Assassin's Creed Shadows' Naoe has her own speedy "Naruto run"But Yasuke will just "hurt his butt" if he tries to do a Leap of Faith.Image credit: Ubisoft News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 23, 2024 Assassin's Creed Shadows' Naoe is "the fastest Assassin" in the storied franchise's history.That's according to creative director Jonathan Dumont, who told Entertainment Weekly that she will have a Naruto run in which she'll "lean forward, arms bent, sprinting at full speed"."We do have a run on top of buildings that has a little bit of a wink-wink to it," Dumont said.Assassin's Creed Shadows' Naoe uses her kusarigama.Watch on YouTube"Naoe's the fastest Assassin we ever made," he added. "She runs super fast, she has a lot of gadgets to keep her stealth so that she doesn't have to fight often. We wanted to satisfy that for players that come in for that ninja-Assassin game."Dumont wouldn't be drawn on further story points, but did say: "She will start a bit of a path of vengeance or fulfilling a promise that she made to her family. As she discovers a world in need, she begins to really value the community values her father taught."Can she make a better world? [She realises] they are people who cannot defend themselves, which is tied a little bit more to the models of the [Assassin] Brotherhood."[Naoe] was shielded by her father from what's happening in the world, and it comes crashing down," Dumont added. "She is pushed into war. She doesn't know much about her origins. Her father's been training her, but she doesn't know much about her mother, who's been gone. But as a cool proverb from Japan says, 'a frog in a well knows nothing of the sea'."She is tossed into the real world, and through that, she will learn that she is not just a shinobi, that there is a little bit of a lineage or at least some mystery about some sort of different type of shinobi. They're Assassins, so she's somewhat linked to that."It's from her father, Dumont said, that Naoe receives her Hidden Blade.Interestingly, whilst Naoe is super stealthy and can pull off the signature Leap of Faith if there's a handy pile of shrubbery or hay nearby, co-lead Yakuke can't."He doesn't do the Leap of Faith," Dumont said. "He just crashes right into the haystack, and he hurts his butt, too. So, it's pretty funny."This dual perspective is to ensure fans of both the older and newer Assassin's Creed games are satisfied."A lot of people like Assassin's at the start with the stealth approach: hiding in the shadows and the crowd. Then we have a little bit more of the action-oriented ones... Odyssey, Origins, and Valhalla," Dumont added. "We try to satisfy both types of players, but also try to not dilute too much of what they like about it."We also recently learned that Assassin's Creed Shadows will take a fresh approach to how it handles branching story and offer a mode "that allows a choice-free narrative".In answer to questions from fans around how the game will balance the ability to make narrative decisions with fans' desire for a single representation of how Shadows' 'historical' narrative plays out, Dumont revealed the game would feature a "canon mode".Last month, Eurogamer heard from Assassin's Creed boss Marc-Alexis Cot on how the franchise will move forward with a more unified, well-maintained story - and how its modern day portion will now feel more integral after years of being treated like an afterthought.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereDestiny 2 players are finding it hard to be excited about the game and its future. Right now things are pretty dire, but the good news is that a new year is looming and it kickstarts with Revenant Act 3. Bungie hasnt shared a lot of details as of writing, but leaks have revealed rewards and unique bosses for when Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 launches. The D2 player count has dropped dangerously low, causing players to sound the alarm bells that the game is dying. While concerns are understandable, there is a lot planned as part of the 2025 roadmap. These include several big buffs and nerfs for January, as well as the introduction of a new dungeon in February. However, first of all, Bungie will release Revenant Act 3, and leaks have shown what Destiny 2 players can anticipate. Destiny 2 Revenant Act 3 leaks The release date for Destiny 2 Revevant Act 3 is January 7th. This was confirmed by Bungie in their most recent This Week In Destiny blog post. Bungie hasnt shared a lot of official details about the third act as of writing. All they have said is it brings forth the conclusion of the Revenant storyline, and it will include a new Exotic mission, new weapons, and one last row of Artifact perks. While the above is the only official details so far, BungieLeaks has shared more information on X. According to the leaker, the Exotic Mission is Kells Fall, and there appears to be three different versions, each accompanied by Expert mode: Distortion Diffraction Reflection Because of three different versions, its claimed that each one will have a unique boss: Scorned Organist (Distortion)Fikrul, the Fanatic (Diffraction)Reksis Vahn, the Hangman (Reflection) Lastly, there will be the following rewards: Red Tape Scout RifleEnriching Powder (Tonic Ingredient) Vintage Kells Fall WeaponrySlayers FangCheck out BungieLeaks post on X if you wish to see story spoilers for the Exotic Mission. As for Slayers Fang, previous leaks have shown gameplay footage of the Exotic Shotgun in-action. The leaked gameplay comes courtesy of YouTuber, Kanye 4 King. For more Destiny 2, check out our guide to thebest Legendary weaponsalong with thebest weapons for PvP.Destiny 2Platform(s):Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Web, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, First Person, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereHelldivers 2 has been one of the best games of the year, and many at Arrowhead are deservedly taking time off to celebrate the holidays before coming back to deliver a stupendous 2025. There isnt much confirmed for next year yet, but a Helldivers 2 leaker has provided more details about a new upcoming support weapon stratagem that packs a serious punch. We dont officially know much about what Arrowhead has in store for next year, but the developer has said they are working on a new content roadmap. In addition, Arrowhead has recently said they feel comfortable taking risks again. Its possible we could get another crossover next year following Killzone, but dont expect it any time soon or early in the new year as Arrowhead dont want to dilute their game and they remain committed to avoiding the biggest sin of Call of Duty. We absolutely cannot wait to see what Arrowhead deliver next year for Helldivers 2. While nothing is official right now, leaks have shared more details about a stratagem supposedly being worked on behind-the-scenes. Helldivers 2 leak reveals more details about Missile Silo StratagemWe recently reported on leaked gameplay for a Missile Silo Stratagem in Helldivers 2. This came courtesy of Iron_S1ghts, with the gameplay also shared on YouTube by John Helldiver. The gameplay showed the stratagem in-action while also showing its stats. Since the gameplay surfaced, more details have been shared on the Helldiversleaks subreddit by reliable leaker, Tier5NPC. According to the leaker, the stratagem is a laser guided long range support weapon which packs a seriousfocusedpunch on its target. While it has a big boom and is capable of mass destruction, it is said to be more of a scaled down laser guided 500kg. As for how to use the stratagem, its reported that the silo requires a laser guided pistol which can be used to pin point a moving target. In regard to how powerful the Missile Silo Stratagem is, It can easily one-shot any airship, dropship and average elite enemies. It cannot one-shot Matriarchs like Titans and Walkers, but it will deal them significant damage. Lastly, the leaker reports that the laser pointer takes up your support weapon slot while the silo itself also takes up 1 stratagem slot. Because of this, Tier5NPC suggests it will struggle to appeal to players along with the fact its completely overshadowed by the 500kg bomb. Remember that this is only leaks rather than anything official. Its something that may never materialize, or its something that could be tweaked and look different when/if it does come out. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to thebest warbonds ranked, along with thebest stratagemsandbest throwables. We have also a guide to thebest weapons, and, if youre coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch oftips and tricksto help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

In a time when correspondence and greeting cards for all occasions can be delivered to your inboxor sent as an animated text messagein seconds, theres still something incredibly satisfying about mailing (and opening!) an actual physical card through the post.This is particularly true during the holiday season, when well-wishing cards fatten the mailbags of carriers across the country. Beginning in the 1940s, New Yorks Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) established a tradition for producing its annual holiday cardseven elevating them to an art form, so to speak. Since the inception of the museums holiday card program, the MoMA Design Store has worked closely with world-renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol and, more recently, Takashi Murakami and Cindy Sherman to develop whimsical and unique greeting cards. Some have even emerged from their mailing envelopes to become iconic images in the lexicon of modern art.Christmas Flowers holiday card by Takashi Murakami (2005), which is currently in reproduction.Photography courtesy MoMA Design StoreHoliday card by Alexander Calder (1947), which was inspired by the artists early career work as an illustrator for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus.Photography courtesy MoMA Design StoreIn committee-meeting notes dated November 20, 1940, it was reported that the Museum of Modern Art was planning to produce holiday cards featuring artworks including Henri Rousseaus The Sleeping Gypsy; Harlequin and Mother and Child by Picasso; and Agrarian Leader Zapata by Diego Rivera, shares Chay Costello, the museums associate director of merchandising and product development. Over 80 years later, MoMA Design Stores holiday cards are still introduced each yearthe designs for which are sourced through an open call. Artists, illustrators, and paper engineers from across the globe send in submissions, and the Holiday Card Selection Committee reviews them all, works with card artists on alterations and revisions, and selects the final card line.Some of the earliest and most popular cards were designed by art-world luminaries whose original works from the same periods have gone on to achieve as high as nine figures at auction: In 1947, Alexander Calder created a playful illustration of a series of ice-skating animals, and in 1952, MoMA introduced its card designed by Andy Warhol featuring a putt-like illustration and a Happy Holidays greeting. And in 1965, Robert Indiana submitted a variety of 12-inch-square oil-on-canvas variations of his iconic LOVE image that, coincidentally, was created the year before as personal cards sent by the artist to several friends. [The] LOVE holiday card is a MoMA favorite, Costello says. When we consider how iconic and well-known the artwork has become, it is wonderful to remember how it began in 1965 as a MoMA Holiday Card.Internationally recognized as a research center for modern and contemporary art, MoMAs archives also house historical documents and records, including correspondence related to its holiday cards, samples of cards, and retail catalogs dating back to the start of World War II showing holiday cards on offer. In 1940, [the cards] were five cents apiece or six for 75 cents, Costello notes. In addition to MoMAs formal archive, MoMA Design Store maintains a working archive of cards and retail catalogs dating back many decades, which we use for research, reference, and inspiration.Some cards reappear as part of the MoMA holiday card line many years after their initial introduction. In 2005, I had the opportunity to work with Takashi Murakami on a holiday card design called Christmas Flowers, Costello recalls. We recently reintroduced it, so it is back by popular demand. Another of her personal favorites is William Kolanos 1992 card design, Looks Like Snow: It really showcases MoMA Design Stores early innovation with die-cutting and unique card formats, and when I saw this design, I knew we had to bring it back this year in a new color.This year, MoMA Design Stores holiday card line takes innovations in paper engineering to the next level. Several cards, like our Merry Amaryllis, the Holiday Express train, and a card that pops up into a snowman ornament to hang on the tree, are constructed to become 3D objects when fully opened, she adds, noting that the program has become an incubator for paper engineers who create cards that do much more than open at a fold. Aside from more traditional subject matter like doves, snowmen, Santa Claus, and reindeer, MoMA has also introduced some new motifs, such as Santa in a rocket ship and a card featuring festive seals. Our customers have responded enthusiastically to these new themes, so we hope to introduce more unexpected ideas in the future.

The human desire to build places for worship has often resulted in some of the most breathtaking architectural masterpieces in existence. From historic sites like the Pyramids of Giza or the Parthenon to modern marvels like the Lotus Temple in New Delhi or the Jubilee Synagogue in Prague, humanity has shown the best version of itself when it comes to creating spaces to honor, pray to, and worship a higher power.While there are plenty of examples of stunning religious architecture that prove this, few fully reimagine the limits of human innovation quite like the places of worship that are built directly into nature. Set in caves, perching on cliffs, or carved into basalt, these spiritual sites span many faiths and locations. From a temple in Datong, China, that appears to defy gravity to a hand-hewn stone church in Ethiopia, AD has scoured the globe for the 24 most inspiring, extraordinary houses of worship built into the natural world.Photo: Education Images/Getty Images1/24Church of Apostle Andrew (Priozerskiy rayon, Russia)Just two hours north of St. Petersburg, you'll find a small stone island in Lake Vuoksa holding the Church of Apostle Andrew. Designed by Andrei Rotinov, the Russian Orthodox Church doesnt have any scheduled masses, though it can be booked for weddings and baptisms. Accessible via a bridge, the church is named for the patron saint of fishermen.Photo: 500px/Getty Images2/24Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona (Spiazzi, Italy)If youre taking a trip around Verona, dont miss the opportunity to visit the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona nestled in the Baldo rocks above the Adige River. Built in 1530, the site is a popular pilgrimage location now open year-round for those who would like to meditate or pray in quiet. While it may look like the structure is dangling off the mountainside, it actually sits on a rock shelf.Photo: RB/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images3/24Chapel of the Holy Cross (Sedona, Arizona)This church built into the red rocks of Sedona was commissioned by a local sculptor and rancher, Marguerite Brunswig Staude. Staude, inspired by the newly-constructed Empire State Building, originally worked with Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, to construct the temple in Budapest. The outbreak of World War II stopped the project, and Staude decided to construct the church in her hometown, where the church was designed by August K. Strotz.Photo: Alejandro Cock-Pelez/Getty Images4/24Las Lajas Shrine (Ipiales, Nario, Colombia)This Gothic-style church in Colombia is a popular pilgrimage site for Christians in South America because its built at the location where an apparition of the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared. According to the tale, a mother and her daughter, who was deaf, were caught in a storm in the area and sought shelter beneath nearby slabs of stone sticking out from the rocky hillside. While there, the daughter said Jesuss mother was calling her, and she pointed toward a silhouette illuminated by lightning above one of the slabs. The church was built at the site between 1916 and 1949, and its name, Las Lajas, translates in English to the slabs.Photo: GABITUL/Getty Images5/24Paro Taktsang (Paro Valley, Bhutan)This cliffside temple in Bhutan is built around a cave where Guru Padmasambhava (or Guru Rinpoche) meditated and taught Vajrayana, a form of Tantric Buddhism. Starting in the 11th century, many Tibetan saints came to worship at the site, which is located 3,000feet above the Paro Valley.Photo: Boris Streubel/FIFA/Getty Images6/24Ad Deir (Petra, Jordan)This ancient temple in Petra, Jordan, stands at 154feet tall and is carved directly into the red sandstone. The monastery was built, like the rest of the ancient city, by the Nabataeans in the second century. Its been theorized that the building was repurposed as a church during the Byzantine empire.Photo: NurPhoto/Getty Images7/24Churches of Greme (Nevehir Province, Turkey)These churches in Greme were the direct result of the eruption of Mount Erciyes over two million years ago. The volcanos ash and lava formed soft rocks, and the residents soon realized these could be carved out fairly easily to form churches, monasteries, and houses. Inside, many of the churches still display restored frescoes.Photo: ullstein bild/Getty Images8/24Felsenkirche (Idar-Oberstein, Germany)Built between 1482 and 1484, Felsenkirche, which translates to rock church in English, is a Protestant parish built into the side of a rocky cliff in Idar-Oberstein. Legend has it that a prince constructed the church to atone for his younger brothers death. The two brothers supposedly fell in love with the same woman, who ultimately chose the younger of the two. When the older found out, he threw his sibling off the mountain, later building the church where his brother died. However, there is no factual evidence that this ever occurred.Photo: Athanasios Gioumpasis/Getty Images9/24Kipina Monastery (Kalarrytes, Greece)If you look too quickly, you might miss Kipina Monastery. Tucked into the side of the Tzoumerka Mountains above the Kalarytikos River, the structure, which dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built in the 13th century by a group of monks who had fled the nearby Vyliza Monastery after a disagreement. The monastery is built around a cave using the same stones as the ones from the mountain, making it hard to notice from the ground.Photo: Michael Hicks/Getty Images10/24The Ministers Treehouse (Crossville, Tennessee)The Ministers Treehouse, also known as Horace Burgesss Treehouse, was a huge treehouse built 100 feet in the air across seven trees in Crossville, Tennessee. The structure had multiple rooms, including a chapel with a basketball hoop, before it mysteriously burned down in October of 2019. Burgess, the builder, said God came to him in a vision and told him to build the massive structure. For many years, Burgess, who was also an ordained minister, led services in the property.Photo: Andia/Getty Images11/24Chapel of Saint-Michel dAiguilhe (Aiguilhe, France)Itll take climbing 268 rock-carved steps to reach this church that sits atop a 279-foot volcanic plug. Built in 969, the chapel is dedicated to the archangel Michael, who is the patron saint of mountaintops and high places.Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images12/24Church of St. George (Lalibela, Ethiopia)The Church of St. George is the most famous of the 11 rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Made solely from volcanic tuff, the structure was carved downwards and is dated to the late 12th or early 13th century. It is believed to be commissioned by King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, who wanted to recreate Jerusalem.Photo: Dean Conger/Getty Images13/24The Hanging Temple (Datong, China)This temple near Datong, China, is notable for two reasons: It hangs off the side of a precipice near Mount Heng in Chinas Shanxi Province; and its the only temple that represents the three traditional Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The structure is supported by oak crossbeams that are chiseled into the mountainside. It holds 40 halls and pavilions, and, according to the legend, its construction was started by just one monk, Liaoran, in A.D. 491.Photo: Phil Clarke Hill/Getty Images14/24Salt Cathedral of Zipaquir (Bogot, Colombia)Built 660feet underground within the tunnels of a salt mine, this Roman Catholic church welcomes as many as 3,000 visitors each Sunday. The chapel includes three sections which represent the birth, life, and death of Jesus.Photo: John S Lander/Getty Images15/24Marble Mountains (Da Nang, Vietnam)The Marble Mountains in Vietnam are a collection of five limestone and marble hills that each represent one of five elements: earth, fire, water, wood, and metal. Inside, the mountains hold several Buddhist and Hindu grottoes, sanctuaries, and temples.Photo: Andia/Getty Images16/24Chapel of St. Gildas (Brittany, France)Along the banks of the Blavet River in Brittany, France, youll find the Chapel of St. Gildas built directly underneath a large granite outcrop. The story goes that St. Gildas, a prominent Irish monk, lived with St. Bieuzy in a cave at this exact spot and preached Christianity to a mostly pagan population in the sixth century. The current chapel was built in 1837 and is open to visitors in the summer.Photo: Izzet Keribar/Getty Images17/24Sumela Monastery (Trabzon, Turkey)This Greek Orthodox monastery in Turkey was built in honor of the Virgin Mary within the Pontic Mountains. The structure was likely built between A.D. 375 and 395. While it served for religious purposes for hundreds of years, it is now mainly a tourist attraction funded by the Turkish government. Photo: Getty Images/Sonja Ooms18/24St. Govans Chapel (Pembrokeshire, Wales)Nestled into the cliffs on the southwestern coast of Wales, St. Govans Chapel is a small limestone church built in the 13th or 14th century. The chapel is dedicated to St. Govan, an Irish monk who, according to legend, was saved from pirates during the fifth or sixth century, when the cliffside opened up to create a safe haven for him to hide in. He created a hermitage on the cove and would ring a magical bell to warn others of pirates.Photo: Getty Images/Fabrice Bisignano19/24Temple of Valadier (Marche, Italy)Inside the mouth of a cave in the Gorge of Frasassi hides the Temple of Valadier. The small octagonal chapel was commissioned by Pope Leo XII, who was originally from the municipality of Genga, where the cave is located. Completed in 1828, the temple was believed to be the work of architect Giuseppe Valadier; however, it was later discovered to have been designed and built gradually by local architects. The neoclassical temple, also known as the Madonna of Frasassi shrine, was built using white travertine from a nearby quarry and is topped with a lead-covered dome.Photo: Getty Images/Mukul Banerjee Photography20/24Kailasa Temple (Maharashtra, India)The Ellora Caves of Maharashtra, India, contains 34 monasteries and temples carved into a basalt cliff and includes Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain sites of worship. The largest monolithic cave temple in the complex is Cave 16, Kailasa Temple, which was constructed by King Krishna I in the eighth century and is decorated with impressive carvings, sculptures, and ceiling paintings. The Ellora Caves were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and the site attracts tourists and pilgrims alike.Photo: Getty Images/Wilatlak Villette21/24Wat Tham Suea (Kanchanaburi, Thailand)Wat Tham Suea, also known as Tiger Cave Temple, is a Buddhist temple set atop a hill in the Krabi province. The temple was founded in the 1970s by a Buddhist monk, who reportedly was meditating in a cave on the site when he saw tigers roaming through the space. Visitors can climb over 1,200 steps to reach the large golden Buddha statue and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.Photo: Getty Images22/24Jvari Monastery (Mtskheta, Georgia)The Christian religious site on a mountaintop overlooking Mtskheta dates back to the fourth century when a cross was reportedly constructed over a pagan place of worship. A smaller church was built in 545 and the present structure was completed in 605. The cliffside Jvari Monastery is a tetraconch, or a structure with four apses, and the cross-shaped building is decorated with reliefs. The monastery, along with other historic churches in Mtskheta, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.Photo: Getty Images23/24Santa Cueva de Covadonga (Asturias, Spain)Set within a natural cave in the Picos de Europa mountain range, Santa Cueva de Covadonga is a Catholic sanctuary with a rich history. The site, according to Christian tradition, was where Visigoth nobleman Pelagius discovered a hermit worshiping the Virgin Mary, and it later became a hiding place for him and his troops during the Battle of Covadonga in 718. Following Pelagiuss victory, which was credited to the Virgin Mary, King Alfonso I had a chapel built in the cave dedicated to the Virgin. The current Romanesque-style chapel was designed by architect Luis Menndez-Pidal and completed in 1874.Photo: UCG/Getty Images24/24San Pietro Barisano (Matera, Italy)The ancient city of Matera in Southern Italy is home to numerous rupestrian, or rock-hewn, churches. The cave-filled area was first occupied during the Paleolithic era, and early churches were founded by Christian monks in spots used for pagan worship. The largest church in the city, San Pietro Barisano, has a foundation that dates to the 12th century and was enhanced in the 17th century with a bell tower and frescos. The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, with the organization celebrating it as the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region.

Gaze into an antique mirroryou know you want toand imagine what the interior design trends for 2025 might be. What do you see? If youve followed AD PROs reporting on color trends, or checked in on the wellness amenities, AD100-approved retro designs, or in-demand layouts covered in AD PROs member-exclusive 2025 Interior Design Forecast, you probably have some idea. (Hint: Tactile and natural materials like terra-cotta and rattan arent going anywhere.),Still, the projects that will shine in in 2025 will have been in the works for a few years at least, meaning that what appears to have snapped into focus at the stroke of midnight in the New Year is actually more of a slow-motion zeitgeist. A constellation of textures, colors, fabric patterns, overlooked moments in design history, and new obsessions have all been brewing like coffee (or indeed, setting up in the fridge like Mocha Mousse) for a few years now, and in the coming months, well see it all come to fruition. We asked the experts for their predictions and hopes for 2025here are the decor ideas theyll be embracing in the coming year.A primary bedroom of a Hampstead family pied--terre by De Rosee Sa leans into the softer, earthy palette that many experts expect will predominate in 2025.Earth tones2025s color palette is like a visit to the produce aisle: The earthy colors of fruits and vegetables will abound next year, from the vivid yellow of a spaghetti squash to the soft brown of a coconut husk. Pantones 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, sits somewhere between brownish pink and pinkish brown, making it a sophisticated choice for a multitude of elements, whether your tastes skew toward minimalism or maximalism. We predict seeing itor at least an organic, earth-toned cousin of iteverywhere from paneling to wall coverings, carpets, upholstery, and paint. I think we will see people choose warmer and deeper colors [in 2025], says New Yorkbased AD100 designer Young Huh. Brown and all of its surrounding shades are back with a vengeance.Fellow AD100 honoree Lauren Geremia sees a move toward gentler hues more generally: Something I am feeling these days is a softer approach to color, she says. We have been creating a lot of spaces lately with palettes toned down to a warm dusky glow that is more livable and enduring. UK-based Christian Bense loops burgundy into this moody palette. Burgundy provides the unexpected pop of color youre after, in a more sophisticated, grown-up way. It elevates a space without shouting in the same way a red might, he says. Beet red, youre here to stayso bring on the bordeaux-adjacent paint colors, textiles, and accessories.Curveball furnitureA living space designed by AD100 alumna Lauren Geremia boasts curved wood furniturea hot item for the new year.Laure Joliet

Discord is being taken to court with a class action lawsuit that alleges their subscription service, Nitro, is needlessly difficult to cancel. They claim that the cancellation flow is obstructed to the point that its anti-consumer.This class action lawsuit comes out of California, with the crux of the suit being rooted in a business practice law from the state. California Business and Professions Code 17602 is a rather long set of rules and regulations. The gist, however, is that it was put in place to keep companies from trapping people into subscriptions after they were purchased or purposely obfuscating the process of unsubscribing.Article continues after adAnd, according to some California consumers, Discord is doing just that.Discord sued over subscription service practicesThe suit alleges that there is no prominently located direct or link or button for the user to click in relation to trying to cancel the service.A user is required to navigate to the Subscriptions tab within the user settings and then locate a small Cancel button. After clicking the Cancel button, Discord then presents the user with a series of prompts to click through in order to cancel the subscription, including prompts which are seemingly designed to convince the user to not cancel their subscription.Article continues after adUnfortunately, the suit doesnt include any images of what this actual process looks like. Heres a quick rundown for context.Once you scroll through the options and find Subscriptions under the Billing Settings tab, youll see this screen:DexertoThe cancel button theyre referring to is the one next to Switch Plans in the bright Discord Nitro banner. After clicking cancel, youll get this screen:DexertoDiscord advertises a wealth of features you lose upon cancelling your subscription, along with an offer to get a discount if you opt to continue your sub. The menu scrolls and shows the user several advantages they lose out on if they opt to cancel.Article continues after adThey quoted Code 17602 in the suit, claiming that, This is hardly a timely and easy-to-use mechanism for cancellation,, nor a cancellation procedure that allows the consumer to cancel without engaging any further steps that obstruct or delay the consumers ability to terminate the automatic renewal or continuous service immediately.The plaintiffs also claimed that the need for tutorials on how to unsubscribe from Discord were a testament to how difficult it is to unsubscribe from the service.Article continues after adDiscord has yet to publicly respond to this class action lawsuit at the time of writing. However, Californias business laws have caused changes when it comes to online transactions in the past. For instance, a change to California business law companies like Valve, Nintendo, and Sony to disclose that downloadable games dont belong to you, but simply that youre purchasing the license to play them.

Opinion Last year, I wrote a piece here on El Reg about being murdered by ChatGPT as an illustration of the potential harms through the misuse of large language models and other forms of AI.Since then, I have spoken at events across the globe on the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence while still waiting for OpenAI to respond to my legal demands in relation to what I've alleged is the unlawful processing of my personal data in the training of their GPT models.In my earlier article, and my cease-and-desist letter to OpenAI, I stated that such models should be deleted.Essentially, global technology corporations have decided, rightly or wrongly, the law can be ignored in their pursuit of wealth and power.Household names and startups have, and still are, scraping the internet and media to train their models, typically without paying for it and while arguing they are doing nothing wrong. Unsurprisingly, a number of them have been fined or are settling out of court after being accused of breaking rules covering not just copyright but also online safety, privacy, and data protection. Big Tech has brought private litigation and watchdog scrutiny upon it, and potentially engendered new laws to fill in any regulatory gaps.But for them, it's just a cost of business.Another way forwardThere's a principle in the legal world, in America at least, known as the "fruit of the poisonous tree," in which evidence is inadmissible if it was illegally obtained, simply put. That evidence cannot be used to an advantage. A similar line of thinking could apply to AI systems; illegally built LLMs perhaps ought to be deleted.Machine-learning companies are harvesting fruit from their poisonous trees, gorging themselves on those fruits, getting fat from them, and using their seeds to plant yet more poisonous trees.After careful consideration over the time between my previous piece here on El Reg and now, I have come to a different opinion with regards to the deletion of these fruits, however. Not because I believe I was wrong, but because of moral and ethical considerations due to the potential environmental impact.Research by RISE, a Swedish state owned research institute, states that OpenAIs GPT-4 was trained with 1.7 trillion parameters using 13 trillion tokens, using 25,000 NVidia A100 GPUs costing $100 million and taking 100 days and using a whopping 50GWh of energy. That is a lot of energy; its roughly the equivalent power use of 4,500 homes over the same period.From a carbon emissions perspective, RICE says that such training (if trained in northern Swedens more environmentally friendly datacenters) is the equivalent of driving an average combustion-engine car around the Earth 300 times; if trained elsewhere, such as Germany, that impact increases 30 fold. And that's just one LLM version.In light of this information, I am forced to reconcile the ethical impact on the environment should such models be deleted under the "fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine, and it is not something that can be reconciled as the environmental cost is too significant, in my view.So what can we do to ensure those who scrape the Web for commercial gain (in the case of training AI models) do not profit, do not gain an economic advantage, from such controversial activities? And furthermore, if disgorgement (through deletion) is not viable due to the consideration given above, how can we incentivize companies to treat peoples privacy and creative work with respect as well as being in line with the law when developing products and services?After all, if there is no meaningful consequence as stated, today's monetary penalties are merely line items for these companies, which have more wealth than some nations, and as such are ineffectual as a deterrent we will continue to see this behavior repeated ad infinitum which simply maintains the status quo and makes a mockery of the rule of law.Get their attentionIt seems to me the only obvious solution here is to remove these models from the control of executives and put them into the public domain. Given they were trained on our data, it makes sense that it should be public commons that way we all benefit from the processing of our data and the companies, particularly those found to have broken the law, see no benefit. The balance is returned, and we have a meaningful deterrent against those who seek to ignore their obligations to society.Under this solution, OpenAI, if found to have broken the law, would be forced to put its GPT models in the public domain and even banned from selling any services related to those models. This would result in a significant cost to OpenAI and its backers, which have spent billions developing these models and associated services. They would face a much higher risk of not being able to recover these costs through revenues, which in turn would force them to do more due diligence with regards to their legal obligations.If we then extend this model to online platforms that sell their users data to companies such as OpenAI - where they are banned from providing such access with the threat of disgorgement - they would also think twice before handing over personal data and intellectual property.If we remove the ability for organizations to profit from illegal behavior, while also recognizing the ethical issues of destroying the poisonous fruit, we might finally find ourselves in a situation where companies with immense power are forced to comply with their legal obligations simply as a matter of economics.Companies with immense power are forced to comply with their legal obligations simply as a matter of economicsOf course, such a position is not without its challenges. Some businesses try to wriggle out of fines and other punishment by arguing they have no legal presence in the jurisdictions bringing down the hammer. We would likely see that happen with the proposed approach.For that purpose we need global cooperation between sovereign states to effectively enforce the law, and this could be done through treaties similar to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) that exist today.As for whether current laws have the powers to issue such penalties, that is debatable. Whereas Europe's GDPR, for example, afford data protection authorities general powers to ban processing of personal data (under Article 58(2)(f)) it doesnt explicitly provide powers to force controllers to put the data into the public domainn. As such, any such effort would be challenged, and such challenges take many years to resolve through the courts, allowing the status quo to remain.However, the new big stick of the EU Commission is the Digital Markets Act (DMA) which has provisions included to allow the commission to extend the scope of DMA. But this would only apply to companies that are under the jurisdiction of the DMA, which is currently limited to just Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Booking, Bytedance, Meta, and Microsoft.We cannot allow Big Tech to continue to ignore our fundamental human rightsWe cannot allow Big Tech to continue to ignore our fundamental human rights. Had such an approach been taken 25 years ago in relation to privacy and data protection, arguably we would not have the situation we have to today, where some platforms routinely ignore their legal obligations at the detriment of society.Legislators did not understand the impact of weak laws or weak enforcement 25 years ago, but we have enough hindsight now to ensure we dont make the same mistakes moving forward. The time to regulate unlawful AI training is now, and we must learn from mistakes past to ensure that we provide effective deterrents and consequences to such ubiquitous law breaking in the future.As such, I will be dedicating much of my lobbying time in Brussels moving forward, pushing this approach with a hope to amended or pass new legislation to grant such powers, because it is clear that without appropriate penalties to act as a deterrence, these companies will not self regulate or comply with their legal obligations, where the profits for unlawful business practices, far outweigh the consequences. Alexander Hanff is a computer scientist and leading privacy technologist who helped develop Europe's GDPR and ePrivacy rules.

X has substantially raised the price of its top-tier user subscription in multiple regions to help bolster the platforms creator payouts. The increase for Premium Plus came into effect on December 21st according to X, raising prices in the US from $16 per month to $22, or from $168 to $229 for annual subscriptions.Many European countries like France, Germany, and Spain are impacted by a similar increase, taking monthly prices from 16 to 21. Monthly subscribers in Canada (currently paying $20), Australia ($26) and the UK (16) will also see pricing increased to $26, $35, and 17 respectively. The higher pricing is immediately applicable to new subscribers, with existing users grandfathered into their current rates until January 20th. Xs basic subscription tier remains unaffected.The pricing changes for US subscribers are the highest increase introduced since Elon Musk purchased the social media platform in 2022. X gave several reasons to justify the price hike, citing that Premium Plus is now completely ad-free which it described as a significant enhancement to the current user experience.X also references changes made to the X revenue sharing program in October, saying that subscriptions now more directly fuels creator payouts to reward content quality and engagement rather than ad views alone. Premium Plus subscribers will additionally receive priority user support, access to additional features like Xs Radar trend monitoring tool, and higher limits on the platforms Grok AI models.

Image: Nile BowieIll admit, Ive never been fond of speedrunning. The thought of shaving milliseconds off a time in a video game while playing the same sequence over and over sounds, in theory, more frustrating than fun. Sure, as a spectator, there is definitely joy in appreciating the wizardry of players pulling off pixel-perfect feats and shattering a runtime record. But I have neither the time nor the mettle to contemplate doing so myself.Fortunately, this year gave us a game that weaved together 8-bit era charm, bite-sized accessibility, and addictive skill refinement. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was my gateway to finally getting speedrunning, and its some of the most fun Ive had gaming in 2024.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Its the only game Ive played this year that resulted in me letting out an involuntary shout of triumph when I bested my competitors in consecutive speedrunning challenges, earning myself a (screenshot of a) gold trophy. It was sweet, sweet consolation for all the IRL trophies I failed to win throughout my life, and so it brought me immense satisfaction.Image: Nile BowieJust to recap, the game was released in July and features condensed speedrunning challenges extracted from 13 iconic NES titles. Its World Championship Mode allows for placement on a weekly leaderboard while the Survival Mode pits you against other players' ghost times across three challenges to avoid elimination. Theres also an eight-player party mode.The game received solid but not glowing reviews (Nintendo Life gave it a 7/10). Some critics deem it less ambitious and creative than developer indieszeros previous retro compilations, the quirky NES Remix series on Wii U and 3DS. I wouldn't necessarily dispute that but I found NWC's focus on pure speedrunning challenges to be meticulously well-executed. Speed demonPart of what makes it so difficult to put down is its snappy gamefeel and sound design. Each challenge begins with a whistle countdown and ends with a satisfying pop and synth effect in a way that tugs your dopamine receptors to smash 'Play again' to improve your PB. Its an even better experience playing with an NES controller for the as-intended button feel.Though it might not be my Game of the Year (that one goes to Animal Well), it brought out the competitor in me and ultimately made me a better player. While weve all played our share of NES games over the years, World Championships emphasis on mastery helped me discover the deep control scheme nuances of classic titles in a way I hadnt before.Take, for example, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, a game Id barely touched before this due in part to its infamous difficulty. Working my way through its speedrunning challenges helped me come to grips with the games punishing combat. Some of its challenges, like the Master-rank 'Neigh Slayer', initially felt impossible to complete with an S-tier time.Images: Nile BowieThat one in particular involves beating a horse-headed boss with precisely timed aerial sword slices, a move that eventually felt intuitive with practice. When I later fired up the original version of Zelda II on Nintendo Switch Online, I found myself enjoying the game far more than I ever had before because World Championships had essentially shown me the ropes.Even games I know fairly well, like Super Mario Bros., Excitebike, and Kirbys Adventure, had new layers revealed with help from the Nintendo Power-inspired 'Classified Information' sheets, which cover the most efficient routes, combat strategies, and movement tricks. I came away with a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship behind these classics.For several months, I've tackled its weekly challenges religiously, even managing to top the leaderboard (once). I find the games competitive modes perfect for zeroing in on the specific challenges on offer every seven days. Focusing on the handful of challenges each week helped me push the envelope and consistently improve my personal best timings.Images: Nile BowieWatching the weekly replays of the top players has been equally fascinating (Nintendo has since put up a website showing off each weeks top performances). Seeing their precision and efficiency in action is humbling and sometimes surprising: there was a small controversy early on when a cheeky player exploited a glitch in Donkey Kong that few people knew existed.The games engagement has understandably waned in the months since its release, with fewer taking part in weekly competitions. While its a long shot, Ive still got my fingers crossed for DLC content. Punch-Out!! is a glaring first-party omission, and the inclusion of landmark third-party NES classics from the Contra, Castlevania, or Mega Man series would draw players back if agreements could be made with Konami or Capcom.One of the coolest things the developers could add is a new standalone challenge based on the actual 1990 Nintendo World Championships custom cartridge (among the rarest NES collectibles that sell for tens of thousands of dollars), which tracks the cumulative scores of three Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer, and Tetris played in sequence. Incorporating it feels like a no-brainer. There is also niche demand for it, with various reproductions of the custom cart available, one of which Nintendo has acted against. Give the people what they want, I say.The announcement trailer leaned heavily into the nostalgia for the 1990 eventMany will naturally be pining for an SNES Edition of this title with the same format, just as folks were hoping for an SNES Remix. Its hard to say whether theyll be such a follow-up, but one hopes Nintendo and indieszero dont sit on their hands. Nintendo wont shy away from further celebrations of its legacy, but well likely have to wait for another big anniversary or a big gap between heavy hitters on in the Switch (2) release calendar!As it stands, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition may not have been the flashiest game of 2024, but, for me, it remains a standout with plenty of untapped potential. Its a loving homage to the glory days of the NES and the 8-bit culture that surrounded it. Most of all, its a celebration of the timeless classics that still shape my love for gaming.Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life Tournament scandalRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Nile Bowie is an American journalist based in Singapore who grew up on Nintendo. When he isnt reporting on politics, business, and international relations, hes very likely playing his Switch, tracking down old Game Boy cartridges, or reading Nintendo Life with a cat on his lap. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles46 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your AlarmosYour 'Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2024' Stats Are Available NowWhat's your hour count? System:Nintendo SwitchPublisher:NintendoDeveloper:Nintendo, indieszeroGenre:Action, Party, Platformer, RacingPlayers:8 (1 Online)Release Date:Nintendo Switch 18th Jul 2024, $59.99 18th Jul 2024, 49.99Switch eShop 18th Jul 2024, $29.99 18th Jul 2024, 24.99Official Site:nintendo.comWhere to buy:Buy on Amazon Buy eShop Credit: