday Video Game DealsPS5, Switch, XboxSonic X Shadow GenerationsSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxStar Wars OutlawsSee it at AmazonPS5, PS4, XboxElden RingSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxMetaphor: ReFantazioSee it at AmazonPS5Final Fantasy VII RebirthPS5Armored Core VI Fires of RubiconSee it at AmazonPS5Persona 3 ReloadPS5, XboxUnicorn OverlordSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxAlan Wake 2 Deluxe EditionSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxShin Megami Tensei VSee it at AmazonPS5, Xbox, SwitchMetal Gear Solid: The Master Collection Vol.1See it at AmazonPS4Final Fantasy: I-VI Collection Anniversary EditionSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxDragon's Dogma 2See it at AmazonPS5Astro BotSee it at AmazonPS5, XboxWarhammer 40K: Space Marine 2See it at AmazonPS4/PS5BloodborneSee it at WalmartIf you want to convince a friend to grab a PlayStation 5 to play with you, tell them to grab this deal on a PS5 now, and if youve been looking to try out VR on PlayStation, the PSVR 2 Horizon: Call of the Mountain bundle is a whopping $250 off. The PS Vita may have died, but the PC handheld space is booming, so grab some great deals on PC handhelds, and be sure to visit our hefty hub of Amazon deals still available. Its not just Amazon, either. No outlet is safe from our deal-seeking eyes, so check out our retailer lists of the best Walmart deals, Target sales, and Best Buy deals, too. Weve also been tracking tons of other PlayStation Cyber Monday deals, so take a peek before they expire.Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN, GameSpot, & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him onBluesky &Backloggd, & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, onSpotify & Apple Podcasts.

This review contains spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.Star Wars projects of late tend to feel more and more like theyre exploiting nostalgia for nostalgias sake. From making Rey a Palpatine in The Rise of SkywalkerCGI Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian, the franchise has been clinging to its past in an increasingly unhealthy way. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, however, feels nostalgic for different reasons and a breath of fresh air in this increasingly-connected era of the New Republic.Theres no doubt in my mind that Skeleton Crew will spend its run being compared to Stranger Things, The Goonies, and other stories about a group of suburban kids getting sucked into an adventure. This was clearly the vein of nostalgia that creators Jon Watts and Christopher Ford decided to tap into. But Skeleton Crew doesnt seek to exploit the longing feeling we get when we watch these stories it carves its own path through the galaxy thats both new and comfortingly familiar.Skeleton Crews opening scene sets the stakes of this adventure swiftly and epically. The pirate crew we see is ruthless, turning on their captain as soon as he fails to deliver the credits he promised them. When we see some of these pirates again on Borgo in episode 2, its hard to forget how dangerous they are as the children come face to face with them.But the real fun begins on the planet At Attin, where we meet Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith). Wim and Neel are best friends who live in the same futuristic suburban neighborhood and spend their days going to school and playing Jedi. Wim dreams of adventure beyond their sheltered planet, and Neel is the kind of friend who is just kind of happy to be along for the ride. Fern seems to similarly feel trapped on their homeworld, with her mothers expectations for a cookie-cutter future pushing her to rebel by racing bikes with her best friend, KB.Like any good childhood adventure, these four unlikely allies must learn how to work together quickly when the long-abandoned ship they uncover shoots them off into space far, far from home. A home, they soon come to learn, that no one else seems to believe exists. On the pirate port of Borgo, they learn that At Attin is known as the lost planet of eternal treasure, a legend that few actually believe in.The retro-futuristic look of At Attin is impeccably done. The planet still looks like a place youd expect to see in Star Wars, and yet its also not far off from so many other sci-fi depictions of what our planet could look like in the future. It feels like home, in a way. But at the same time, the first episode does a great job of making sure that we know this planet is no utopia.The pressure put on these kids to conform and find their place in society at such a young age raises all kinds of red flags about how this society is run. When Undersecretary Fara (Kerry Condon) comes to speak to Wim and Neels class she says that we all have a place in The Great Work, which has all sorts of totalitarian implications, despite the fact that she says the planet is a part of the Republic. At Attin has clearly been sheltered for some time, protected by a barrier meant to keep danger out, but also to keep their people effectively trapped inside.The true nature of this seemingly idyllic planet is but one of many intriguing mysteries introduced in the Skeleton Crew premiere. Episode 2 ends with the children locked in Borgos brig alongside a mysterious cloaked stranger, who we soon learn is a Force wielder as he reaches out a hand to move the key to their cell within his grasp. This is the first time we see Jude Laws Jod Na Nawood, and while this might not be the most epic introduction in Star War history, it certainly makes us wonder who this guy is and what he did to get locked in a pirate brig.In these first two episodes, Watts and Ford have truly crafted a story for Star Wars fans of all ages. The show may be primarily focused on these four kids and their journey into the great unknown, but its far from juvenile. The stakes are very real, as these youngsters soon come to find out.Skeleton Crew is the kind of show I wish I had as a kid, and it genuinely makes my heart happy to think that this might be some kids introduction to Star Wars. These young actors are doing an incredible job thus far at making this vast world their own, and I cannot wait to see what shenanigans Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB get themselves into in the coming weeks.New episodes of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew will premiere Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Disney+, culminating with the finale on January 14.Learn more about Den of Geeks review process and why you can trust our recommendationshere.

This article appears in the new issue ofhere.Nobody could forget the Battle of Helms Deep, the doomed bloodbath that became a surprise victory in Peter Jacksons The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. But who remembers the king who gave the setting its name?King Helm Hammerhand was a legendary ruler of the horse-loving kingdom of Rohan, whose story was outlined briefly in J.R.R. Tolkiens appendices to The Lord of the Rings. This Decembers The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim casts Successions Brian Cox as King Helms voice and tells his tale through the eyes of his daughter, Hra (Gaia Wise), who must fight to defend her people after a diplomatic meeting goes seriously wrong.For writer and producer Philippa Boyens, it was an exciting chance to tell a new story set in Tolkiens world. We could bring some fresh characters to the storytelling that fans of Tolkien wouldnt have come across before, Boyens tells Den of Geek magazine when we chat via Zoom, and delve into their stories. Even though its quite a gritty story, [director Kenji] Kamiyama was not afraid, because hes a storyteller. The story gets very claustrophobic; you think youre in one tale, and then it becomes something quite different. And it comes down to these very human emotions of obsession and love that have turned to hate.Weve seen Tolkiens Middle-earth in animated form before, but this will be the first time that we see it transformed into Japanese anime. Wed been looking at animated films, Boyens explains, and we said, What about anime? I thought, There is a story that could work really well. Theres something about the Rohirrim that speaks to that great tradition of Japanese storytelling.The new film is very clearly and intentionally set in the same version of Tolkiens world as the two epic film trilogies Boyens co-wrote and co-produced with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, and the style of Japanese anime was a particularly good fit for that. Great Japanese films can touch on the fantastical, Boyens says, but they also [have] an otherworldly quality without losing any feeling of realness and grittiness. Theres a magical quality to it that elevates it.It also allowed us to bring Kenji Kamiyama to the world of it. And hes such a masterful director.Kamiyama has an extensive background in anime television shows, including Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Star Wars: Visions. For him, Jacksons films were the key to entering Tolkiens world. The book was such a dense translation into Japanese, he tells us. But Jacksons films made him realize what kind of story this was. So he delved back into the text and became a huge fan, appreciating the work that Tolkien put into building his universe.The design of the film clearly references Jacksons trilogies while also putting its own stamp on the material. We were given open access to everything they had, Kamiyama says. The concept artists John Howe and Alan Lee also came on board. But at the same time, it had to be redesigned [in a way] that fits into the world of animation. The aim was to keep the lines of the live-action films designs while also creating beautiful artwork that would fit into an anime production.The process of creating an animated film is, of course, quite different from filmmaking in live-action. For Brian Cox, playing Helm Hammerhand was a welcome return to radio acting.Im a passionate lover of the radio, he tells us, I love radio acting. I love it for selfish reasons. You dont have to wear makeup, you dont have to wear costumes, but its all about the script and your relationship to that script. He also worked closely with Boyens, who was incredible and really helpful, and she gave me a lot of free rein in the role.For Gaia Wise and Luke Pasqualino, playing Hra and Dunlending prince Wulf respectively, the process was surprisingly physical. When you read fight noises on a page, Wise says, you go, Can you elaborate slightly? The first time I did it, I had a tiny sword and a tiny shield in the booth, and I was pretending I was stabbing. But you cant make the motion fully because [the microphone] can pick up the click of your shoulder. And then towards the end, when we were in the larger rooms, I was jumping about and running around, and getting on and off horses was just a lot of me climbing off of chairs.Pasqualino had the benefit of some prior sword-fighting experience to draw on in the BBCs The Musketeers. I think I did draw on my Musketeers experience for a little bit of fight stuff, but its never quite the same, he says. And then as the animation side of it developed, we actually could see the fight scenes, and you have to hone it a little bit and tweak it, but it was niceto have that experience up here somewhere and draw upon it as and when needed. The physical action may have been less strenuous, but according to Pasqualino, both actors still suffered for their art. We both choked ourselves, he says, and I lost my voice. But it was the very final take of my very final recording. So at least that happened then and not before!With fight noises nailed, it was up to Kamiyama to create epic battle scenes to stand alongside their live-action counterparts. Much of the action of the movie takes place at Helms Deep, or more specifically, the Hornburg, the stronghold at the front of the canyon of Helms Deep; it was a source of great annoyance to Tolkien that people kept mixing them up. This was the site of one of the most epic and fondly remembered battle sequences in Jacksons The Two Towers, so this adaptation has a lot to live up to.It was casually thrown around, [numbers] like 2,000 horses or 3,000 horses, Kamiyama says. But they had to move, and they dont just move. They have to be in a battle. And then you have the intricacies of detail in terms of armor and then the clothes. Kamiyamas solution was to use a combination of techniques, including CG animation and motion capture, as well as traditional hand-drawn elements. Human movements and horse movements were provided as a guide to the animators to hand draw itnot to trace it, but to interpret it. If you trace it, it becomes a rotoscope. Then it becomes a human movement, so you might as well do it as a live-action movie.Boyens is enthusiastic about the process of making an animated Lord of the Rings movie, and there may be more to come in the future. I feel like Ive fallen in love with animation, she says. Theres a ton of really brilliant stories that I think are left to be told, and some that are most perfectly suited to animation.In the meantime, though, The Hunt for Gollum is on! Peter Jackson is producing, and Andy Serkis is directing the next live-action film in the franchise, slated for a 2026 release. The Hunt for Gollum is going brilliantly, Boyens tells us. I had forgotten how much story there ishe must be one of the most brilliant characters Tolkien ever wrote.As excited as we are to see the team behind the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy return to live-action, were also very happy to see the franchise branch out into new formats, and anime and Tolkien look like they are going to be a pretty good match.The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in theaters Dec. 13.

PublishedDecember 2, 2024 From refracting light through the Staff of Ra, to decoding the mysteries of the Grail Temple, the Indiana Jones series has repeatedly returned to puzzles as part of its storytelling. In many ways, thats more reminiscent of gaming than it is traditional moviemaking. The pleasure of a puzzle the initial challenge, the gentle realization of how it fits together, and the aha! moment is key to so many games in the same way as it is those classic movies.As youd expect, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, puzzles are everywhere. They of course pepper the key storyline, and the games open sections are stuffed with optional puzzles for those who like to test their mental might. But that doesnt mean building all this was as simple as transplanting ideas from the films into a gaming context.Puzzles and traps are such cornerstones of Indiana Jones, and its been incredibly important to represent them well in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, explains Design Director, Jens Andersson. But, as you could imagine, the ones we see in the movie dont really translate directly into a game.Lock and Key Where the movies can allow for leaps in logic from Indy to keep things moving, when the game asks players to step into the adventurers shoes, they need to feel empowered to solve every part of a puzzle themselves just as Indy would. Andersson says the movies helped them craft the look and feel of a prototypical Indiana Jones puzzle, but the detail of each one needed to be built from the ground up. It meant MachineGames had to create spaces that offer up every clue, without giving away their solutions. The puzzles inside needed to be built around existing game mechanics, but always feel inventive. And the rewards, especially for optional puzzles, needed to feel worth the effort of having solved it all.It was a long process to figure out exactly what puzzles should and shouldnt be in the game, Andersson continues. For a big adventure game like this, there often arent many good references for how to integrate interesting and challenging puzzles. We wanted a bigger challenge than you normally see in big action-adventure games out there, something where you actually have to think, while still being accessible to a ton of people and making sure that the player never gets stuck.Since we are a predominantly first-person game with very physical interactions, there are also some styles of puzzles that work better than others. What weve ended up with is a wide variety of puzzles, from epic tombs to small mysteries. This variation is something that fits it great, since it keeps the game fresh throughout the whole experience. Even taking a single section of the game, you can feel that variation. Exploring the open map of The Great Circles Gizeh section, I stumble on puzzles that lead me into trap-ridden dungeons, offering more action-oriented moments, while others have me patiently figuring out codes indicated by murals, and another might simply surround me with scorpions and ask me to figure my way out.And this is just one area of the game. The beauty of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is that itll take you across the globe, and Andersson makes clear that thought was put into what kind of puzzles youll find in each location who built them? Are they ancient or modern? What would they be leading to?: The puzzles you find in the tombs of Gizeh are very different from the Khmer-built machinery of Sukhothai. And when infiltrating enemy camps, you sometimes have to use ciphers and other tools to decrypt their messages.And because of that there was no wrong starting point for the design of a puzzle. We could start with an abstract idea about how to place pieces on a board. Or another could be inspired by the strange visuals that our amazing art team cooked up. Each new location in the game provided a new set of inspirations that our designers could use as a starting point. The important thing is that they are both fun to explore and to execute often with multiple steps that makes you go, Aha!Ancient Secrets The variation extends to how in-depth these puzzles will be, too, but a key goal for the team has been not to tie the idea of size directly to difficulty. The core storyline includes some of the games most wide-ranging puzzle sequences but, when a puzzle is mandatory, being too difficult could cause some players to get frustrated. Equally, you dont want puzzle fanatics to feel like its too easy. This is where the games specific Adventure Difficulty setting comes in, allowing players to tailor how they want to play:Naturally, many of the bigger puzzles are intricately tied to the story, says Andersson. Weve taken special care with those since they need to be accessible to all types of players and made sure they support our light Adventure Difficulty level. If you play on that one, youll still get to experience the fun of solving the puzzle, but it wont require as many steps or be as challenging as the normal Adventure Difficulty level is.And if you do get stuck, Indy comes equipped with an optional tool to ease any friction you can pull out his camera and snap a picture to be given hints:While some people, me included, can enjoy spending large amounts of time trying to crack a particularly hard puzzle, that is not for everyone, and we want to support those players too. At the same time, having the game nag that hints are available just because you spent a little bit extra time to explore can be annoying and stressful, and take you out of the experience, so we wanted a way to provide hints without them being pushed on you. Using Indys Camera as an Opt-In hint system proved to be a perfect solution. As you inspect the puzzle, youll see that there are hints available, but you can take all the time you need to explore and experiment. If you decide that you need a little bit of help, you can just pull up the camera and take a photo of the puzzle to request a hint for it. And if thats not enough, you can just keep snapping for more and more detailed hints.And for the real puzzle fanatics out there, Andersson teases that the game will include some truly testing optional puzzles the hardest in the game which wont allow the hint system at all. If youre not interested, theres no obligation to try them but if you are, prepare for a test worthy of a true adventurer.Much of the pleasure of the Indiana Jones movies puzzles are in trying to solve them along with Indy nomatter how different they might need to be in practice in a game, that goal remains the same. You as Indy will get the same primal thrill from slotting the pieces in place thats as much of a treasure as the rewards themselves.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (with Game Pass), or Steam on December 9. Premium and Collectors Editions will offer up to 3 days of early access from December 6. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium EditionBethesda Softworks$99.99Pre-orderPre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade. *** Live the adventure with the Premium Edition of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle! INCLUDES: Base Game (digital code) Up to 3-Day Early Access** Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Story DLC Digital Artbook Temple of Doom Outfit ***Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones. Youll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, youll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indianas trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isnt just a weapon, its Indys most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?*Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active. **Actual play time depends on purchase date and applicable time zone differences, subject to possible outages. DLC availability to be provided at a later date. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Standard EditionBethesda Softworks$69.99Pre-orderPre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade.***Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones. Youll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, youll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indianas trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isnt just a weapon, its Indys most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?*Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active.

At first glance, living room design can be rather straightforward: Bring in a sofa, a few armchairs, a side table or two, maybe an ottoman or coffee table, and you're good to go. But if you ask any of ELLE DECORs A-List designers (which, of course, we have), a poorly thought-out living room is discounting the potential for forward-thinking design flexes. And this year, designers are betting on quite a few rising trends that turn the standard living room on its head a bit. "Living rooms are poised to become even more personal, more functional, and more formal."In 2025, living rooms are poised to become even more personal, more functional, and more formal. Instead of cookie-cutter spaces designed to follow fads, were seeing a thoughtful evolutionrooms that blend comfort with artistry, structure with softness, and nostalgia with modernity. Designers are rethinking everything, from how we entertain to how we unwind, crafting spaces that feel like a reflection of the people who live in them.Expect jewel tones paired with natural textures, sculptural furniture that doubles as art, and layouts designed for both quiet moments and lively gatherings. Whether its a cozy banquette tucked by the fireplace, a record room tailored for personal retreat, or a formal living room revived for the modern entertainer, 2025 is all about living rooms that feel layered, inviting, and utterly unique. Here's a closer look at the trends shaping the spaces where we live, lounge, and connect. Formal Living Room Are BackWilliam Jess LairdIn the living room of this Hollywood Hills bungalow, interior designer Mike Moser and architect Tyler Thomas removed obvious tech for a more formal space. In 2025, we will see a nostalgic return to thoughtfully designed, separate living rooms that prioritize entertaining and aesthetic enjoyment over technology. As we look to the 1930s again for design references, I can see there being a return to formal living rooms, says ELLE DECOR A-List designer Jeremiah Brent. More will keep their media separate from where they entertain and relax. Think bar carts, multiple seating vignettes, fireplaces, and arta room where the sofa and television are not at the center."Think bar carts, multiple seating vignettes, fireplaces, and arta room where the sofa and television are not at the center.ELLE DECOR A-List designer Rita Konig agrees, indicating shes been called upon recently to make larger living room layouts more intimate. I like to slip banquette sofas into places that you cant fit a proper sofa, such as beside fireplaces and in front of bookcases, she says. They create additional seating for large parties but also create small nooks you can tuck into when its just you at home and they are ideal for making large living rooms seem a bit cozier. An additional request shes hearing? Every house needs a bar and thats something my clients are asking for more and more, especially since everyone continues to enjoy entertaining at home. We'll Make Room for HobbiesFlix Dol MaillotIn this Haussmannian apartment, bespoke ombr walls make it look like the inside of a jewel box.Several designers said they are tailoring their designsmaterials, colors, and layoutsto be more personal in the year ahead. These colors and materials arent just fashionable, Julien Sebban, founder of Uchronia, explains. They reflect a deeper philosophy about the spaces we create: each element is crafted to the space and the people living in it. "My clients are always looking for spaces to unwind and listen to music."Howell says shes even fielding requests for special interests. My clients are always looking for spaces to unwind and listen to music, she offers. We are constantly individualizing record rooms with bars that double as a private space to unwind, or a social space for entertaining. Jewel Tones Paired with Neutrals Will Be All the RageStephen Kent JohnsonIn this living space designed by Ashe Leandro, a plum-colored sectional, is illuminated by a dangling 20-foot-tall Isamu Noguchi lantern.To create dynamic, welcoming living spaces, designers are still riding on the high of last years Barbenheimer craze, relying on contrasting colors in 2025. But were so far past pink and black. For ELLE DECOR A-List designer Brigette Romanek, its all about layering jewel tones with quiet neutrals. Well see jewel tonesthink rich emeralds or deep amethystsused sparingly to punctuate neutral spaces, bringing depth without overpowering, she says. Pairing these colors with natural textures like linen or wool creates a layered look that feels grounded while still adding vibrancy.Our Living Rooms Will Be SoftWith an EdgeStephan JulliardIn this pied--terre in the Saint-Germain-des-Prs district, designer Hugo Toro paired organic wood with gold and bronze accents.In 2025, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Tiffany Howell predicts an uptick in organic modernism such as mixed metals paired with natural woods. Romanek echoes this idea: I also see a mix of materials like soft upholstery with accents in glass or metal, which adds a subtle, structured edge, Romanek states. Its about balancing rigid with soft, statement with neutral, in a way that reflects individuality and makes the space feel dynamic and real. Curves Aren't Going Anywhere Stephan JulliardDesigners like Sebban believe that the curvature weve become accustomed to in the past few years will continue to show up in living room furniture. Were still seeing curved sofas and rounded coffee tablesshapes that invite comfort and a softer, more relaxed environment, he explains. Meanwhile, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Kelly Wearstler is imagining how furniturecurved or otherwisecan strike a statement. I'm interested in furniture as sculpturefunctional pieces that challenge our perception and the ways we interact with them, eliciting an emotional response, she says.

Unlike many ski destinations around the world where resort towns were purpose-built, Italys Cortina dAmpezzo is a small village with a centuries-old history tucked between the confines of the Venetian and Holy Roman Empires. Though still in the Veneto region, its capital, Venice, is a two-hour drive down winding mountain roads, while the German-speaking South Tyrol feels much closer; even Austria is just under an hours drive over the valley pass. The townwhich hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and will co-host the next edition with Milan in 2026has long been a favorite destination for the international jet set, lured by both its world-class ski runs and its appearances in the 1963 Pink Panther and the James Bond classic For Your Eyes Only. Bastian AchardA vacation house in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy, designed by Natalia Bianchi for her sister, Alessia Bianchi Bormioli, and her husband, Francesco. Bianchi found salvaged elements of a former stubea Tyrolean wood-paneled roomand rebuilt it on-site as a study. A high shelf holds a collection of Czech glass. Despite those star turns, Cortina retains a traditional flavor with its alpine architecture and mix of locals and vacation homeowners from across Italy. The town has always had an allure for a couple from Milan, Alessia Bianchi Bormioli and Francesco Bormioli, who spent holidays here as a child when he was growing up in Parma. It was Francesco, a business executive and entrepreneur, who found a property in the towns Chiave district and was captivated by its mountain views. Alessia, on the other hand, was initially crestfallen. The existing structure had originally been a semidetached farmhouse that had burned down in the 1940s and been rebuilt as a ho-hum inn.Bastian AchardThe walls of the entry were sheathed in render and hand-painted with decorations inspired by those at St. Basils Cathedral in Moscow. The dresser is by Flamant.It wasnt until she saw a photo of the house from before the fire that Alessia got excited. She told her husband that he could proceed with the purchase on the condition that she could start from zero. She then called her sister, the acclaimed Milanese architect Natalia Bianchi, to see if she would help her tackle this ambitious build. She agreed at once. In a way, her hands are my hands, Natalia says. She has a strong aesthetic sensibility, and I found ways to create the space for her to decorate.Bastian AchardThe walls in the kitchen are coated in whitewashed render, a textured finish of cement and limestone, and the door is of reclaimed pine with hand-forged iron hardware.A big draw for the sisters is that the region is still home to many artisans. The local know-how is very high, Natalia observes. For this project, almost everything was made or restored within 15 miles of the housefrom iron door handles to pine beds and wood-burning stoves. This level of craftsmanship allowed them to explore various mountain styles within the context of the local vernacular. Look Inside an Italian Ski RetreatThroughout the house, they played with a rough grain render often used in the area as an exterior wall treatment. The textured finish, a mixture of cement and limewash, was a perfect base for layers of painted decoration. This technique is used to its full effect in the entry, where, without moldings or corners, the room feels as though it was excavated from the hillside. Painted rosettes, inspired by St. Basils Cathedral in Moscow, envelop the room, while ebonized wood paving blocks line the floor.Bastian AchardThe hand-painted decoration in the primary bedroom was based on the embroidery on a vintage Russian blouse. The custom headboard and ottoman are in Andrew Martin fabrics.This striking space leads into the living room and its adjoining pil, a traditional balcony made from a salvaged flat-sawn balustrade, with views of the surrounding mountains. Natalia insisted that both the entry and all the social rooms of the housethe living and dining rooms and the stube, a Tyrolean wood-paneled roomwould occupy this story, the center floor of the four-story house. A curved staircase links this entertaining level to the rooms upstairs and the floor below, which accommodates more bedrooms and a light-flooded kitchen that opens onto a wide deck where the family gathers for lunch in warm weather. Further downstairs, the family has recently added a spa and gym. My rule is that you cannot leave dead space in a house, Natalia says. Every room needs to have a use. Bastian AchardThe main bathroom has walls lined in reclaimed wood planks, some of which are stained red. The mirror and vanities are custom, as are the bone and iron knobs.This winter, when the Bormiolis and their three children are joined by Natalia and her family, long days on the slopes will culminate in nights of entertaining. There will be drinks and dinner with friends and late-night campfires ablaze in the iron cauldron kept by the side of the house. Our goal was to create a house with spirit, made on a human scale and imbued with local craftsmanship, Natalia says. And, Alessia adds, looking around the imaginative rooms they have together designed, plenty of beauty.This story originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE