It is perhaps poetic that throughout this year, the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation, developers have found such a rich vein of horror in early 3D visuals. Crow Country, Fear the Spotlight and now Mouthwashing all make terrifying use of low-poly characters, smeared textures and muted colour palettes to generate dread and abjection and in this sci-fi odyssey from Wrong Organ theyre also brilliantly utilised to symbolise complete psychological breakdown.The setup to Mouthwashing is simple and familiar: when a hulking spacecraft crashes in a remote part of the galaxy, the small crew slowly goes insane waiting for a rescue that is never going to come. Not helping matters is their cargo: millions of gallons of high-alcohol mouthwash which very quickly gets abused by the desperate and deeply flawed castaways.With the captain gravely injured, you play mostly as second in command Jimmy as he takes over the survival efforts. But you soon discover everyone has something to hide, from paranoid medic Anya to bullish mechanic Swansea. Everything on the ship is given a sinister edge from the disgusting food-processing equipment to the huge LED displays continually showing images of romantic sunsets and fluffy clouds.What sounds like a tense thriller, however, is in fact a surreal exploration of social and mental deterioration. Characters hallucinate wildly, the narrative chops from before the crash to after it, swapping between the two in a dizzying chronological dance; the ship itself seems to mutate in response to the paranoid delusions of its inhabitants; the weird vaporwave soundtrack hums and blasts in discordant rushes. There are elements of Event Horizon, Solaris and High Life in the interplay of human and technological breakdown; the way the ships U-boat-like corridors expand and contract like intestinal passageways; the way the crews psychoses are reflected back at them in smashed screens and ruined control panels. It is grim, fascinating stuff.There are puzzles to solve and items to collect and combine, but nothing works as it should and the game continually plays with and questions your assumptions. It may remind some players of the cult hit Clickolding in the way it asks questions about player culpability and complicity the things it wants you to do with the only weapons on board, the way it makes you hold the Captains mouth open to feed him painkillers as he moans and cries although the visuals are nostalgic, your connection with what is happening on that ship is very real and very alive. There are serious messages too about guilt, grief and alcoholism which may land heavily with people who have been affected by these things.Mouthwashing is a difficult but engrossing experience, a work of surreal horror invoking the cinema of David Lynch and Dario Argento, but also extremely functional as a game, or at least a study of what games are and what they want us to do. That titles like this are still being made and have global distribution is one of the few bright spots in a depressing year for the games business. Book yourself in for a flight as soon as possible, you will and wont regret it.

British star Idris Elba wants to be a part of a Cyberpunk 2077 live-action movie with Sonic 3 co-star Keanu Reeves, saying he wants to 'speak it into existence'

FromSoftware's new Elden Ring co-op RPG, Nightreign, has a surprising restriction on player count that may mean you need to find another friend to play withTech14:16, 17 Dec 2024Nightreign will seemingly feature more verticality(Image: FromSoftware Inc.)One of the best surprises at The Game Awards was the return of Elden Ring not that it ever really went away.After its 2022 release and the phenomenal expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree (which was itself up for Game of the Year at the show), Elden Ring fans are eating well.Still, Nightreign offers a different take on the experience, with a focus on co-op questing with friends and what appears to be faster combat. Still, one thing has us a tad worried.Borderlands 4 boss gives graphic response to Hawk Tuah feature questionGTA 6 Trailer 2 has already smashed surprising Rockstar Games recordPrepare to take on foes with friends(Image: FromSoftware Inc.)In an interview with IGN, Junya Ishizaki, game director on Elden Ring Nightreign, confirmed that the game can be played solo or as part of a trio but not in a duo.The game is designed to be played as a three-person team, but you can play it as a solo player, Ishizaki said, later clarifying "it's either one-player or three-player".That means if you were planning to team up with just one friend, you might want to consider playing solo, or recruiting someone else.So, why keep it to those player numbers?The reason that we went with a three-player focus was that we wanted to retain that sense of accomplishment you get from battling a boss together or from conquering a map together and that sense of enjoyment, but we wanted to recreate that in a fresh way" he explains.Article continues below"And we felt like focusing on a three-player co-op experience would provide a brand new sense of accomplishment with it.Games with three-player parties are nothing new, of course. Apex Legends, Destiny and more work that way, but they're also playable with fewer.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Far Cry 6 was three years ago, so were due for a sequel in the next year or two (Ubisoft)Assassins Creed may be Ubisofts priority at the moment but a new leak suggests theyre revaluating the Far Cry series, before the next game.2024 has not been kind to Ubisoft. The companys share prices has been dropping all year, Stars Wars Outlaws wasnt as big a hit as Ubisoft wanted, and its already decided to pull the plug on XDefiant just seven months after it came out.As such, there are serious discussions of selling the company to Tencent, while in the meantime Ubisoft seems to be putting all its eggs in the Assassins Creed basket. After a delay, Assassins Creed Shadows is out in February and its claimed Ubisoft intends to release 10 more Assassins Creed games in the next five years.While all thats going on, it sounds like Ubisoft is revaluating its next two Far Cry games, with a new report mentioning changes to the series formula and an internal delay.What are the next Far Cry games?As a reminder, Ubisoft is said to be working on two separate Far Cry projects. The first is a typical sequel, Far Cry 7 (or Blackbird as its codenamed), while the second is a multiplayer extraction shooter spin-off codenamed Maverick.According to Insider Gamings Tom Henderson, both games were aiming for a 2025 launch, but his latest report on the subject claims plans have changed and theyve been pushed back into 2026.From the sound of it, this is due to the complexities of both games development, with Henderson adding that Ubisoft is looking to break away from the Far Cry formula.This can be seen in both games premises. Maverick is set to be the Far Cry series first dedicated multiplayer game, with its gameplay loop incorporating survival elements as players battle not just each other but the wilderness and harsh weather.As for Far Cry 7, its plot apparently involves a 24 hour in-game time limit to save your kidnapped family, with the non-linear story changing depending on which family members you rescue. If accurate, this would be a radical departure from the likes of Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6.Thats not all, though. Far Crys movement systems are also said to be seeing a major overhaul in both projects, with techniques like tactical sprinting, sliding, and vaulting being introduced. In addition, Far Cry 7 will make use of Mavericks inventory and looting systems due to both games originally being one singular project.After the release of Far Cry 6, Ubisoft claimed the series had its best year ever in a May 2022 fiscal report. Their actions since though have implied it was a financial disappointment, with so far no official confirmation that Far Cry 7 exists.Although Maverick hasnt been described as a live service game, Ubisofts continued interest in that space means it wouldnt be surprising if it was.More TrendingHendersons report, however, suggests theres dwindling faith in the project, especially in the wake of XDefiants shutdown and subsequent layoffs.XDefiant was clearly made to capitalise on the live service games trend and its easy to assume Maverick is the result of Ubisoft doing the same with the extraction shooter trend popularised by the likes of Escape From Tarkov.Ubisoft has tried this once already with 2022s Rainbow Six Extraction, which was a solid game but failed to find a consistent audience, as Ubisoft stopped supporting it less than a year after it came out.Its too early to tell how either Far Cry game will perform, but the last few years of gaming make it difficult to be optimistic about Mavericks chances if theres already a lack of faith in it internally. Far Cry 6 The next Far Cry will likely retain an open world setting, but how will that be impacted by its purported time limit? (Ubisoft)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.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

Heres hoping Nintendo shows it on a two-sday (Nintendo/Metro)After its absence at The Game Awards 2024, the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumours claim its reveal could be mere weeks away.Rumours about Nintendos next console have been around since long before the company formally admitted it exists but after months and years of uncertainty an official reveal finally feels like its just around the corner.As well as a flurry of accessory leaks, many of which appear to give away the consoles appearance, one source has claimed to have already got their hands on the Switch 2 and is promising to share proof on Christmas Day.Here are the latest claims.When could the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date be?With a proper reveal unlikely to happen before the end of the year, new rumours claim Nintendo will finally show the console off in early January.The first rumour comes from GamesIndustry.bizs Chris Dring, who suggests a Switch 2 reveal could take place as early as the start of the new year. Although he is keen to stress that thats not from a direct source.Its just chatter from other people they think, Im told, it may even be right when the new year starts, says Dring on the latest episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast (you can hear his comments from the 12:30 mark).Drings not the only one though. Elsewhere, NintenTalk, a Twitch streamer specialising in Nintendo coverage, also believes a Switch 2 reveal is slated for January.He claims to have heard this from a contact of his at a major third party developer, who added, Get ready to play modern AAA offerings on your Nintendo system in 2025. The Switch 2 is expected to be significantly stronger than the original (X)Another Nintendo content creator, NintendoPrime, then chimed in to say hes heard the same thing, while Samus Hunter (the same person who leaked the Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition announcement) claims Nintendo may wind up pushing the Switch 2 reveal forward due to all the accessory leaks.Samus Hunter also theorises such a reveal could take place before the release of the Donkey Kong Country Returns remaster, which is slated for January 16.A Switch 2 reveal would certainly be an exciting way to kick off 2025 and it would make sense for Nintendo get ahead of the curve with official details, if these accessory leaks keep happening. This also lines up with a previous rumour from November, that also suggested a January reveal.More TrendingWhether it takes place in the first or second half of January, that month is a logical choice for the unveiling. After all, Nintendo has already said the Switch 2 will be shown by April 2025, meaning it only has a few months left to do so.Not to mention other sources have claimed the Switch 2 will launch in either March or April. If thats the case, Nintendo will want at least a couple of months to drum up excitement.This is Nintendo were talking about, though, and the company could very easily delay its plans should it feel like it. In fact, it reportedly delayed the Switch 2s release once already to ensure it would have a stronger line-up of launch games.Theres also uncertainty around threatened US tariffs for foreign-made goods, once Donald Trump begins his presidency. Thats something Nintendo will have no control over and could significantly impact their launch plans. Nintendo still has plans for the current Switch even after its successor arrives (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.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

Adult life is hard work. Here we are, spending eight hours or more of the day at an office working our butts off. Add in two hours or more of time to commute to and from work. Then find time to make dinner and other meals, and for some of us even taking care of smaller humans who cant do anything on their own. No one would blame you for not getting around to vacuuming for a couple of weeks. But maybe you dont even need to. This robot vacuum will do at all that hard work for you so you can spend that time either relaxing or chasing down the infinite other chores you need taking care of. Amazon has the Roborock Q5 Max+ for 22% off, bringing the price down to just $280, so you can save both time and money.See at AmazonOptimally Clean Your HomeBusy schedules can get in the way of keeping your home clean. The Roborock Q5 Max+ vacuum allows for hands-free cleaning. This model comes with a dock which your robot will automatically empty itself into after each cleanup. Its two 2.5 L dust bags means it can store up to seven weeks of debris, severely limiting how often you need to intervene in its daily cleanup.The vacuum has a powerful suction of 5,500 Pa, easily lifting dirt, dust, and even pet hair from your floors. Its strong enough to pull out debris wedged deep within the cracks of hardwood and buried within thick carpet. The all-rubber brush is resistant to getting tangled up with hair so you pet messes is no match. The robot is smart enough to know what type of floor its covering at the moment and can shift suction levels on its own to accommodate.Using a precise navigation system, the robot vac can create accurate maps of your home and track its cleaning routes. It can even draw up 3D recreations of your furniture. This means it can efficiently circumnavigate your home without repeating areas, and you can check in on how optimally its performing. The vacuum works with Alexa so you can set it and forget it with routines, or ask it to step up and clean off its schedule without getting up from the couch.As we approach the holidays, you can grab the Roborock Q5 Max+ vacuum for $80 off (22% off) its base price, meaning it can be yours for just $280.See at Amazon

Every company seems to have an AI angle these days, even those in very analog businesses. Mondelez, the snack conglomerate that owns everything from Chips Ahoy to Clif bars, says it has been using a proprietary AI tool to quickly generate ideas for new snacks.The Wall Street Journal in a piece about Mondelezs AI explains the company began development of the tool back in 2019: Food scientists there use the AI tool to create optimal recipes by specifying desired characteristics, including flavor (buttery, in-mouth saltiness, or vanilla intensity, for instance), aroma (oily, egg flavor, burnt, among others) and appearance (amount of chips, roundness, chip edges are considerations). The tool also considers parameters like the cost of ingredients, their environmental impact and their nutritional profile. Nobody thinks eating rocks or putting glue on pizza is a good ideaMondelez isnt using generative artificial intelligence here, but rather machine learning, a more traditional form of AI that isnt prone to hallucinating in the same way because it is optimizing outcomes rather than trying to create entirely new things. The same way Waze might use machine learning to optimize a route from A to B, Mondelezs tool is simply looking for the correct mix of ingredients to attain desired characteristics.It still had some problems in the early days, however: Earlier iterations of the tool that werent given as much data made some unhinged suggestions. Because [baking soda is] a very low-cost ingredient, it would try to just make cookies that were very high in baking soda, which doesnt taste good at all, said Wallenstein, the biscuit digital R&D section manager. Mondelez told the Journal that the AI is trained on the essence of different products, like Oreos, so that it doesnt stray too far from what consumers might expect. And recipes of course are still taste-tested. But Mondelez claims that whereas it previously developed new recipes through simple trial-and-error, having an AI come up with detailed recipes has allowed new products to reach production trials 4-5 times faster. Based on the investor frenzy for AI-related companies these days, we expect Mondelezs stock price to soar following this Journal article.

The Frankfurt Prototype / Barkow LeibingerSave this picture! Barkow LeibingerFrankfurt, GermanyArchitects: Barkow LeibingerYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Barkow LeibingerMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. With "The Frankfurt Prototype", students from the Stdelschule and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS) have realized a pioneering architectural project in the courtyard of the Senckenberg Research Institute. This temporary structure features an open, multifunctional market hall on the ground floor and flexible living and working spaces on the first floor, designed specifically for students. The building promotes social interaction and a connection to nature, integrating sustainable materials and adaptable spatial concepts. Barkow Leibinger supported the students in the planning and realization and accompanied the implementation of the prototype until completion in autumn 2024.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!At the heart of the project is a cost-effective, resource-efficient design that offers high living quality. By using recycled steel and repurposed concrete formwork, the project minimizes its CO footprint. The modular, prefabricated residential units on the upper floor can be flexibly adapted to meet various living needs. The public market hall on the ground floor serves as the city's "living room" and can function as a theater, cinema, exhibition space, and market for sustainable products, addressing the importance of regional food supply. These spaces are further enhanced by the working areas of the "Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan (CCAA)," an initiative by Rahraw Omarzad that brings cultural enrichment to the project.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The concept also includes innovative elements for biodiversity and sustainable urban living, exemplified by a "green urban filter." In close collaboration with researchers from the Senckenberg Society, the students developed biodiversity-friendly elements for the building's structure. In addition to Barkow Leibinger, Yara von Lindequist and Rudi Scheuermann (Arup Engineering) as well as Schneider+Schumacher were involved in the realization of the project. The building will be accessible in the courtyard of the Senckenberg Institute until the end of the year and will serve as a lively place for discussion and reflection on the urban future. Afterward, the construction will be reused elsewhere.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Frankfurt, GermanyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsWoodSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on December 17, 2024Cite: "The Frankfurt Prototype / Barkow Leibinger" 17 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024712/the-frankfurt-prototype-barkow-leibinger&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save?The Frankfurt Prototype / Barkow LeibingerYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Interior Design Trends of 2024Presented by:Save this picture!More House / Spacefiction Studio. Image Vivek EadaraAs 2024 comes to an end, a dynamic year that questioned knowledge, tradition, and innovation, we take a look at how global events and trends influenced the design of interior spaces. Last year, architecture practices sparked worldwide discussions, challenging norms and tradition, and embracing overlooked regions. Interior design, on the other hand, took a more reserved, modest approach, favoring simplicity and individuality. Fast forward a year later, the overall architecture and design themes of 2023 remain the same - reinforced if anything - but have embraced "crafted experimentations" through subtle, acupuncture-like interventions. This year, particularly towards the second half, witnessed unexpected societal shifts. While voices of the global south continue to rise, voices within that region that have been dormant for years reinforced themselves globally, disrupting a decades-long perception. Along with the political challenges, many industries were drastically transformed by artificial intelligence, raising concerns about digital equity, misinformation, and the evolution (or lack thereof) of global practices. Despite financial commitments and environmental initiatives from governments around the world, ongoing natural disasters and climate-related challenges demonstrated the need for more resilient solutions and policies.Save this picture!2024's design trends reflected a balance between welcoming in new technologies and celebrating timeless design principles. Same as every year, we saw a subtle universal design language as key trends in different design disciplines found their way across each other. Dark mode was one of the common themes of the year, making its way to web, graphic, product, and interior designs. Modern nostalgia has also been a prominent style for a couple of years now, as designers revive old aesthetics and combine them with contemporary elements. Tackling global environmental challenges and designing spaces that cater to both people and the planet continue to dominate all design industries.From a general perspective, 2024 design trends can be interpreted as 2023 2.0; we didn't see disruptive new themes but upgrades and reinterpretations of what we've been seeing the past couple of years. Earth colors continued to dominate this year, which comes as no surprise given the announcement of Pantone's 2025 Color of the Year. This year, we also saw a return of luxury materials - sharper, darker, and colder finishes that make for a bolder and more prominent revamp of classics. Hospitality interiors, especially coffee shops and pop-up restaurants, introduced a community-centric layout where users are seated on the same unit around a focal point, sharing the culinary experience. Minimalist decor was replaced with quiet luxury, as residential, commercial, and hospitality interiors embodied a refined spa-like aesthetic. For years, organic forms took center stage, but this year, we saw a return of sharp geometric edges in all areas of the interior space: pitched roofs, grid plans, angular furniture and fixtures, etc.Based on over 1000 projects published in our database, here are 10 design trends that shaped the interior spaces of 2024.Pitched Roof InteriorsSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Exploring Shades of Grey with Concrete & Steel CombinationsSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!"Quiet Luxury" as a StyleSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A Community-Centric Culinary ExperienceSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Sculptural IslandsSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Sharp Rectangular Forms Replace Organic FormsSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Color of the Year: Rustic Brown and Muted BurgundySave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Mahogany WoodSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Dark AccentsSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Trees as a Focal PointSave this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Find more projects that highlight the 2024 interior design trends in this My ArchDaily folder created by the author.This article is part of an ArchDaily series that explores features of interior architecture, from our own database of projects. Every month, we will highlight how architects and designers are utilizing new elements, new characteristics, and new signatures in interior spaces around the world. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions.This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Year in Review, presented by Gira.Minimalism with character and clear shapes reduced to the essentials. The Gira design lines are suitable for a variety of furnishing styles, in different colours and materials. With the introduction of the Gira E2 light grey recycled material, Gira is setting a strong example for sustainability and innovation in switch design.Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorDima StouhiAuthorCite: Dima Stouhi. "Interior Design Trends of 2024" 17 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024255/10-interior-design-trends-of-2024&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

If you want to launch your small business online, why not do it like a pro? Join graphic designer and content creator Anika Aggarwal to learn how to use Adobe Express for brand consistency. Anika will show you how to use Firefly for style references and schedule content, use translation features, and present your brand all in one place. In this session, youll learn how to: Stay on-brand with the Adobe Express brand style kit for consistency Utilize style references with Firefly in Adobe Express Edit, resize, and schedule content across different platforms using Content Scheduler Use translation features for a global reach Present your brand with confidence using presentation mode Subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud: https://adobe.ly/48Y1QJ1 Learn more about Creative Cloud: https://adobe.ly/3RTndnp About Adobe Creative Cloud:Unlocking creative potential goes beyond tools it's about cultivating inspiration, fostering innovation, and mastering artistic expression. On the Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube channel, discover stories, concepts, and trends that ignite your creativity. We are your hub for creativity, connecting you with Adobe channels for detailed tutorials and product insights. Adobe Creative Cloud brings together everything you need to create your greatest work. One membership gives you access to all Adobe professional creative desktop applications, plus new features as soon as they're available. Cloud storage ensures file access anywhere, even on mobile, streamlining concept sharing. Cloud-based services let you build websites, mobile apps, and content for any medium/device. With Behance integration, you can publish your portfolio on your own URL and plug into the world's largest creative community to get inspired, get feedback, and find new opportunities.Connect with Adobe Creative Cloud:Twitter: https://twitter.com/creativecloud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/adobe-creative-cloud/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adobecreativecloud Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adobecreativecloud/ #Adobe #AdobeYouTube #AdobeCreativeCloud