With Christmas approaching, here are the biggest gaming Christmas requests over the last decade let us know how many you own, or which ones you're still looking to playTech14:40, 19 Dec 2024Was Pokemon Legends: Arceus on your Christmas list?(Image: Steam)Christmas is coming, and while weve covered a whole host of gift ideas for gamers, were expecting Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and the PS5 to be very popular in 2024.Weve dug back through the last 10 years of gaming history to put together a list of what we think the biggest gift requests were. From games to consoles, theres a whole host of titles to take you down memory lane.Which have you played? Which do you still own? Heres our rundown of the biggest gaming Christmas gifts of the last decade.Advanced Warfare was a surprise turn for Call of Duty(Image: Steam)Call of Duty Ghosts had struggled at the launch of the PS4 and Xbox one the year prior, and had Battlefield 4 not launched in a sorry state theres a good chance things would be different today.Still, Advanced Warfare brought players back in their droves, with a new exosuit that acted as a jetpack and a dash ability, and, um, Kevin Spacey.The Witcher 3 was many players' first introduction to Geralt(Image: Steam)If you were playing on the Wii U, theres a good chance you spent Christmas 2015 building Mario levels while two open-world titans duked it out on PlayStation and Xbox.Metal Gear Solid 5 saw the final Hideo Kojima entry in the stealth franchise add two huge fully explorable worlds rife with tactical opportunities, while The Witcher 3 captivated fans and, judging by the reception to The Witcher 4, made us all fans of the series for life.Overwatch 2 has replaced the original, but not in our hearts2016 was the year of the shooters, with Call of Duty Infinite Warfare strung up by its jetpack this time around as fans demanded a return to boots on the ground action, and Titanfall 2, despite being the best of the bunch, was swept away by a release date sandwiched between CoD and Battlefield.Battlefield might have been the one that many opted for at Christmas, had it not been for Overwatchs debut which made huge waves earlier in the year and spread like wildfire. Say what you want about the years since, but the first few months of Overwatch were magic.The Switch changed Nintendo's fortunes(Image: Future via Getty Images)Assassins Creed Origins shifted the series to an RPG, NieR: Automata captured hearts, but the biggest thing that happened in gaming in 2017 was the Nintendo Switch.Not only did Nintendos hybrid console have us taking our games on the go, but it launched with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and saw out 2017 with Super Mario Odyssey, two of the best games of the last decade. Talk about hitting the ground running!Red Dead Redemption 2 is unforgettable(Image: Steam)2018 finally saw the return of Rockstar Games, with Red Dead Redemption 2 offering a lengthy tale of broken trust across the Old West that I keep thinking about all these years later.It also saw the long-awaited comeback of Super Smash Bros, which came out at the end of the year. It brought a huge roster, a lengthy single-player mode, and so many nods, winks, and outright inclusions from gaming history that you could feasibly play for dozens of hours and still not see it all.Modern Warfare 2019 brought the series back with a bang(Image: Steam)After Black Ops 4, Activision Blizzard returned to Modern Warfare in 2019, and while it was divisive among hardcore fans, the comeback of Captain Price and crew kickstarted a fresh trilogy that saw two subsequent entries of varying quality.It also started the rumours of a Call of Duty Battle Royale, with the free-to-play entry landing in 2020 right when lockdown was in effect.PS5 flew off shelves in 2020(Image: AFP via Getty Images)2020 was the year of new consoles, and while COVID made them hard to come by for a long time, the PS5 arrived with Demons Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Spider-Man Miles Morales.On the other hand, the Xbox Series S and X launched with patches for older titles but less in the way of fresh new arrivals. That made the PS5 the console to buy for many, and Sony has kept up that momentum.And, if you couldnt get a PS5 or Xbox Series console, you could play the incredibly popular Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch.It Takes Two is a one-of-a-kind co-op experience(Image: Steam)It was a solid year for games in 2021, with It Takes Two grabbing multiple Game of the Year awards and offering a fantastic festive co-op session.Forza Motorsport 5 and Halo Infinite made it a great end of the year for Xbox, with the former likely to be the top pick for many this year if it wasnt already included in Xbox Game Pass.Elden Ring is one of the greatest games of all time(Image: Steam)What a year 2022 was. Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok, Stray, Tunic, Immortality and Cult of the Lamb all launched and yet the biggest request at Christmas was likely between the first open-world Pokemon game, and Elden Ring.With Pokemon: Legends Arceus, Switch players got a new open-world adventure to tide them over until Zelda, while Elden Ring swept Game of the Year discussions with its dark fantasy world and challenging combat.It still feels like magic that Tears of the Kingdom runs on the Switch(Image: Steam)Article continues belowGame of the Year winner Baldurs Gate 3 blew everyone away last year, but with a digital-only release, it may have missed Christmas shoppers.That likely brought the biggest Christmas game down to Spider-Man 2 or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Xbox fans could play Starfield, too, meaning everyone had something last year.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

The next Nintendo console won't have the most imaginative name, but it will reportedly fix the issue of Joy-Con drift that has plagued the original if Switch 2 leaks are to be believedTech14:06, 19 Dec 2024The Nintendo Switch is one of the most successful consoles of all time(Image: Getty Images)The new year is expected to be huge for Nintendo with the company planning to announce and release its successor to the Switch, one of the best-selling consoles of all time.While some reports have suggested it will be backward compatible, details have been scarce, but we now have much more of an idea of what to expect thanks to someone who claims to have already played it.According to a new report from The Verge, the next console from Nintendo will be called Switch 2, and will again feature a handheld system and a dock for connecting it to a TV.Joy Con controllers are neat, but have some major drift issuesThe Verge spoke to a Reddit user called 'NextHandheld' who claims to have seen, and even touched, the new Nintendo system.The Verge has also seen photographic evidence of the console, notably its controller rails and a dock which carries the 'Nintendo Switch 2' branding.The Redditor says there are only the same ports as the current Switch's (HDMI, ethernet, and a USB-C port for charging), but is rated for higher wattage than the original which could mean a significant increase in performance (the dock is rated for 60W, while the console is rated for 45W.The Switch controllers have been an issue since launch(Image: Getty Images)Still, the real difference could be the controller rails.The Switch arrived with swappable controllers called Joy-Cons that slide onto the system, but according to the report these could be replaced by magnetic controllers instead.One of the Switch's biggest issues since launch has been that its controllers can suffer a phenomenon known as 'drift', where they sticks don't return to centre and games think the sticks are being pushed in a certain direction.Article continues belowAccording to The Verge's source, this could be alleviated with magnetic Hall Effect sensors used in the controllers.With Nintendo expected to unveil the console next month, we'll find out soon.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Squid Game: Unleashed now with added baseball bats (Netflix)As the second season approaches, Netflix provide their own adaptation of Squid Game, in a more violent rival to Fall Guys.When Korean TV series Squid Game was released to an unsuspecting public in 2021, its enormous popularity took everyone by surprise. What was less surprising was its deadly game show subject matter, which occurs with surprising frequency in fiction of all varieties. Forget The Truman Show with its boring non-lethal, humiliation-only tropes, Squid Game is about killing almost everybody involved.The concept goes back decades, through Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man (which is getting a remake thats closer to the original Stephen King story), and fellow book adaptations Battle Royale and The Hunger Games. The details are always different but the idea that people would want to watch others risking and losing their lives performing silly game show tasks has been around for a long time.In ancient Rome it happened in real life, but these days, of course, its only simulated. Players of Fortnite and Among Us will be more than familiar with the challenge of being the last person standing, while Fall Guys tries to play things purely for laughs. And so it is that Squid Game: Unleashed has also been released, where you once again compete against random internet foes who are also all trying to be the sole survivor.Each round of Unleashed comprises three mini-games based on the ones seen in the TV show, albeit with considerably fewer contestants. Starting with 32 players, 16 survivors go on to compete in round two, and the eight survivors of that go into a final round in which there can only be one winner. The presentation is very cartoony, so the constant gore doesnt really come across as any more savage than Tom & Jerry.Its also been thoughtfully ported to a video game format, so in the first two mini-games in each round, when you die you instantly respawn and carry on with the game until there are 16 winners. How thats decided depends entirely on which of Unleasheds 40+ games youre playing, which offers a fair bit of variety.Perhaps the most familiar is Red Light, Green Light, which is a race to the finish with the twist that theres a giant doll at the end of the room. When shes facing the wall you can run forwards, but when she turns around, if youre spotted moving you get shot by hidden snipers. To spice things up sometimes youll play on a featureless pitch, other times there are patches of grass to hide in, or it can take place on an ice rink that makes it trickier to start and stop in time.Snakes & Ladders starts everyone at the top of a tall tower, its floor panels turning red and then disappearing, the object being not to fall to your death. The Floor is Lava happens above actual lava, so staying on its gradually submerging hexagonal columns is the only way to live through it. Late for School has you rushing for a school gate via electrified swimming pools, moving circular saws, and Frogger-style school buses trying to run you over. The commonality is that all the games are very lethal.To makes things even sketchier you can pick up weapons. Baseball bats, knives, dodgeballs, snowballs, and more, which vary in their effectiveness depending on the game youre playing. A dodgeball in the back at just the wrong moment can get you shot in Red Light, Green Light, while a mistimed swing of a bat can actually help you across the finishing line. It adds a small extra dimension to the chaos, which is at its most palpable in the first round, with all 32 players still alive and participating.While every character you unlock starts off equal, each has a special ability that unlocks at level two and increases in its potency as you continue levelling up. That could be a chance to start with an invincibility shield, knife or baseball bat, or a speed boosting running shoe. Youll also unlock cosmetics for each character, making the field of competitors look increasingly variegated as you progress.Another thing youll notice is the increasing difficulty. Games are ranked between one and five stars, and at one star its hard to lose, while at the other end of the scale youll need luck and a lot more savvy. Thats useful because with a decent number of mini-games, many with several variants, your approach to winning will constantly need to evolve. We found in most games knowing what to do proves less important than knowing what not to do; which areas to avoid, and ways of preventing the inherent random factor of more than 30 other players getting you killed too quickly.There is a store, but in line with other Netflix titles, you can only spend in-game currency to unlock new characters and outfits. Prices seem pretty arbitrary, with one suit costing 1,000,000 and new characters priced anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000. Importantly though, nothing you can buy delivers an advantage in play, although levelling up your favourite character will eventually start giving you a small edge.More TrendingGames feel well populated sometimes overpopulated resulting in disconnections and server errors, something that a great many multiplayer games get wrong in their launch weeks. Given that its free and rounds are very short its hard to feel too short-changed when you get booted out early, but wed expect these glitches to be ironed out in short order.The big question is whether it will have any longevity. Its mini-games are fast and fun, and its mildly compelling unlocking cosmetics and progressing through the seasons league, but its a far less tactically involved game than Fortnite, or indeed any of the more complex battle royale games that have thrived over the past few years, most of which are also free to play.Still, as a phone game its short rounds and rapid learning curve make it a winner, even if its highly unlikely youll still be playing it in three months time.Squid Game: Unleashed review summaryIn Short: Fast, fun and a little bit silly, Squid Games battle royale works surprisingly well on mobile, but it lacks the depth to provide any long term interest.Pros: Plenty of mini-games, many of which have different variants. The first two rounds respawn you instantly, making for less downtime, and the games involve real skill and tactics.Cons: While compelling it is eventually a bit shallow, and there are far more fully formed free-to-play battle royale games available.Score: 6/10Formats: iOS (reviewed) and AndroidPrice: Free for everyone at launch, but eventually only available to Netflix subscribersPublisher: NetflixDeveloper: Boss Fight EntertainmentRelease Date: 18th December 2024Age Rating: 12+ Squid Game: Unleashed last man standing (Netflix)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. 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Despite all the leaks, the dock has been rather elusive (Nintendo/Metro)A recent Nintendo Switch 2 leak is believed to be legitimate according to a new report, which claims to have seen more photographic evidence.There has been an excess of Nintendo Switch 2 leaks this past month thanks to accessory companies, but the boldest of the lot came from a Reddit user claiming to have actually got their hands on the console itself.Going by the name NextHandheld, they suggested the Joy-Cons mysterious extra button was tied to new experiences and that there will be a special bundle containing Mario Kart 9 with a promise to share definitive proof on Christmas Day.He offered no proof, but not only did the moderators of the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit deem NextHandheld trustworthy, but so has a reputable outlet that says theyve seen enough evidence to believes the claims are legitimate.A new report from The Verge says NextHandheld shared with it photos of what it believes are the inside of a Switch 2 controller rail (complete with certification logos) and, most intriguingly, the Switch 2 dock.While enough details of the Switch 2 have made their way online for people to construct 3D renders of it, theres been very little, if any information about the consoles dock.Although NextHandheld has remained pretty tight-lipped about certain details, The Verge believes the Switch 2 might run faster when plugged into the dock. Not only has NextHandheld hinted the dock has a fan built into it, but it apparently also has an extra large stand at the back.The Verge theorises this is so vents on the dock wont be blocked and result in overheating, should it fall on its side. Its unlikely, though, that youll be able to lay the dock horizontally (like you can with the PlayStation 5) since the console itself would then tip out. Magnetic Joy-Cons should hopefully make Joy-Con drift a thing of the past (Global Source)Aside from that, NextHandheld has discussed details already widely assumed, based on prior leaks, such as the U-shaped kickstand and the Joy-Con controllers being magnetic.The Verge says the rail for attaching the Joy-Cons is more of a hollow area that you can slot a controller into, with NextHandheld adding theres a much larger button you press to release it. That does line up with a previous Joy-Con leak, that showed such a button on the controllers back.NextHandheld also reiterated how a Switch 2 reveal could happen as early as January (something others have also claimed to have heard) and that the consoles final name is just the Nintendo Switch 2.More TrendingThey refused to discuss more than that, stressing they werent able to turn the console on, so further specifics about its backwards compatibility (like whether it can run physical games for the original Switch), storage space, and possible extra features like a microphone and camera remain a mystery.Considering Nintendo has already promised to show off the Switch 2 before April 2025 and there have been claims of a possible March or April launch, a January reveal does seem very plausible.Then again, others have suggested the Switch 2 is aiming for a summer launch, following a May event of some kind. Perhaps the January reveal will serve as the reveal of the console while the May event will be something akin to a Nintendo Direct, tohighlight upcoming games.Whatever the case, Nintendo may be encouraged to move up its announcement plans if these sorts of leaks keep happening. With the switch 2 said to be bigger than the original, the dock should see a size increase too, right? (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

Sony forms business alliance with Elden Ring firm but doesnt buy all of itMichael BeckwithPublished December 19, 2024 11:24amUpdated December 19, 2024 11:24am Looks like Elden Ring is staying multiplatform after all (FromSoftware)A team-up between Sony and Kadokawa seems more focused on accelerating movie and TV adaptations than making Elden Ring a PlayStation exclusive.Last month, it was reported that Sony was gearing up for a potentially massive acquisition, of Elden Ring developer FromSoftware and its parent company Kadokawa Corporation.Kadokawa itself later confirmed Sony had expressed interest in acquiring further shares in the company. This, of course, reignited debates about monopolies and further consolidation of the industry, especially since Sony would be getting more than just one game developer.Sony and Kadokawa have now confirmed theyve reached an agreement, and the result isnt as dramatic as some feared but will see the two collaborating far more closely on multimedia initiatives, like film and television.Ultimately, Sony isnt buying out Kadokawa in its entirety, so dont expect any future Elden Ring sequels or spin-offs to suddenly go PlayStation-only.However, Sony is buying more shares in Kadokawa; 12,054,100 of them to be exact. This is set to cost Sony approximately 50 billion yen, which is about 252 million.Sony originally only had a 1.93% stake in Kadokawa, but these additional shares will bump that stake up to 10%. That will make the PlayStation company Kadokawas largest shareholder, according to a joint statement from both companies, giving them more influence than anyone else over the companys future.The pair are calling this a strategic capital and business alliance agreement, with the goal being to maximise both companies IP value globally and facilitate wider and deeper collaboration. Other Kadokawa properties include visual novel series Danganronpa (Spike Chunsoft)While this does make it easier for Sony to negotiate more FromSoftware exclusives (like Bloodborne and the original Demons Souls) their primary interest in the deal seems to be in assisting Kadokawa with adapting its franchises into film and/or TV. So, expect any Elden Ring movie or anime spin-off to be a Sony production.The companies exact words are, In the future, the two companies plan to discuss specific initiatives for collaboration, such as initiatives to adapt Kadokawas IP into live-action films and TV dramas globally, co-produce anime works, expand global distribution of Kadokawas anime works through the Sony Group, further expand publishing of Kadokawas games, and develop human resources to promote and expand virtual production.As a reminder, Kadokawa also owns a number of businesses throughout the entertainment sector, including not just video game companies, but anime studios,andpublishers for manga and light novels.More TrendingIn fact, it was speculated Sonys interest in Kadokawa was primarily to gain more control of the anime business. A Bloomberg report from November claimed Kadokawa wanted a full takeover from Sony, but the latter only wanted to extract their anime and gaming related assets.This lines up with Sonys statement that it has no plans to buy further shares in Kadokawa, although it could always change its mind later down the line.While the exact implications of the partnership remain unclear it does now make it impossible for Microsoft, or any other PlayStation rival, to acquire FromSoftware, which is likely to have also been a motivation although not one Sony would admit in public.Its speculated that they acquired Bungie for similar reasons, which is somewhat borne out by their rough treatment of the studio since then. Theres already an Elden Ring manga, so a movie or anime isnt too unreasonable (Kadokawa)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

ReturningDoctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies might have pioneered modernDoctor Who holiday specialsChristmassy monsters, high spectacle, an occasional amount of Kylie Minoguebut its arguable that it was his successor, Steven Moffat, that really nailed the balancing act of what a good Doctor Who Christmas story should be. The answer, paradoxically, is not really a great sci-fi story all that muchor at least, thats not as important as a swath of earnest, almost cloying sentimentality about the romance of the season. This years offering, Moffats first Christmas script since 2017s Twelfth Doctor send off Twice Upon a Time, mostly succeeds in that balancing act with an interestingly time-twisting Doctor Who adventure festooned with festive charmone that really leans on the latter to help make up for a few missteps in the former. Joy to the World, airing next week on Christmas Day, has a few parallels to Ncuti Gatwas full-fledged debut as the 15th Doctor in last years holiday episode, The Church on Ruby Road, in so much that it relies on an array of charming performances to try and mask when its story doesnt quite cohesively come together. It trades the fantastical bent of creepy baby-snatching goblins for more traditional sci-fi aesthetics as the Doctor shacks up in a futuristic Time Hotel for the holidays, offering temporal gateways to Christmases across human history. It also leans heavy on that seasonal aesthetic too, with plenty of snow, tinsel, and trees, feeling much more of the season rather than simply being any old episode that happens to air near the end of December. BBC/Disney Intrigued by the mystery of a strange suitcase that seems to be fatally swapping between hosts at the hotel, it is in this festively timey-wimey scenarioand via the Time Hotels aforementioned gatewaysthat the Doctor crosses paths with the lonely Joy (Nicola Coughlan), as she checks into a run-down hotel in London during Christmas 2024. The mystery of why Joy becomes so important to the Doctors latest adventure is actually put aside for a good chunk of Joy to the World as it takes a sideways step into exploring the ramifications of the Time Hotels gateways, and the temporal paradoxes that come with them. Its all perfectly Moffat-y, a blend of laughs, time-twisting story telling, and the almost mandatory melancholy that comes with his best outings as a writer, as the Doctor finds himself thrust into the life of another lonely woman along the way (Steph de Whalleys Anita, perhaps secretly the breakout star of Joy to the World). Its a killer Doctor Who story idea, one that also deftly touches on the Doctors own loneliness after parting ways with Ruby. It just so happens to be appropriately seasonally stuffed inside another Doctor Who episode that is well, not quite given the time to breathe into something as interesting. Joy to the World makes up for those structural shortcomings with Joys storyline by really allowing that element of the episode to be where it goes all out on the sentimentality of the festive season, with a climactic narrative high on heart-tugging emotional drama to make up for the fact that its playing a bit fast and loose with the logistical underpinnings, especially contrasted with the plot-within-a-plot the first half of the episode of is devoted to. For the most part it works, thanks to stellar performances from Gatwa and Coughlan, and will particularly strike a bittersweet chord for people going through Christmas without loved ones. But if you find yourself particularly immune to Doctor Whos sentimental charm offensives at this time of year, you might find the culmination of it all a little wantingand wondering just how the episode might have been if it stayed with that initial plot-within-a-plot as its main idea. BBC/Disney But even if you dont find yourself resonating with the emotion of it all, theres still at the very least a good chunk ofgreatDoctor Who to be found in Joy to the World, even if its not the ultimate focus of the episode. Theres enough here to satisfy either anyone looking for a great Doctor Who idea, or someone who just wants something big and Christmassy to swell their heart with seasonal spirit as they sit down with over the festive periodand at this point in Doctor Whos long history of holiday specials, that we can still get stories that manage to balance both is a welcome little gift under our collective trees. Doctor Who returns to Disney+ around the world and on the BBC in the UK and Ireland on Christmas Day, December 25. 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.

Its not every day that an actor in a successful live action anime project gets to sit down and interview its creator in their native tongue, but Netflixs One Piece star Iaki Godoy did just that ahead of the shows second season. In a recent video from Netflixs Still Watching YouTube Channel, Monkey D. Luffy actor Godoy sat down with Eiichiro Oda on the set of One Pieces Cape Town location in South Africa to discuss what lies ahead on the Grand Line in season two, and how Luffy became a beloved character. I got to see some actual filming, and especially the props, massive sets, special effects, the making of the wigs and costumes, the stunts, Oda said. I saw so many things and was truly touched by everyones dedication. When Godoy giddily asked Oda if he thought the acting was good, Oda responded in kind saying, It was. Naturally, Godoy exploded in infectious giggles, making Oda chuckle in return. Godoys subsequent question, posed in remarkably fluent Japanese despite only beginning to learn the language in January, inquired of Oda why he made the events in season two so challenging to adapt, given that the Straw Hats first season was already an immense undertaking. Another question, mind you, that made Oda chuckle when Godoy remarked on how huge and crazy their adventure was before making it to the Grand Line. Its tough. Im very tired, Godoy said.In that universe, the Grand Line is the harshest of the seas. We need to shock audiences. Thats why there are giants, and, of course, lots of bounty hunters, Oda replied, teasing the adventures that lie in wait in the upcoming season. This needs to be a season full of new, surprising elements. Thats why its more challenging. Godoys final question asked Oda how he came up with Luffy and made him such a depth-filled and endearing character, despite seeming like a simple fellow upon first blush.Luffy is an ideal child for me. When you become an adult and join a company, you cant always do what you want. Entering society often means losing freedom. Luffy has a childs heart, so he does whatever he wants, Oda said. That aspect is probably, for adults already toiling in society, and to children about to enter society, what makes Luffy so appealing. Oda wasnt remiss in throwing a compliment Godoys way congratulating him on bringing Luffy to life and energizing audiences worldwide. The two then share a loving embrace. Its very sweet. Netflix Alongside Godoy, returning cast members on the voyage of Netflixs One Piece live-action series include Mackenyu as Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, Taz Skylar as Sanji, Ilia Isorelys Paulino as Alvida, Jeff Ward as Buggy, and Michael Dorman as Gold Roger. One Pieces second season will also see a crop of new faces from the anime make the jump to live action. Key among the new faces along the journey (and the actors who will be bringing them to life) are: Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday (Nefertari Vivi) Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0 (Crocodile) Katey Sagal as Dr. Kureha Lera Abova as Miss All Sunday (Nico Robin) Mark Harelik as Dr. Hiriluk Sendhil Ramamurthy as Nefertari Cobra Brendan Sean Murray as Brogy Callum Kerr as Smoker Camrus Johnson as Mr. 5 Clive Russell as Crocus Daniel Lasker as Mr. 9 David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3 Jazzara Jaslyn as Miss Valentine Julia Rehwald as Tashigi Rob Colletti as Wapol Ty Keogh as Dalton Werner Coetser as Dorry Maintaining their usual secrecy, Netflix and Tomorrow Studios have not yet disclosed the actor who will bring the Straw Hat pirates doctor, Tony Tony Chopper, to live. All weve seen of the hard working reindeer is a shot of him from behind, confirmingto some fans dismaythat he wont be a muppet but a little CGI dude. Hopefully the next One Piece sit-down (or teaser trailer) will show off Chopper in all of his cute glory. Netflix In io9s review of season one, we lauded the Netflix show for not requiring viewers to have invested in the anime to appreciate it, writing, The show was clean. It was slick. Everything fit together, and at the end of the season, despite Luffy yelling again, I wanted a second season. In tandem with a second live-action season, Netflix also has plans in motion for a remake of the anime, titled The One Piece, animated by WIT Studio. In short, nows as good a time as any to get into One Piecebe it through the manga, live action show, the ongoing anime, or its upcoming remake. 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.

pCloud is famous for its all-aroundness. Its fast and secure but also easy to use and privacy-focused. This Holiday season, pCloud has dropped its prices massively, letting you save up to 60%. To be frank, this is the cheapest pCloud offer weve seen in years!If youre seeking highly secure storage that wont compromise on transfer speed at an approachable price, pay attention to these pCloud limited-time deals.View at pCloudUp to 55% Off on pCloud Lifetime StoragepCloud is all about securing your files for a lifetime, so you wont have to pay each month or year. Instead, the Holiday sale focuses on these two plans:Family 2 TB at $399, 55% offFamily 10 TB at $1,049, 53% offBoth plans are titled Family because theyre suited to FIVE users. Moreover, both plans allow you to allocate a specific amount of storage to each family member for added convenience.pClouds Family plans are backed by features like:Secure file sharingAutomatic syncing and backupsThorough file managementTLS/SSL file encryptionApps for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOSTo claim pClouds 55% off deal, simply use one of the buttons in this article, sign up, and set up pCloud on your devices. We strongly recommend the 10 TB option because of its MASSIVE price drop.Outside this time-limited deal, pClouds 10 TB plan is much closer to $2,000. Now, its only about $1,050, making it the most affordable cloud storage for a lifetime.60% Off on pCloud Lifetime 3-in-1 Family BundleIf you need more than storage, pCloud has this 3-in-1 bundle that consists of:5 TB of cloud storageEncryptionPass FamilyEssentially, youre getting 5 TB of storage with zero-knowledge encryption and a password manager. Like before, pCloud allows the plan to be enjoyed by 5 users.However, the bundle is 60% off and costs only $799 a one-time payment.Beware that this bundle isnt pClouds standard plan, so it wont be there forever. The end of the Holiday season will mark the termination of both offers and return to normal.Get pCloud 3-in-1 Family Bundle At 60% OffpCloud Is Risk-Free: Try It Out NowWith the three discounted plans, pCloud has positioned itself highly on the totem pole.Compared to its rivals, this company went out of its way to honor us with Lifetime deals that dont cost a fortune. Best of all, pCloud is risk-free and offers a 14-day refund policy.You can test its premium version, see how you like it, and be refunded if need be.Alternatively, pCloud offers the best free cloud storage with up to 10 GB of space. Being fast, reliable, and still impressively secure, this one wont disappoint you either.Still here? Dont be too hesitant; the clock is ticking. Board the hype train.

The Mori House / SHED Architecture & DesignSave this picture! Rafael SoldiHouses, RenovationPortland, United StatesArchitects: SHED Architecture & DesignAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3715 ftPhotographsPhotographs:Rafael Soldi, SHED Architecture & DesignManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Gaggenau, Louis Poulsen, Lutron, Allwood, Ann Sacks, BM, BUILD, Benjamin Moore, Big Branch Woodworking, Bosch, Brendan Ravenhill, Brizo, DWR, Emtek, Eric Pfeiffer, Graff, Intrepid Marble and Granite, Jonas work room, Kohler, Kolbe, +7 More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Originally designed by prominent Pacific Northwest architect Saul Zaik, this 1963 mid-century modern house is remodeled for a young, minimalist family.Save this picture!SITEThe Mori House sits on a gently sloped, forested site off a quiet road in the west end of Portland, Oregon. It has a detached garage/studio structure and elevated decks for entry and connection to a detached tea house pavilion.Save this picture!PROGRAMSaul Zaik originally designed the house for his friend and next-door neighbor, interior designer Howard Hermanson. The new owners, a young couple with design ambition and knowledge of Saul Zaik, are drawn to an "East meets PNW" modernist minimalism with clean lines, clear alignments, and natural materials. Design goals for the project were to maximize natural light and views of the forest and sky, reconfigure the existing spiral stair vertical circulation, create clear separation to private program areas, and increase the usability of outdoor decks.Save this picture!The resulting program comprises the living/dining/kitchen and primary suite on the main level and three flexible bedrooms, a bathroom, a hangout space, a wine cellar, and laundry on the lower walkout level.Save this picture!DESIGNOn the main floor, the entry is retained but the experience is dramatically altered. By removing an existing loft and spiral staircase, the design unveils a soaring, nail-laminated wood roof that extends to a central skylight. This skylight floods the newly arranged spaces with forest-filtered light, clarifying the structural and spatial layout. Key features include a new switchback stair on the southwest side of the house, a primary suite that runs northeast-northwest on the north side of the house, and open living, dining, and kitchen spaces that run southeast-southwest on the south side of the house. In place of the spiral stair sits an entry closet and powder room that borrow light from the skylight above.Save this picture!The kitchen features a horizontal window above the cooktop, offering views of mature rhododendrons. It opens into a dining nook featuring a custom fir bench in front of floor-to-ceiling glass. A new glass door and a picture window above the sink provide direct access to the existing deck and teahouse pavilion. In the living room, a relocated fireplace flips the primary seating towards the south and views of the forest and, on clear days, Mount Saint Helens. The former fireplace area now houses a built-in bar and tech closet.Save this picture!Save this picture!Separated by the central space under the skylight, the primary suite introduces fir slats above the door to allow light into the hall and bathroom. This suite transforms an existing bedroom and bathroom into a spacious primary bathroom with an adjacent walk-in closet. The primary bathroom features a Japanese soaking tub, a thoughtfully detailed vanity, custom medicine cabinets with integrated LED lighting, and transom windows to borrow light from the skylight.Save this picture!A datum of wood slates defines the new switchback stair and creates a stair volume that features filtered light from the large skylight. All upper-level rooms have some connection to the skylight, both visually and for access to light. The stair descends to a hangout space with floor-to-ceiling glazing overlooking the forest. The lower level includes three private, flexible spaces suitable for bedrooms, home offices, or workout rooms, along with a new bath and a wine cellar tucked beneath the stairs.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on December 19, 2024Cite: "The Mori House / SHED Architecture & Design" 19 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024778/the-mori-house-shed-architecture-and-design&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

Mecos House / DNSJ.arqSave this picture! Fernando Guerra | FG+SGHousesSesimbra (Castelo), PortugalArchitects: DNSJ.arqAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:272 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2018 ManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: GRAPHISOFT, Duravit, CIFIAL, CIN, Oli, Sanitana, Velux, https://cin.com/deco/pt/en/ Lead Architect: DNSJ.arq / Nuno Simes More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Situated on an almost flat rectangular plot of land, the plot is oriented in a Northeast/Southwest direction culminating in a pine forest. We designed Mecos house from the regeneration of a pre-existing house, with the idea of giving it a new character, rebuilding it with another quality. The main feature of the house is the relationship with the outside, being rebuilt in a single floor and endowed with a transparent faade that creates a panorama over the pine forest to the southwest from a large glazed area.Save this picture!In contrast to the frontage of the faade are two volumes: the agricultural support with its porch, and the tank, both in exposed concrete. One can notice the horizontality of the proposed volumes in counterpoint to the verticality of the maritime pines.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The house has a rectangular shape and extends to the northeast side in a porch that gradually decreases in size. This porch contains several differentiated and open areas, such as a sheltered stay, a vehicle shelter, and a storage space.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The interior layout of the house privileges the social spaces, living room and kitchen, over the two proposed bedrooms. These spaces are used a lot to promote social occasions to divulge organic agriculture, from its culture to its confection. There is a strong connection between house and the land, so from any point of the house there is always the possibility of access to the outside. On the other hand, the house is self-sufficient; on a large terrace, there are the solar energy devices, and an open space dedicated to the car shelter and storage space.Save this picture!We place the new buildings following the directions of the pre-existing constructions, as well as the presence of the maritime pines, with the intention of harmonizing the project to the whole. More than highlighting the house and the agricultural annex, the intention is to dilute their presence into the environment. Both the proposed materiality, as well as its simplicity and formal robustness, aim to emphasize the relationship between a property of agricultural production, inserted in a pine forest of maritime pines, and the buildings that are located on it.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeDNSJ.arqOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on December 19, 2024Cite: "Mecos House / DNSJ.arq" [Casa no Meco / DNSJ.arq] 19 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023490/mecos-house-dnsrq&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