Cyberpunk 2077's 2.2 update adds new "secrets", expanded customisation options, and moreOut now on PC, PS5, and Series X/S.Image credit: CD Projekt News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Dec. 10, 2024 Just a day after piquing fan curiosity with the surprise announcement a new Cyberpunk 2077 update was on the way, developer CD Projekt has revealed exactly what it contains - including expanded customisation options and new photo mode features - and released it into the wild.Cyberpunk 2077's new 2.2 update mightn't be as feature-packed as last December's surprisingly substantial 2.1 update, but it still introduces a range of nifty new features, fixes, and quality of life improvements - certainly more than you might ordinarily expect from a game whose development officially ended seven months ago.On the customisation front, players can now change paint jobs across a whole range of vehicles using the CrystalCoat technology previously only available on Rayfield cars - with Herrera, Mizutani, Quadra, and Villefort all now compatible. Additionally, Cyberpunk 2077 now has a vehicle colour cloning feature (officially known as TWINTONE), so players can save colour changes made to one vehicle and apply them elsewhere. Cyberpunk 2077 - 2.2 update overview.Watch on YouTubeIn other car-related news, 10 more "most requested" vehicles have been added for purchase via Autofixer (as detailed in the patch notes below), and players might now see Johnny Silverhand appear in the passenger seat - to comment on or react to their actions - once Act 1 is done.Customisation options have also been expanded on the player side too, with update 2.2 introducing new eye and nail colours, new face and body tattoos, new eyebrows shapes, face scars, cosmetic face cyberware options, and makeup types for cheek, eyes, and lips. Additionally, the Character Creator randomiser now includes a Plain-to-Punk slider, which does pretty much exactly what it sounds like.And once you've pimped your car or your V out to meet your exacting tastes, you can record them for posterity using the improved Photo Mode features. These include the ability to spawn up to three NPCs for a shot, the ability to spawn and adjust light sources, increased camera range, a new Effect Intensity slider, a change to make the Drone Camera free-roaming, plus a variety of feature toggles. It's also now possible to display your favourite photos in V's apartments by interacting with the picture frames.And that's still not quite everything for Cyberpunk 2077's 2.2 update. It also introduces a whole range of fixes and quality of life improvements, as well as - most intriguingly - "more secrets to discover in Night City." Sounds like it might be time to hit the streets and hunt down some Witcher 4 teases now the game is officially in "full-scale production".Today's Cyberpunk 2077 update - which was developed in collaboration with Virtuos and is available now for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 - comes ahead of the game's release on Apple computers next year. You can learn more about its new features via the developer video above, or by perusing the patch notes below.New FeaturesRayfield's CrystalCoat technology, initially designed for Rayfield vehicles only, has now been adopted by other car manufacturers. You can now change the paint jobs on Herrera, Mizutani, Quadra and Villefort vehicles. Pro tip: Use CrystalCoat to fool the cops and lower your NCPD wanted level!Kiroshi presents TWINTONE! As CrystalCoat continues to in gain popularity, TWINTONE takes your paint jobs to the next level. Simply scan a car with your Kiroshi optics, switch to the TWINTONE tab, then save the vehicle's color scheme for a small fee. You'll then be able to select the scheme in the TWINTONE database under the CrystalCoat menu. There, you'll also find generic color schemes for all CrystalCoat-compatible vehicles as well as unique color schemes exclusive to the vehicle model from which they were copied. Please note that color scheme cloning is not authorized on vehicles that are linked to quests, belong to the NCPD or that are incompatible with CrystalCoat tech.All vehicles compatible with CrystalCoat and TWINTONE are marked with a spray can icon on Autofixer.The ten most requested vehicles from the streets of Night City are now available for purchase on Autofixer:Mizutani Shion MZ1Mizutani Shion Targa MZTThorton Galena GA32tThorton Colby CST40Archer Quartz EC-L r275Quadra Type-66 640 TSQuadra Type-66 680 TSMahir Supron FS3-TVillefort Deleon V410-S Coupe (Phantom Liberty only)Mizutani Hozuki MH2 (Phantom Liberty only)Following Act 1, Johnny will now sometimes appear in the passenger seat while V is driving to comment on and react to what's happening.We've overhauled Photo Mode and added multiple community-requested features:Drone Camera is now a free camera instead of an orbital camera centered around V.Increased camera range.Full Collision (ON/OFF) - determines whether the camera respects in-game object collisions.Lock Camera (ON/OFF) - locks the camera to avoid misclicking and ruining the frame.Precise Camera (ON/OFF) - slows the camera down for easier aiming.Aspect Ratio (PC-only. Custom-resolution screenshots are not available on consoles. Console systems can only export images in the standard 16:9 format.)Characters tab: Spawn up to 3 NPCs for your photo, with a list of over 20 characters to choose from. You can adjust their expression, pose and position.Lighting tab: Spawn and adjust light sources.Fixed the Depth of Field ghosting issue.Added an Effect Intensity slider.SmartFrames by Kiroshi allows you to display your Photo Mode shots in-game by interacting with the picture frames in V's apartments. Browse your photo collection in the new Gallery menu tab located alongside Journal, Shards and Tarot. The Gallery pulls .png images from the screenshots folder on your PC or from your console gallery. For more details on SmartFrames and the Gallery, see this Support article.Added more character customization options:32 eye colors18 lip makeup types17 nail colors10 cheek makeup types16 eye makeup types4 face scars5 eyebrow shapes4 face tattoos2 body tattoos8 cosmetic face cyberware optionsUpgraded the Character Creator randomizer to feature a new Plain-to-Punk slider. Whether you're aiming for an understated, casual look or a bold, edgy style for your V, you can now use the slider to strike the perfect balance.Added more secrets to discover in Night City.Quests & Open WorldRephrased objectives for quests that tell you to wait a specific amount of time to progress. The game is designed in a way that doesn't always allow players to simply skip in-game time to advance the objective, instead requiring them continue playing to trigger the next event.Cyberpsycho Sighting: Where the Bodies Hit the Floor - Fixed an issue where no shard could be found on the cyberpsycho's body, blocking progress.Dream On - The Trauma Team AV on the roof will now be properly hidden in stealth mode.Heroes - Fixed an issue where the quest, despite being completed, could remain marked as incomplete in the Journal with the optional objectives "Talk to Padre" and "Talk to the Valentinos."Phantom Liberty-SpecificBalls to the Wall - Fixed an issue where it was impossible to exit the elevator and talk to Yuri because of an invisible wall.Firestarter - Fixed an issue where fast travel could be blocked if the player saved the game soon after exiting Reed's car.Gig: Waiting for Dodger - After being freed, Bill and Charles will now be more mindful of their driving and avoid running over Dodgers goons, preventing any unnecessary combat.Hi Ho Silver Lining - The VIP section in the Heavy Hearts club will now be accessible to players who couldn't meet with Mr. Hands due to a keycard being required to use the elevator.I've Seen That Face Before - The garage door preventing players from reaching the meeting point will now be open.Run This Town - The elevator in the Heavy Hearts club is now back in service, so V can finally meet with Mr. Hands.Somewhat Damaged - Fixed an issue where the prompt to unplug the cables from the Neural Network system was missing.The Killing Moon - Fixed the issue of a wall blocking the path when carrying Songbird to the shuttle.GameplayFixed one of the katana finisher animations so that it properly decapitates enemies.Iconic Synapse Burnout and Iconic System Collapse quickhacks will now be properly affected by the RAM cost reduction buff.The icons for Tier 5+ and 5++ Behavioral Imprint-synced Faceplate will now be visible on the HUD while driving.Fixed an issue causing the Synaptic Accelerator to stay active indefinitely if the player is detected while not in combat.The car horn will no longer honk when the player reloads a weapon during vehicle combat while playing with a controller.Fixed an issue where the NCPD could stop functioning properly after V engages in a shootout in Pacifica between the Voodoo Boys and Trauma Team.MiscellaneousFixed an issue where TV program sound was muted or too quiet.Fixed an issue where CrystalCoatdid not apply properly after entering a vehicle.Due to popular demand, we've lowered the Trauma Drama high scores.Adjusted Vs mouth movement in various scenes, including the endings.Fixed the issue of voiceover cutoff during the Ebunike station announcement on NCART.Fixed ray-traced shadows for V in Photo Mode.PC-SpecificYou will now be able to properly rebind W and S to different actions other than their default settings in the Vehicle category.Optimized threading system to improve performance by up to 33% on Intel Arrow Lake based CPUs.Added more Razer Chroma effects for some sections in Phantom Liberty and romance scenes.

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 hereDelta Force developer Team Jade is working on a lot of new content for its new free-to-play team-based FPS game. Released in November on PC to a mixed reception, Delta Force has amassed a loyal following, with more than 90,000 players currently battling it out on Steam. After its strong start, Team Jade has confirmed it has no plans to become complacent. In an interview with VideoGamer, game director Ricky Liao revealed just prior to launch that they see Delta Force as a long term commitment to the players with years of maps, modes and weapons to come. Delta Force will see 8 new maps in its first yearLiao explained that there are huge plans for Delta Force at Team Jade. While the studio works on ports to Xbox, PlayStation and even mobile, as well as the new single-player campaign remake of Black Hawk Down, at least 8 new maps are coming to the games multiplayer mode.We will be bringing a lot of great, new content to the players constantly at a steady pace, as you can tell from our previous roadmaps revealed, Liao said. We are planning to add at least eight maps in the first year across both [game] modes so thats four maps in each mode.We are a team willing to really communicate and listen to the players and will incorporate their feedback into our game, he continued. You will see us really paying a lot of attention to player feedback and listen to them to really to build a game together with the Delta Force community.The team has also stressed their zero tolerance on cheaters, previously branding cheating a cancer of FPS games. As Delta Force is free-to-play, and we are really meaning to support the game for years to come, we know how crucial it is to battle cheaters for our game, Liao told us.As part of the roadmap revealed by Team Jade, the devs have promised at least one big patch every three months, which will include quality-of-life improvements as well as larger additions such as new operators and vehicles. There is also the much-anticipated Black Hawk Down campaign, which is more akin to the Delta Force games of yesteryear. The update, which will arrive in January 2025, sees you relive events of the The Battle of Mogadishu. Delta ForcePlatform(s):Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):First-Person ShooterSubscribe 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 hereThe First Descendant Season 2 is a lot of fun, and Nexon has a lot of plans to make it better. Updates are on the way, and a lot of new content and additions are planned for early next year. But, before this week ends, The First Descendant players will want to unlock Nexons new code so they can get more free rewards. There are a lot of free rewards available to grab in The First Descendant before the end of December 2024. As for the future of Season 2, the roadmap reveals the addition of a new character and skins in January, meanwhile, Nexon has shared plans for beyond S2 including more consistent body diversity, the possible addition of tattoos, and other types of companions to expand upon Fellows. Players will have plenty to keep them coming back to TFD next year, but right now fans will want to unlock Nexons newest code before it expires in just a few days. How to get The First Descendant code for free rewardsThe First Descendant players only have until 10AM PT/1PM ET/6PM GMT on December 13th to get Nexons newest code. Before getting started, you will need a Discord account to complete the quest. What you need to basically do is watch the Season 2: Void Chaser Main Trailerin Discord. In order to watch the trailer in Discord, all you need to do is follow the below steps: Sign into Discord Select the Discover icon in the bottom left corner Click Quests For The First Descendant, click Start Video Quest Once you have finished watching the trailer, you will be able to select Claim Reward underneath the video player. The reward code will be sent to your email address affiliated with your Discord account, and you will need to redeem this code before December 31st to get the rewards. Below is how to redeem the code in-game: Access the game >Options>Account>Enterin theEnterCouponoption.Enter the coupon code and pressConfirm.Access the mailbox inAlbionto receive the item.You can also redeem on The First Descendant coupon webpage, but you will need your member code. Check out Discords support page for more instructions about the quest if you face any difficulties. The rewards for completing the Discord quest and redeeming the code are as follows: 1 Sharen Shadow Gaze Head Skin 1 Sharen Dusk Makeup 1 Clockwork Back Attachment Paint: 3 Clear Coat Red Paint: 3 Metal Matte WhiteImage credit: The First Descendant DiscordFor more The First Descendant, we have a guide to thebest skills and loadout for Viessa, along with thebest skills, gear, and mods for the hugely popular Bunny. We also have a guide forFreynaalong with fundamentaltips for beginners.The First DescendantPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, RPG5VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

It's right about this time of year that the best gifts under $25 starts popping up in your browser as you hastily search for last-minute gift guides for budget-friendly items. Presents for your direct reports that are safely within expense report territory? Something fun for the Secret Santa party you've got lined up this weekend? Little niceties for the hosts who are graciously putting you up for Christmas? Yes, we know the type.For all of the above, we came directly to the source where you can quickly fire off some keywords, pop a few things into the cart, and wait 'til they materialize at your door the same week. We're talking about Amazon, of course, home of two-day shipping and every kind of oddity and miscellaneous thing under the sun. Here, several thoughtful gifts under $25 that will suit a wide range of people on your list.Best Holiday Gifts Under $25 on AmazonBest Scent Gift: Nippon Kodo Kayuragi Incense Sticks, $12 $10Best Coffee Gift: Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker, $20Best Gadget Gift: Brother P-Touch PT-N10 Label Maker, $25Best Design Gift: Galison Frank Lloyd Wright Imperial Hotel Puzzle, $20Best Stocking Stuffer: The New York Times Crossword Page-A-Day Calendar 2025, $18 $16Shop by CategoryBest Home Gifts Under $25For hosts and anyone else you know that cherishes a well-curate home, scents or tabletop decor are always a good place to start shopping.Nippon Kodo Kayuragi Incense SticksNippon Kodo is one of those IYKYK home fragrances that when people love it, they really love it. If you have any inkling at all that someone might be into incense for clearing the air, these straight-from-Japan sticks come in a variety of soothing scents.Maison Balzac Pauline Candle HolderDidn't know Bezos was stocking Maison Balzac? Now you do. This candle holder sits right at the $25 mark, meaning it's an affordable gift for someone else (and doubly nice for yourself).Northern Lights Candles Taper Combo (Pack of 6)Scented candles can feel very personal to the person lighting it up, while tapered candles are pretty universal for anyone who likes a nice tablescape. This six-pack nets them a collection of sweetly colored lights for holiday dinners.Kassatex Chairish TowelsKassatex's soft and cozy towels are one of the premium bath goods you can find at Amazon, including these scallop-edged beauties that subtly dress up any powder room they're placed in.MARIMEKKO Rsymatto WashclothWashcloths and dish towels are ideal for housewarming gifts, as you know they're going to get put to work rather than gathering dust in the linen closet. Marimekko's cheerful prints also make for an eye-catching way to say congratulations or thank you.Best Kitchen Gifts Under $25Small food items are one of the safest ways to say thank you to a colleague or pal (so long as you know their dietary restrictions) and some high-end olive oil or tinned snacks go a long way. For people who you know are decidedly cooking and entertaining people, you can also gift them serving utensils, party favors, and beyond.Yamazaki Home Tosca Cookbook StandWhether your home chef is pulling up a recipe on an iPad or kicking it old school with a cookbook, Yamazaki's sleek, pared-back stand is here to save their place so they never miss a beat on the dish they're making.Maldon Sea Salt FlakesAdd some flavor to their dishes with a whole box full of salt flakes they can lightly dust over their food.Jose Gourmet SardinesPut them on toast at lunchtime, eat them in a saladtinned fish are truly a premium snack.KINTO Workout BottleA water bottle may not be the best Christmas gift ever (or the most exciting), but this one is definitely easier on the eyes than most. It unscrews at the mid-line so you can easily clean the gunk at the bottom and then resume sipping.OXO Good Grips Wine StoppersThese silicone wine stoppers are ideal for plugging up multiple open bottles at a party or just your stash of vino that youre savoring throughout the week. Its a small gift that you know will come in handy later.Graf Lantz Wine-O's Wine Marker SetThis gift set is ideal for wine and cheese parties where no can remember which glass is which. Consider bringing it straight to the holiday shindig for them to open up and use right away.Bodum Pour Over Coffee MakerA pour-over is a definite coffee snob-approved way to caffeinate in the morning, so consider this the perfect gift for even the snootiest of sippers.Fellow Mighty CarafeFellows better known for its coffee gear and tumblers, but it also sells a nice carafe for pouring milk or gravy thats well within budget territory.Sabre Old Fashion Tart ServerFor dishing out slices of tarts or cakes, you don't get much more dreamy than Sabre servingware. This one has a pearly porcelain finish that shares the stage with your desserts.Le Creuset Stoneware Mini Round CocotteHopefully we dont have to sell you on the merits of a baby Le Creuset. Its one of the sweetest gift ideas out there for people who love to cook side dishes, mini loaves of bread, or a teensy dessert.Lodge Mini SkilletSame goes for the mini Lodge cast-iron. Its a hit for a white elephant gift exchange, but also has some real-deal functionality for all the occasions you want to fry exactly one egg.Best Tech Gifts Under $25Gadgets are a mainstay of the cheap gifts category, from USB cables to tiny speakers to disposable cameras. Here's a small assortment of underserved ideas in this category.Brother P-Touch PT-N10 Label MakerLabel makers are catnip for type A people who love organizing but also have wide-ranging uses, from printing out cheeky phrases to getting territorial with your roommates on who gets to store their produce on which shelf of the fridge.Belkin Quick Charge Wireless Charging PadLook, no one's really asking for a charger until the inevitable day that their phone is at 1% and they're stuck without a handy cable. This pad speeds up the whole charging process so they can be back up and running in no time.GE LED Night Light Plug-inUseful for people of all ages (from babies to grownups feeling their way towards the bathroom at night), GE's night lights softly diffuse ambiance in elegant shaped pucks that plug directly into an outlet.Other Stocking Stuffers Under $25And for any other miscellanea (perhaps for that White Elephant holiday party or for the coworkers you forgot to shop for until this very second), here are some inoffensive, practical gifts that should come in handy for all the people you're not too sure about.The New York Times Crossword Page-A-Day Calendar 2025For the person who's on a NYT crossword streak or has been trying to make his way past the Thursday puzzles for ages (the rebus will always get ya), here's a way to keep their mind active and expand their library of little known facts.Topicals Slick Salve Mint Glossy Lip BalmIt's minty, it's glossy, and we don't need a focus group to know that's what most of us want from a lip balm in the dead of winter. The cool-girl appeal of Topicals also feels slightly more intentional than something you scooped up in a drugstore.Craighill Classic Perch BookmarkFor people with impossibly ambitious Goodreads records, and everyone who relishes reading books in print, a handomse bookmark will always come in handy.Galison Frank Lloyd Wright Imperial Hotel PuzzleNot just any puzzle, but a trippy one illustrated with one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's designs: The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. It will keep their hands busy this winter in those periods of sitting around between holiday dinners and movie marathons.Field Notes Notebooks (Pack of 3)A three-pack of notebooks for jotting down big ideas, recipes, to-do lists and beyond.Alessi Germano Shoe HornFor the person who's precious about not scuffing their fancy shoes (or is working with some pretty wide feet to begin with), Alessi's elegant shoe horn is a worthy stocking stuffer to hang in the closet until it's most needed.

It was so emotional, recalls Ins Imbert Mathieu upon hearing that Notre-Dame de Paris was actively engulfed in flames during the early evening of April 15, 2019. I was at my apartment in Paris when the news broke, and then we all just ran to the cathedralit was definitely very affecting in the moment. She didnt know it at the time, but the then 21-year-old would end up playing an important role in the resurrection of the 861-year-old medieval architectural masterpiece.Notre-Dame Reopening: Inside the Cathedral for the First Time Since the FireSee its transformation in an exclusive clip from 60 MinutesAs it happens, Ins is the granddaughter of Henri Mathieu, who founded the artistic lighting company Mathieu Lustrerie Atelier in 1948 in Marseille, following the end of World War II. In its heyday, the heritage firm was known for designing and producing opulent chandeliers and other lighting fixtures that would eventually hang in the grandest of htels particuliers and luxury boutiques (Cartier, Herms, and Van Cleef & Arpels are all clients).The chandeliers my grandfather was making were mostly sold to the finest shops that were reselling them to private clients. There used to be five or six such shops in any city, and now it may only have oneif that. By the 70s, styles were changing, and the demand for elaborate lighting began to wane. When production was big, he had 100 people working for him, says Mathieu. When he died in 1982, his widow, Yvette Mathieu, inherited the business and reduced its production, which, by this time, consisted of more contemporary lighting lines designed by her husband over the previous decade. She also began taking on more restoration work to keep the companys lights on (pun intended).Two of the 13 chandeliers as they looked while awaiting restorationat Mathieu Lustreries atelier in the village of Gargas in Provence. One of the chandeliers came crashing down during the fire, and two others had stones from the roof fall on them, so these three were quite damaged, recalls Ins Imbert Mathieu.Photography courtesy Mathieu Lustrerie AtelierIn 1992, the couples sonand Inss fatherRgis Mathieu took over and doubled down on the restoration concept while still maintaining the brands artistic arm. He was able to use all the existing machinery to duplicate the models he was restoring and then sell them as reeditions, she explains about the workshop, which is now based in the village of Gargas in Provence. With the permission of the historic monumentslike the Palace of Versailleswe duplicate chandeliers, with their authorization, to an exacting degree, while others might just produce them in the style of. Its these relationships with private and government agencies overseeing historic properties, including Chteau de Fontainebleau, Assemble Nationale, Muse du Louvre, Palais Garnier, and Htel de Crillon, that set the 76-year-old firm on track to help illuminate a darkened Notre-Dame.Three years after the devastation, in July 2022, Ins joined the family business as a project director, following an internship with Maison Lesage in Indiawhere, in part, she managed quality control during Paris Fashion Weekand a two-year tenure with haute couture trimmings factory Declercq Passementiers in Paris. It was during that time that she discovered the art of patience and how to create things by hand, she says. At this same time, there was a lot of conjecture as to whether the damaged lighting from the cathedral would be refurbished or completely replacedor even left out altogether.We passionately waited for the appel doffres (or the call for bids from companies to participate in the Notre-Dame restoration) to come out, she says, noting that the lighting was one of the last elements to be addressed by the tablissement public overseeing the project. The notices came out at different stages during the restoration, and for a very long time we thought maybe all the chandeliers had been destroyed, or that they didnt want chandeliers at all anymore. In a lot of contemporary churches these days, there are no chandeliers. But thankfully, we got word the call was coming.For the lighting restoration, the majority of work revolved around painstakingly cleaning decadesif not a centurysworth of grime.Photography courtesy Mathieu Lustrerie AtelierThe restored chandeliers and candelabras on display at Mathieu Lustreries atelier in Provence before their return to Notre-Dame earlier this fallPhotography courtesy Mathieu Lustrerie AtelierIn September 2022, the notice was announced along with the scope of work required to undertake the restoration. We went on a site visit to where the lighting was being stored just outside of Paris, along with seven other companies competing for the job. Facilitating the damage assessment, application process, and, subsequently, the monumental Notre-Dame restoration project would become her first tasks just two months into the new role. Following the initial inspection to determine the extent of the damage, it took Mathieu three weeks to complete and submit the application, but history was on the companys side. In 2015, her father undertook another restoration job for Notre-Dame: An enormous crown of lights that hung from the center of the cathedral needed some major TLC. Italong with most of the chandeliershadnt really been cleaned or retouched since electricity was introduced, she says, noting that had probably occurred during architect Eugne Viollet-le-Ducs restoration in the 19th century. (Ironically, the crown would be spared from the fire four years later, since the decision was made to install it at the Cathdrale Saint-Denis in a northern suburb of Paris following the refurbishment.)As it turned out, the published bid for work looked familiar. In the offer they give you examples of what they need and how they want the restoration to go, and it was literally a cut and paste of the document we submitted at the end of our project in 2015 that detailed what we did for the crown of lights, Mathieu says. So we felt we were in a very good position! And after a nail-biting five months, Mathieu received word that theyd been selected to undertake the restoration of 64 lighting objects that included 13 chandeliers, four candelabras, and 46 wall sconces, as well as the Sanctuary Lamp signifying the presence of God in the 12th-century cathedral.After an off-site analysis was performed on the metal of the many lighting fixtures, it was determined that they were gold-plated and not gilt. Luckily, matching the original color of gold was made easier thanks to a set of sconces that had been well-kept in an undamaged part of the cathedral.Photography courtesy Mathieu Lustrerie AtelierIn July 2023, Mathieu and five colleagues returned to the storage facility in the outskirts of Paris to retrieve the treasures. Because of all the lead [from the cathedrals roof] and other toxins, we had to clean everything in advance before transporting it to our workshop in Gargas, so they were safe to work on without risk [for our health]. Miraculously, the extent of the damage wasnt overwhelming. One of the chandeliers came crashing down during the fire, and two others had stones from the roof fall on them, so these three were quite damagedmeaning they were heavily scratched and bent, she continues. Fortunately, we were so happy to maintain 90% of the original materials and only had to produce a few new parts to replace what could not be repaired. Apart from thatand the realignment and reshaping of some elementsa lot of the work was cosmetic.That was the big worry, she shares. You always want to keep as much of the original piece as possible without having to recreate it. Instead, the majority of work revolved around painstakingly cleaning decadesif not a centurysworth of grime and tending to the gold plating. At first we werent able to tell whether the pieces were gilt gold or just gold plated. After an off-site analysis was performed on the metal, the verdict was in: We were very disappointed, actually, she laughs. Because gilding is much better quality, we were sure that must be the case, but sadly, it wasnt. Selecting the right color of gold, however, would prove to be a difficult task. With gilt gold theres just one color, but when its a varnish there are many colors, and we didnt have a baseline because the gold plating was very poorly kept. Luckily, in an undamaged part of the cathedral there were some sconces that had been cared for and were in good condition as a color match. It took our doreurs (or gilders) about a week to develop the right color, she explains. We did color tests all times of day and under artificial light, and theyd say, Add one touch of green, now a drop of red, until they got it just right.Eleven months after taking charge of the lighting, Mathieu Lustrerie completed its meticulous restoration efforts this past June when, in partnership with Notre-Dame, it opened its workshop for a three-month public viewing of the now restored fixtures.Photography courtesy Mathieu Lustrerie AtelierEleven months after taking charge of the lighting, Mathieu Lustrerie completed its meticulous restoration efforts this past June when, in partnership with Notre-Dame, it opened its workshop for a three-month public viewing of the renewed fixtures. There were several such exhibitions outside of Paris, and one in the Louvre, inviting people to see the treasures of Notre-Dame that one may never see up close again, Mathieu says of the firms open house that ended with the return of the pieces in early Septemberand subsequent reinstallation in the historic cathedralin advance of its December 8 reopening. People were crying; it was really quite emotional. But of course, were proud of the work weve done, and very happy everything is back where it belongs.

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Nothin' In The TankAhead of Kraven the Hunter's release this week, a new report claims what we already know: Sony's live action Spider-Verse is deadBuh-bye now! See ya later! Don't let the door hit you on the way out!Image credit: Sony News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Dec. 10, 2024 Kraven the Hunter isn't even out yet, but a new report has made it pretty clear that Sony is done with its SUMC for now.The SUMC, or Sony Universe of Marvel Characters, will go down in history for a few reasons, including having a ridiculous name, featuring films about characters that no one really cares about, and wasting a whole ton of money. Kraven the Hunter is still set to be the latest entry in the Spider-Man-less Spider-Verse when it releases this Friday the 13th (seriously? That's the date you picked?), but a new report from TheWrap essentially confirms that yes, this will be the last attempt from Sony at making a connected universe of Spider-Man related characters.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. A top talent agent that spoke with TheWrap has reportedly said that Sony has "developed what they want to develop for now," and that it's now "really about the next Spider-Man film." That film will be Tom Holland's Spider-Man 4, a Destin Daniel Cretton directed flick that's set to be released in July 2026, and is obviously a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony just helping to produce it. Another Sony insider told TheWrap that alongside Spider-Man 4 being the focus, the company will also continue to hone in on Beyond the Spider-Verse, the upcoming animated sequel that's yet to get a release date, and Spider-Man Noir, the live-action Amazon series that has Nicolas Cage attached to star as the titular character.What you'll obviously notice here is that the emphasis is being put back on Spider-Man, you know, the character that people actually like, rather than his villains or side characters that people are barely familiar with. After that though? Who knows! But I'm sure it won't involve Morbius.