The vampire-like Hylomys macarong hedgehogAlexei V. AbramovAn extraordinary 234 new species were described by scientists in the Greater Mekong region of South-East Asia in 2023. The finds, announced in a report from conservation organisation WWF, include 173 species of plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish and three mammals.Since 1997, more than 3500 new plant and vertebrate animal species have been identified in the area the report covers, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam an average of 130 a year.Here are six of the new species, including a furry hedgehog named after vampires, an almost invisible dragon lizard and a leafless orchid on the verge of extinction.AdvertisementHylomys macarongThe furry member of the hedgehog family pictured above is endemic to Vietnam. Hylomys macarong may look innocuous, but its name macarong means vampire in Vietnamese. It got its moniker thanks to its long, pointed fangs, which remain hidden in this picture.Hipposideros kingstonaeThe Hipposideros kingstonae batPipat SoisookThis tiny leaf-nosed bat can be found from Thailand to Borneo. DNA analysis confirmed that Hipposideros kingstonae was a new species in 2023. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterIt isnt known where the diminutive bat, which weighs between just 4.9 and 7 grams, roosts. It has been sighted near large limestone caves, suggesting it could shelter inside them, but also in areas far away from any known caves, so it could roost in tree hollows.Laodracon carsticolaThe almost invisible Laodracon carsticola lizardSanti XayyasithSharp eyesight is required to spot this tiny lizard (Laodracon carsticola) high on the rugged karst pinnacles of Laos, which may explain why the species has been overlooked by scientists until now. One of the earliest known sightings of this lizard was by a guide on a zipline tour.The lizard is a member of the Agamidae (dragon lizard) family and has only been seen 50 to 70 metres high on limestone pinnacles. It is likely to have evolved unique traits to help it survive in its eroded, rocky microhabitat.Zhangixalus melanoleucusThe Zhangixalus melanoleucus tree frogParinya PawangkhanantThis lime-green tree frog (Zhangixalus melanoleucus) was discovered 2000 metres above sea level in the evergreen forests of Phou Samsoum mountain in northern Laos. The area is home to many other endemic species, yet is one of the least studied parts of Asia.Trimeresurus uetziA male Trimeresurus uetzi snakeH.T. LalremsangaThis vibrant snake was believed to be Trimeresurus albolabris, one of the most common species of pit viper in Asia, which is found from Nepal to Indonesia.But DNA studies of 25 specimens collected in Myanmar have revealed that it is a different species, now named Trimeresurus uetzi, that has so far only been seen in central and southern Myanmar.Chiloschista quangdangiiThe rare Chiloschista quangdangii orchidTruong Ba VuongThis leafless orchid of the Chiloschista genus, members of which are known as starfish orchids, has only ever been found at a single location near Lung Muoi, a tiny remote village in northern Vietnam. It is thought to be extremely rare.Yet the orchid is now sometimes found in the local plant market, which suggests that the local population of Chiloschista quangdangii is being depleted by the wildlife trade.Topics:

Last week, this space was all about OpenAIs 12 days of shipmas. This week, the spotlight is on Google, which has been speeding toward the holiday by shipping or announcing its own flurry of products and updates. The combination of stuff here is pretty monumental, not just for a single company, but I think because it speaks to the power of the technology industryeven if it does trigger a personal desire that we could do more to harness that power and put it to more noble uses. To start, last week Google Introduced Veo, a new video generation model, and Imagen 3, a new version of its image generation model.Then on Monday, Google announced a breakthrough in quantum computing with its Willow chip. The company claims the new machine is capable of a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of todays fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (that is, 1025) years. you may recall that MIT Technology Review covered some of the Willow work after researchers posted a paper preprint in August. But this week marked the big media splash. It was a stunning update that had Silicon Valley abuzz. (Seriously, I have never gotten so many quantum computing pitches as in the past few days.) Google followed this on Wednesday with even more gifts: a Gemini 2 release, a Project Astra update, and even more news about forthcoming agents called Mariner, an agent that can browse the web, and Jules, a coding assistant. First: Gemini 2. Its impressive, with a lot of performance updates. But I have frankly grown a little inured by language-model performance updates to the point of apathy. Or at least near-apathy. I want to see them do something. So for me, the cooler update was second on the list: Project Astra, which comes across like an AI from a futuristic movie set. Google first showed a demo of Astra back in May at its developer conference, and it was the talk of the show. But, since demos offer companies chances to show off products at their most polished, it can be hard to tell whats real and whats just staged for the audience. Still, when my colleague Will Douglas Heaven recently got to try it out himself, live and unscripted, it largely lived up to the hype. Although he found it glitchy, he noted that those glitches can be easily corrected. He called the experience stunning and said it could be generative AIs killer app.On top of all this, Will notes that this week Google DeepMind CEO (the companys AI division) Demis Hassabis was in Sweden to receive his Nobel Prize. And what did you do with your week? Making all this even more impressive, the advances represented in Willow, Gemini, Astra, and Veo are ones that just a few years ago many, many people would have said were not possibleor at least not in this timeframe.A popular knock on the tech industry is that it has a tendency to over-promise and under-deliver. The phone in your pocket gives the lie to this. So too do the rides I took in Waymos self-driving cars this week. (Both of which arrived faster than Ubers estimated wait time. And honestly its not been that long since the mere ability to summon an Uber was cool!) And while quantum has a long way to go, the Willow announcement seems like an exceptional advance; if not a tipping point exactly, then at least a real waypoint on a long road. (For what its worth, Im still not totally sold on chatbots. They do offer novel ways of interacting with computers, and have revolutionized information retrieval. But whether they are beneficial for humanityespecially given energy debts, the use of copyrighted material in their training data, their perhaps insurmountable tendency to hallucinate, etc.is debatable, and certainly is being debated. But Im pretty floored by this weeks announcements from Google, as well as OpenAIfull stop.) And for all the necessary and overdue talk about reining in the power of Big Tech, the ability to hit significant new milestones on so many different fronts all at once is something that only a company with the resources of a Google (or Apple or Microsoft or Amazon or Meta or Baidu or whichever other behemoth) can do.All this said, I dont want us to buy more gadgets or spend more time looking at our screens. I dont want us to become more isolated physically, socializing with others only via our electronic devices. I dont want us to fill the air with carbon or our soil with e-waste. I do not think these things should be the price we pay to drive progress forward. Its indisputable that humanity would be better served if more of the tech industry was focused on ending poverty and hunger and disease and war. Yet every once in a while, in the ever-rising tide of hype and nonsense that pumps out of Silicon Valley, epitomized by the AI gold rush of the past couple of years, there are moments that make me sit back in awe and amazement at what people can achieve, and in which I become hopeful about our ability to actually solve our larger problemsif only because we can solve so many other dumber, but incredibly complicated ones. This week was one of those times for me. Now read the rest of The Debrief The News Robotaxi adoptionis hitting a tipping point. But also,GM is shutting down its Cruise robotaxi division. Hereshow to use OpenAIs new video editing toolSora. Blueskyhas an impersonator problem. The AI hype machine iscoming under government scrutiny. The Chat Every week, I talk to one of MIT Technology Reviews journalists to go behind the scenes of a story they are working on. This week, I hit up James ODonnell, who covers AI and hardware, about his story on how the startup defense contractorAnduril is bringing AI to the battlefield. Mat:James, you got a pretty up close look at something most people probably havent even thought about yet, which is how the future of AI-assisted warfare might look. What did you learn on that trip that you think will surprise people? James:Two things stand out. One, I think people would be surprised by the gulf between how technology has developed for the last 15 years for consumers versus the military. For consumers, weve gotten phones, computers, smart TVs and other technologies that generally do a pretty good job of talking to each other and sharing our data, even though theyre made by dozens of different manufacturers. Its called the internet of things. In the military, technology has developed in exactly the opposite way, and its putting them in a crisis. They have stealth aircraft all over the world, but communicating about a drone threat might be done with Powerpoints and a chat service reminiscent of AOL Instant Messenger. The second is just how much the Pentagon is now looking to AI to change all of this. New initiatives have surged in the current AI boom. They are spending on training new AI models to better detect threats, autonomous fighter jets, and intelligence platforms that use AI to find pertinent information. What I saw at Andurils test site in California is also a key piece of that. Using AI to connect to and control lots of different pieces of hardware, like drones and cameras and submarines, from a single platform. The amount being invested in AI is much smaller than for aircraft carriers and jets, but its growing. Mat:I was talking with a different startup defense contractor recently, who was talking to me about the difficulty of getting all these increasingly autonomous devices on the battlefield talking to each other in a coordinated way. Like Anduril, he was making the case that this has to be done at the edge, and that there is too much happening for human decision making to process. Do you think thats true? Why is that? James:So many in the defense space have pointed to the war in Ukraine as a sign that warfare is changing. Drones are cheaper and more capable than they ever were in the wars in the Middle East. Its why the Pentagon is spending $1 billion on the Replicator initiative to fieldthousands of cheap dronesby 2025. Its also looking to field more underwater drones as it plans for scenarios in which China may invade Taiwan. Once you get these systems, though, the problem is having all the devices communicate with one another securely. You need to play Air Traffic Control at the same time that youre pulling in satellite imagery and intelligence information, all in environments where communication links are vulnerable to attacks. Mat:I guess I still have a mental image of a control room somewhere, like you might see inDr. StrangeloveorWar Games(orStar Warsfor that matter) with a handful of humans directing things. Are those days over? James:I think a couple things will change. One, a single person in that control room will be responsible for a lot more than they are now. Rather than running just one camera or drone system manually, theyll command software that does it for them, for lots of different devices. The idea that the defense tech sector is pushing is to take them out of the mundane tasksrotating a camera around to look for threatsand instead put them in the drivers seat for decisions that only humans, not machines, can make. Mat:I know that critics of the industry push back on the idea of AI being empowered to make battlefield decisions, particularly when it comes to life and death, but it seems to me that we are increasingly creeping toward that and it seems perhaps inevitable. Whats your sense? James:This is painting with broad strokes, but I think the debates about military AI fall along similar lines to what we see for autonomous vehicles. You have proponents saying that driving is not a thing humans are particularly good at, and when they make mistakes, it takes lives. Others might agree conceptually, but debate at what point its appropriate to fully adopt fallible self-driving technology in the real world. How much better does it have to be than humans? In the military, the stakes are higher. Theres no question that AI is increasingly being used to sort through and surface information to decision-makers. Its finding patterns in data, translating information, and identifying possible threats. Proponents are outspoken that that will make warfare more precise and reduce casualties. What critics are concerned about is how far across that decision-making pipeline AI is going, and how much there is human oversight. I think where it leaves me is wanting transparency. When AI systems make mistakes, just like when human military commanders make mistakes, I think we deserve to know, and that transparency does not have to compromise national security. It tookyearsfor reporter Azmat Khan to piece together the mistakes made during drone strikes in the Middle East, because agencies were not forthcoming. That obfuscation absolutely cannot be the norm as we enter the age of military AI. Mat:Finally, did you have a chance to hit an In-N-Out burger while you were in California? James:Normally In-N-Out is a requisite stop for me in California, but ahead of my trip I heard lots of good things about the burgers at The Apple Pan in West LA, so I went there. To be honest, the fries were better, but for the burger I have to hand it to In-N-Out. The Recommendation A few weeks ago I suggestedCa7riel and Paco Amorosos appearance on NPR Tiny Desk. At the risk of this space becoming a Tiny Desk stan account, Im back again with another. I was completely floored byDoechiis Tiny Desk appearance last week. Its so full of talent and joy and style and power. I came away completely inspired and have basically had her music on repeat in Spotify ever since. If you are already a fan of her recorded music, you will love her live. If shes new to you, well, youre welcome. Go check it out. Oh, and dont worry: Im not planning to recommendBillie Eilishs new Tiny Desk concertin next weeks newsletter. Mostly because Im doing so now.

While fantasizing about a trip to the South of France, I realized it would be more fun with friends.I dropped my dream itinerary in a group chat with three friends I'd known for just a few months.To my surprise, they all wanted to go, and we had the trip of a lifetime.I found myself crafting the perfect itinerary to the South of France, envisioning pristine beaches and dazzling scenery from Provence to the glamorous St. Tropez and Monaco, The dilemma? Though I was planning a solo trip, I realized it was actually the perfect destination for a glitzy girls' trip. The kind you make memories you'll still laugh about years down the line. Yet, as I'm nearing 40, the number of friends I have who can take time to travel as their lives move in the direction of marriage and growing families is dwindling.So, I took the plunge and tossed my itinerary in a group chat a friend created after we all had a blast together at my birthday brunch, where they initially all met. I was nervous about the possible chorus of, "Love this but can't maybe next year?" replies. But seconds later, responses like "I'm down!" and "I'd be interested" came rolling in.Following the enthusiastic replies, we started seriously planning our trip to the French Riviera in another dedicated group chat. They rented a convertible to get around while on their trip. Courtesy of Brittany Vickers Planning a trip with women I didn't know well had some challengesThat's when the frustrations kicked off. We were four women with vastly different vacation styles who were now planning a seven-day trip to the Cte d'Azur.The first issue was the budget. The pings from the group chat were never-ending as we attempted to merge various travel practices and budgets to fit the group.Initially, it was suggested to fly into a cheaper city and completely rearrange the original itinerary. It became overwhelming, and to avoid headaches before takeoff, we ultimately settled to move forward with what I initially proposed to the group. Once we all agreed on expectations, the next step was to finalize bookings. The author and her friends had a great time on their trip. Courtesy of Brittany Vickers From there, we leaned into each other's strengths to round out the finishing touches of the planning. I assumed the heavy lifting in finding the perfect places to stay. Because we didn't know each other well, we all agreed to look for accommodations that would allow everyone to have their own room and if that didn't work, at least their own bed. We were excited to go on the trip, but also wanted to give each other space to unwind and recharge.My method was simple: I looked around for spaces that fit the bill, selected my two favorite, and created a poll in the group chat for everyone to vote. It eliminated unnecessary back-and-forth and decision fatigue.Chelsea, whom I had met in a group for girls who love fine dining, was the group's resident foodie. In a location as splashy as the South of France, it's easy to get lost in the ritzy beach clubs and restaurants and rack up unnecessarily expensive tabs for every meal. To help us avoid this, she did some digging on both the hot spots and local affordable gems. We didn't go a day wondering, "Where should we eat?" They enjoyed wine and food at plenty of local hot spots. Courtesy of Brittany Vickers Then, Jen and Michaela who I had met individually, at a late-night museum event and art gallery, respectively took on the responsibility of organizing travel during the trip, which included renting a fabulous convertible, perfect for navigating the beautiful coasts and charming towns. We wanted the freedom that comes with renting a car but also needed someone who could maneuver the endless winding roads, which Jen agreed to tackle for the entire trip. And with Michaela coordinating plans for flights, trains and yachts when needed, the group trip made it out of the chat in less than a month.We all pitched in and planned an amazing tripEveryone pitched in, which ensured no one was burdened by an unfair amount of responsibility. I occasionally chimed in with restaurant suggestions, and we designated a second captain to assist Jen while navigating unfamiliar roads.Additionally, we all gave each other freedom to explore while still relishing each other's company, whether it was sharing a bottle of wine with the freshest fish as the sea stretched ahead, partying at a beach club, or having a siesta on our sun-drenched balcony before a night out. The author and her friend took a helicopter ride while on their vacation. Courtesy of Brittany Vickers A key to a successful group trip is also accepting everyone does not have to be attached at the hip. While in Monaco, two of us spontaneously decided to splurge on a helicopter tour while the other two settled into a fabulous lunch with glasses of ros. That kind of flexibility ensured everyone walked away satisfied at the end of the trip.You often hear the true test of friendship is if you can travel together. For us, our stay in the South of France was just the beginning of our friendship. We all took pieces of each other home. Thanks to Chelsea, I'll always remember to look for hidden gems away from tourist traps, and I've expanded my wine lists thanks to Jen, who often said, "Why not just order a bottle?" I also came home with an appreciation for jumping off yachts with Michaela. While still laughing from memories we just made, we departed already throwing out potential ideas for our next getaway.

Elon Musk is the founder-CEO of rocket company SpaceX.But Musk isn't privy to all of SpaceX's classified work with the US government, per the WSJ.Musk obtained top-secret clearance in 2022.SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's security clearance doesn't grant him complete access to the company's classified work with the US government.Musk isn't allowed to enter SpaceX facilities where classified information is being deliberated upon, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.The billionaire also isn't privy to the classified cargo SpaceX launches into space as part of the company's contracts with US national security agencies, per the outlet.In October, Musk said at a Trump campaign event in Pennsylvania that he has "top-secret clearance" for his work at SpaceX.Musk obtained his top-secret clearance in 2022, following a review process that took years, the Journal reported. SpaceX's lawyers had advised the company not to seek a higher security clearance for Musk because he would have to disclose details about his drug use and interactions with foreign nationals.In 2018, Musk appeared to smoke a joint during an interview with Joe Rogan. Musk later said in an interview with "60 Minutes" that he had "no idea how to smoke pot."When the Journal reported about Musk's drug use in January, he said that "not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol" in his system when NASA requested that he undergo three years of random drug testing.As for interactions with foreign nationals, Musk's business dealings have seen him meet with various foreign leaders over the years.In April, Musk visited China, where he met with Premier Li Qiang, the country's second-highest-ranking politician. The two discussed the roll-out of Tesla's self-driving technology in China.In October, the Journal reported that Musk has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. In a statement, SpaceX said the Journal's story was "incredibly misleading" and based on "completely unsubstantiated claims."Musk and Trump's relationship grows closerMusk's clearance status might no longer be a problem for him, given his close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.Musk endorsed Trump and spent at least $119 billion on his campaign. In the past weeks, he has reportedlyjoined Trump on calls with world leaders,including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.In November, Trump announced Musk as the co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO will lead the commission alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.Musk and Ramaswamy have talked about significantly reducing the size of the federal workforce and shutting down entire government agencies like the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Musk founded SpaceX in 2002. It was valued at about $350 billion during the latest round of staff share purchases. Musk is currently worth an estimated $455 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the richest person in the world by a roughly $200 billion margin.Representatives for Musk at SpaceX and the Defense Department did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Youve seen the Game awards nominations. Youve seen the Bafta longlist. Our own Guardian games of the year list is still a wee while away, but while youre waiting with bated breath, Im sure heres an appetiser: Pushing Buttons alternative awards. Without further ado Best use of beds as a gameplay deviceNeed to recover your hearts while adventuring through a bunch of eerie rifts that are tearing Hyrule apart? Simply conjure a bed out of thin air, make sure youre out of enemy reach and have a wee nap. Need to make your way across a bridgeable gap? This time, conjure several beds. Need a staircase? A barricade? Something decorative? Bed, bed, bed. In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the bed is the true hero.Best game to get you through a long-haul flightHours and hours of fun Balatro. Photograph: LocalThunk/PlaystackOn my way to Summer Game Fest in LA this year, I boarded the plane with a Steam Deck and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree pre-downloaded, ready for the first uninterrupted 10-hour gaming session of my 30s. But when I loaded it up, it wanted to authenticate my purchase. And the wifi on the plane wasnt working. So after having a massive sulk, I turned to Balatro (pictured above), and five hours of my flight disappeared in what felt like an instant. Thank you, Balatro, for not only stealing most of my free time in February, but getting me through that horrible flight.Sheer brazenness awardIt has invited a whole raft of plagiarism accusations and, eventually, a lawsuit from Nintendo, but nonetheless, you have to hand it to the developers of Palworld (pictured top) for being bare-faced enough to simply imitate Pokmon and give them guns. (Palworlds lead developer insists the game doesnt infringe copyright.)Problematic fave awardThe glorification of the military in first-person shooter games has made me feel queasy for many years, since they got more realistic looking. The connections between these games and real-world arms manufacturers are also icky. They are frequently used as military recruitment tools. And simultaneously, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6s single-player campaign is the most over-the-top, explosive and entertaining its been in years, a 90s special-ops thriller up there with the most testosterone-soaked action movies of that decade.Best first date awardPerfect date Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Photograph: Square EnixOne of the very first scenes in Life is Strange: Double Exposure (above) sees a twentysomething Max Caulfield in a student dive, attempting to flirt with the cute girl behind the bar. A few hours later, still in the same bar, they go on their first date, to an imaginary gig. Max and Amanda riff on each other, creating the most funny and adorable first date experience. I have rarely been on dates that went this well in real life, let alone in a video game. A moment of heartwarming brilliance in an otherwise inconsistent game.Most seen on TikTok awardI have never played Content Warning, but I feel as if I have, because Ive seen about 5,000 videos of it on various social media platforms this year. A comedy-horror satire of influencer culture (ironically), it has teams of four descending to the depths of the Earth to film the scary things they find there, run away, and upload the results for posterity (and likes and money). I have seen people huffing with desperate laughter after being chased by multi-armed skeletons, unexpectedly hoisted by ropes, and accidentally killed with ladders. Cannily given away for free during April, it has been a breakout hit with streamers.Best Scottish accents awardSick to boakin of canteen food Still Wakes the Deep. Photograph: Secret ModeIn the dark days before the turn of the millennium, I sat transfixed before my gigantic CRT computer monitor, appalled by the Scottish narration of Age of Empires IIs William Wallace campaign. In 2024, I played through the entirety of Still Wakes the Deep a cosmic horror game set on an oil rig in the North Sea without finding a single thing to complain about from its Scottish cast. I hugely enjoyed this game for plenty of reasons, particularly the way that the social-realist depiction of the rig and its workers collided with the incomprehensible horrors that infected them. But primarily, I enjoyed protagonist Caz McLearys realistically constant Glaswegian swearing, and his spectacularly dreadful boss ranting that he was sick to boakin of wee gobshites like him. Truly the representation I have been searching for.Best games released too late for everyones listsIt is an unwritten rule of the video games industry that nothing good comes out in December, because it screws up everyones game of the year lists (and several different awards shortlists). So shout-out to Bethesda for releasing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on 9 December, Grinding Gear Games for releasing Diablo-like Path of Exile on 6 December, and Freehold Games for finally releasing Caves of Qud on 5 December after 15 years of development. My friends and colleagues are raving about all of them. Id tell you which is best, but I havent played them all yet, because it is December.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionWhat to playThis protagonist kills fascists Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Photograph: Games PressIve just played the opening hours of the aforementioned Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and, wow. Its great. Its got much less punching and much more sneaking, thinking and observing than I dared to dream it would have. Its more like Dishonoured than Tomb Raider or Uncharted, and instead of shooting at fascists I was clobbering them over the head with a guitar I found in a guardhouse, which Im sure we can all agree is drastically more entertaining. My only criticism so far is that it is still a very unrealistic depiction of the archaeology profession.Available on: Xbox, PC Estimated playtime: What to readMarking three decades an original PlayStation, from 1994. Photograph: Lou Benoist/AFP/Getty ImagesEurogamer has marked the PlayStations 30th anniversary with a huge interview with former Sony executive Shawn Layden, who tells some great stories about the consoles history.Palestinian game developer Rasheed Abueideh could not find funding through conventional routes for his game Dreams on a Pillow, about the 1948 Nakba. So he turned to crowdfunding. You can read more about the game, and the story behind it, on its funding page.Indie game shop itch.io was briefly taken down on Monday due to whatfounder Leaf Corcoran called some trash AI-powered brand protection software used by Funko Pop. Funko denies responsibility, claiming it only filed a takedown notice for one page on the site.What to clickQuestion BlockBedding in as a favourite The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Photograph: NintendoSo many of you have emailed in already, but we are still looking for more of your favourite games of 2024, which will feature in the final newsletter of the year. They do not have to prominently feature multipurpose beds.Send yours in, by replying to this email or emailing me at pushingbuttons@theguardian.com.

Rockstar Games' parent company, Take Two, has finally given an update on GTA 6 after its Game Awards no-show and reports the game could shift from its 2025 release windowTech09:41, 16 Dec 2024Updated 10:17, 16 Dec 2024Will GTA 6 make 2025 after all?The Game Awards was stacked with reveals, from The Witcher 4, to Elden Ring Nightreign and Steel Hunters, but despite winning the 'most-anticipated' award, Grand Theft Auto 6 wasn't there.With Rockstar's game first shown off in a trailer more than a year ago, fans are getting antsy waiting for new information, but the developer's parent company has been fanning the flames in a conversation with YouTuber Conner Mather.Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick has been heaping high praise indeed on Rockstar's next title, which is sure to keep the fervent fanbase excited even with a lack of news, dubbing the game "extraordinary" and "worth waiting for".Speaking in the video above, Zelnick says the next installment in Rockstar's crime epic will be "extraordinary", saying the game will be "worth waiting for" but stopped short of saying how long players will be waiting.Instead, he said: "You thought you were anticipating this thing but this is way bigger and way better and more exciting and more beautiful than you could have possibly thought of".Still, over on Reddit, fans are a mixture of disappointment that Zelnick may have played an early build before they have, or moaning about the interview you can't please everyone it seems.Article continues belowMaybe they're a little salty. After all, we've heard reports the game could be pushed to 2026, while many theorised GTA 6 would appear at a Sony event that never took place.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet were you impressed? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)The Monday letters page thinks Elden Ring: Nightreign is just repurposed DLC, as a reader worries about the release date for The Witcher 4.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukPLEASE NOTE: We are currently preparing our content for over the Christmas period and will need a number of Readers Features, so if youve been meaning to write one but never quite got round to it we could do with as many as possible before Monday, December 23.First impressionsAm I the only one that wasnt that impressed by Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet? And Im not just talking about that cringey subtitle. It looked fine, the graphics are good, obviously, but it has an overwhelming air of smugness to it that I can well imagine comes as standard for Naughty Dog developers but Im not sure is warranted here.The main character didnt do or say anything to make me like her and despite the trailer being quite long I didnt really get a feel for what the story was or what the gameplay is going to be. I guess a third person fighter? But considering how simplistic the combat is in other Naughty Dog games Im not sure I have much faith in them taking on Devil May Cry or whatever.I didnt really like the design of the protagonist, the robot you saw for a minute, or the buster sword she seems to be using. It all felt like one of those games that are patched together with ideas from other peoples titles and I expected more from Naughty Dog. Im not writing it off but Im not super excited either. I hope its a good game, but I wouldnt bet on it at this point.FocusMain eventVery excited to hear about more Elden Ring, although I get the feeling that Nightreign was probably originally DLC and they decided to expand it. FromSoftware often add in new multiplayer options after launch and turning your game into a roguelike has been very common with other developers lately, when it comes to making DLC.Thats not a criticism but I think its pretty obvious this is a side project and not their main game at the moment. Id bet good money Hidetaka Miyazaki is not the director too.Finding out what he is working on next will be the most important information for me in the coming year and Im not sure if the possible Sony buyout of Froms parent company makes that more or less likely. Heres hoping the beans get spilled soon.GrackleQuick jobCrazy to think that The Witcher 4 is going to be out 2028 at the earliest and quite possibly two or more years later than that. Its getting to the point where its going to become common for developers to not stay on a game for the whole of its development. Five years is longer than Ive stayed at any one job, and I wouldnt say thats particularly unusual. In fact, Id say six or seven is relatively unusual.The job layoffs all around probably make people more keen than usual not to move away, and stick at a studio, but the whole thing seems so difficult to organise. Whats the longest it ever takes to make a movie? Three years, maybe? And the average has got to be a year or less.Never mind people leaving, people are going to die of old age waiting to finish a game soon. Well, I hope it works out anyway, as I am fine with Ciri being the main character and double fine with the idea of more Witcher of any kind.PinkyEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukWish grantedFirstly, merry Christmas GC and Happy New Year, keep up the good work.Writing in for a small bit of Inbox magic this Christmas.While everyone has been heaping praise on the new Call Of Duty and Indiana Jones games, as a Switch only owner I have been playing Yakuza on the Switch, which quietly dropped onto the Switch for the sensible sum of 18, for those that dont know.This was my first Yakuza game (exciting) and I really enjoyed it, but with a fight on almost every street it left me yarning to play the slower-paced Shenmue series, so how about a small Xmas Inbox miracle and a Shenmue collection on Switch please guys?ChrisGC: Since the publishing rights now belong to ININ, who were behind the recent Taito Milestones 3, thats probably quite likely.No more MonopolyIve been going back through the Dark Souls games, and Im currently being destroyed in the Pained World of Ariandel by some creatures that look like the baddie in Through The Dragons Eye (Im old) in Dark Souls 3.You get someone in to occasionally review and recommend board games. Im wondering if the Dark Souls board game is any good? Ive got a nice bit of time off over Christmas this year so Im thinking of trying to get into something a bit different but not sure if its any goodAny help would be appreciated.SimonGC: Its rather old now, compared to other video game board game adaptions, but the consensus seems to be that its pretty good. Heres Lucy Orrs rundown of the best new tabletop games for Christmas, which includes Mass Effect and Halo.Rainbow Islands: The MovieFor any Amiga Fans out there, there is a Blu-ray documentary available to pre-order, with videos on the making of games such as Frontier, Kick Off, Sensible World Of Soccer, RoboCop 3, and Rainbow Islands, as well as other Amiga games. Its made by the people who made the From Bedrooms to Billions documentaries that have covered various home computers and consoles, including PlayStation, Spectrum, and Amiga 500.The Blu-ray is region free, signed and numbered for 35 plus postage. It is a lot of money but it is a niche product and needs to be that cost to happen. Its available for pre-order until Thursday, 19th December 2024 with delivery estimated at February 2025.Also this week, the ZX Spectrum The Rubber Keyed-Wonder documentary Blu-ray is finished as well and is being posted out to backers (like me) of the Kickstarter campaign too, as that is finally finished after three years. it is also available to buy on digital format from here if you missed the campaign.Andrew J.Currently trying to platinum Astro Bot (PS5) before the new year!Welcome backGreat news about the return of Fumito Ueda. Ill be honest and say Id completely forgotten about his games over the last decade or so, but the trailer of the new one brings it all back. Sony were silly to let him slip out of their fingers, but then their handling of all their Japanese teams seems poor, going back since before The Last Guardian I guess considering when he left.Overall, a really good The Game Awards, Id say. I didnt stay up for it but reading about everything in the morning it was clearly a good one and theres at least four or five games Im definitely interested in without even knowing more. The trailers seemed longer and better too, before they were basically just a logo and nothing else.CranstonThe wrong side of bedSo I already know therell be a few letters dedicated to the thoughts over Friday nights Game Awards and Id like to take this time to share mine. Im vehemently regretful of spending my time wallowing in the disappointment and underwhelming events of the show. So, Ill say that the announcements, for a start, werent as groundbreaking as Id hoped. Kudos for beginning with the announcement of The Witcher 4. Im stoked for the title, but we all know its precisely three to four years away. Lets not kid ourselves. This will release the exact same time frame as the PlayStation 6 and I quite frankly can say it was too early to announce this.Why showcase a trailer, thats four years away? It was a fantastic opener, but its head-scratching for lack of a better word. Im excited to see Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and The Last Of Us Part 2, release on PC. Those were two great surprises. But Ill resort back to being sceptical, by saying that Im kind of puzzled over Laura Baileys new project. I dont see the need for something that seems so forgettable, to include a voice actress of her calibre. Is anyone remotely even interested in this? Why is Aaron Paul working on this, when he truthfully hasnt made anything close to the calibre of Breaking Bad, since it ended?I see this flopping hard and being forgotten, in less than a week. Im puzzled to see Black Myth: Wukong win Best Action Game. Its essentially another Souls clone and, if Im being honest, I would have liked to see Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 win instead. Congratulations to Metaphor: ReFantazio on the multiple awards, very well deserved. Im still kind of astounded to see Silent Hill 2 remake completely snubbed. Luke Roberts was absolutely robbed of Best Performance and Silent Hill 2 was robbed of Best Audio Design. It deserved that accolade at the very least.I dont see the yearning for a mobile game set in Westeros and the world of Game Of Thrones. Its of course another cash grab and my expectations are zero. I was, however, disappointed with the so-called massive announcement rumours. kami 2 was announced and we also saw the first glimpse of what Naughty Dog have been working on. A space odyssey named Intergalactic. Am I the only one who actually expected more? Im not stating this will be a dreadful experience, but after onslaught of anime titles and Fortnite advertisements that I couldnt care less.Finally, Id like to conclude this on a note of surprise and confusion. Astro Bot won the Game Of The Year prize. Astro essentially swept the show and if Im being fruitfully honest, I expected Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to win. I hoped for it to win. But a platformer with quaint level design and enjoyable gameplay granted, but minimal story, wins over Metaphor and Rebirth. Im kind of upset over that. But it is what it is.Elden Ring is also back, with a co-op title, and Id like to hope this can be single-player unlike It Takes Two, but Ill cross my fingers. Overall, I found the show was less than what people hoped for. Considering I stayed up for the entire duration, until 4am it felt as if it was ultimately time wasted. I could have read about it all the next morning. You get what you pay for.Shahzaib SadiqInbox also-ransVampire Survivors on the Switch. Looks rubbish but if ever there was ever a case of dont judge a book by its cover in games and its only four quid.Chevy MalibuGC: We agree entirely, the disconnect between how it looks, and even how it plays at first, and the actual level of enjoyment it offers is vast.I just thought that GCs offices must be called GCHQ. Thats it. Thats the email.Ali KMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: How much will the PlayStation 6 be?GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

After a quiet start last week, Decembers big movies kicked off this weekend with SonysKraven the Hunterand WBs anime film Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim. Despite being fresh new features, neither movie were able to stand against the might of Disney and the Wizard of Oz. Per the Hollywood Reporter,Kravencame in third behind both Moana 2andWicked: Part One,which have been out since late November. At time of writing, the R-rated antihero flick has made $26 million globally, $11 million of which came from domestic audiences. Sonys gamble of making movies about Spider-Man baddies without the webhead himself has had diminishing returns this year, and not even Aaron Taylor-Johnson brutally killing people could change that, it seems. Reviews have been mainly negative, so Sonys probably going to be more selective about who gets a movie going forward, assuming Sonys Spider-Man Universe still has a future. Meanwhile,Rohirrimmade $5 million domestic, and $10.3 million globally. Set about 200 years before the Peter Jackson movies, it boasts some creative talent from those earlier filmsnamely co-writer Philippa Boyens, and Jackson and Fran Walsh as EPsand garnered a mixed reception thus far. Its a weird time forLord of the Ringsright now: along with the ongoing Prime Video show, WBs trying to kick off at least one new movie centered on Gollum, who also headlined last years pretty disastrous video game. Add on the Jackson films getting re-released into theaters over the summer, and people may have been Ringsdout, assuming they had any interest or knew ofRohirrimin the first place.As forMoanaandWicked? They kept on making money; the former swam to $717 million globally and maintained a first-place lead at $26.6 million domestic as it heads for $1 billion.Wickedsnow made $500 million, but its got an ace up its sleeve with the sing-along version hitting theaters on Christmas Day. Speaking of, next week sees the release ofSonic 3andMufasa on December 20, thenNosferatuon Christmas Daymeaning KravenandRohirrim may end up get pushed out of theaters soon. If you saw either of this weekends new movies, let us know what you thought about them in the comments below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Weve had quite a few zombie franchises in the last decade, but one that hasnt been seen in a while is the Return of the Living Deadfilms. The last movie dropped all the way back in 2005, but it seemed things were set to change when a new movie was announced in 2023. Fortunately for fans, the series is officlally returning next year, just in time for the first films 40th anniversary. After a handful of teaser images on Friday, the studio released a teaser for the next film, also titledReturn of the LivingDead. Instead of being a reboot as initially believed, its actually a continuation of the original movie: set almost two years later in winter 1985, the Tarman zombies back in action and looking to make some chaos in an unnamed Pennsylvania town where the new films set. Living Dead said not to expect any returning character from the first movie, given their terrible fates, but teased audiences will be welcomed back into the dark humored, sexy, edgy, Trioxin fueled world horror fans first encountered. The firstReturn of the Living Deadfocused on a town infected by zombies that suddenly rose up after a toxic gas accidentally reanimated all of its corpses. In a press release, director/writer Steve Wolsh built up the teaser by revealing it was made entirely with practifcal effects and on-location, and the cemetery Tarman walks through was built to replicate the first films Resurrection Cemetery. Utilizing our widescreen anamorphic lenses, we captured the practical snow effects swirling against the night sky that gives it an amazing look and texture, he said. Its going to blow people away seeing an entire film made like this. Return of the Living Deadshambles to theaters in Christmas 2025.[via BloodyDisgusting] Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Save this picture! arch-existThroughout the year, ArchDaily's team of curators works on expanding and populating our project library. Located all around the world, each curator carefully considers the best works emanating from their respective regions in an effort to have a diverse representation of the most inspiring and innovative built works. The team looks to new rising practices, new technologies, and the vernacular revival of traditional construction techniques. Seeking socially driven initiatives, as well as major works by renowned architects, the overall offers a holistic view of the built world today and is relayed through the yearly project review.While there's still much ground to cover and many projects to bring to light, this year's collection of works was quite diverse, particularly in their materiality, with each region focusing on local sourcing of building materials. Additionally, unique programmatic proposals and typologies were interesting to note as they offered a lot of mixed-use and experimental layouts, promising some new ways of living and different positions towards private/public spaces. Finally, many previously anticipated works came to fruition, offering monumental cultural and public spaces for all.The above can be delved into and seen in this year's top 100 projects selection, where the most sought-after built project references are laid out based on their relevance and circulation.Zaishui Art Museum / junya ishigami + associatesSave this picture!Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse Garden / Delugan Meissl Associated ArchitectsSave this picture!1736 House / HARQUITECTESSave this picture!House in the Trees / Ayako ArquiteturaSave this picture!House of Bluff / ChaofficeSave this picture!Vaazh House / Vy architecture studioSave this picture!University Children's Hospital Zurich / Herzog & de MeuronSave this picture!In Between Gardens Residence / A ThresholdSave this picture!Beijing Sub-Center Library / SnhettaSave this picture!Immersive Resilience Garden / Changyeob Lee + Studio ReBuildSave this picture!Renovation of the Zebro Viewpoint / lvaro Siza VieiraSave this picture!Zebun Nessa Mosque / Studio MorphogenesisSave this picture!Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru / Skidmore, Owings & MerrillSave this picture!Twisted Brick Shell Concept Library / HCCH StudioSave this picture!ParkLife Apartment Building / Austin Maynard ArchitectsSave this picture!Terra Cotta Workshop / Tropical SpaceSave this picture!Sun Tower / OPEN ArchitectureSave this picture!Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel / RCNKSKSave this picture!Cabbage Tree House / Peter Stutchbury ArchitectureSave this picture!Babassu Harvesters Reference Center / Estudio FlumeSave this picture!AEAJ Green Terrace / Kengo Kuma & AssociatesSave this picture!Prepared Rehmannia Root Crafts Exhibition Hall / LUO studioSave this picture!Nandi House / Fino Lozano + Moro Taller de ArquitecturaSave this picture!Toy Storey Residence / WallmakersSave this picture!Flag House / studio mk27Save this picture!Farmworker's House / NidusSave this picture!Hampi Art Labs / Sameep Padora and AssociatesSave this picture!Realengo Park Susana Naspolini / Ecomimesis Solues EcolgicasSave this picture!Billy O'Tea House / STO.M.PSave this picture!House 28.0855 / VAN VAN AtelierSave this picture!Six Columns House / 31/44 ArchitectsSave this picture!Beijing Performing Arts Centre / Schmidt Hammer Lassen + Perkins&WillSave this picture!Iron Wood House / Earth Lines ArchitectsSave this picture!One River North / MAD ArchitectsSave this picture!Piranesian HQ and Park / BIGSave this picture!Nujiang Grand Canyon Bookstore of Librairie Avant-Garde / Tao (Trace Architecture Office)Save this picture!More House / Spacefiction StudioSave this picture!New Taipei City Art Museum / KRIS YAO | ARTECHSave this picture!Renovation of East Nanjing Road Sub-district Community Comprehensive Life Service Center / TJAD Original Design StudioSave this picture!The Mix Restaurant / The BloomSave this picture!A Home Around The Forest / YSLA ArchitectsSave this picture!House on Lake Como / J. Mayer H. ArchitectsSave this picture!Sabino 10 House / EditorialSave this picture!Restaurant Iris / NORM Architects + Kvorning DesignSave this picture!Copas House / PPAASave this picture!Sydney Central Station Renovation / Woods BagotSave this picture!UZV House / OAD - Open Architecture DesignSave this picture!The "Old" Chaple / O-office ArchitectsSave this picture!Moongate ADU / Cover ArchitectureSave this picture!Aru House / Curious PracticeSave this picture!House in Shunde / Multi-ArchitectureSave this picture!Diriyah Art Futures Contemporary Art Hub / Schiattarella AssociatiSave this picture!Bandhan Residential School of Business / Abin Design StudioSave this picture!Suna House / YDR estudioSave this picture!Longbranch Residence / mwworksSave this picture!Big Fish House / Martin Gomez ArquitectosSave this picture!Manac House / VAGASave this picture!Horizon House / Taylor KnightsSave this picture!The Landing House / Industry of All NationsSave this picture!Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian / Kengo Kuma & Associates + OODA + VDLASave this picture!Cabin in the Woods / K+S ArchitectsSave this picture!WELL House / memo architectuurSave this picture!Pereiro Do Cha House / Valerio OlgiatiSave this picture!Mercure Bukhara Old Town Hotel / ARC ArchitectsSave this picture!Toro House / Estudio CarrollSave this picture!The Stoic Wall Residence / LIJO RENY architectsSave this picture!Hangzhou Xiaohe Park / Kengo Kuma & AssociatesSave this picture!Housing Complex in Leiria / Bureau des MsarchitecturesSave this picture!The Pavilion House / Malan Vorster Architecture Interior DesignSave this picture!AYURU the Forest Temple / Atelier Marko BrajovicSave this picture!The House of Courtyards / Studio VDGASave this picture!Roam Ranch House / Baldridge Architects