2XKO So Soon2025 is the sink or swim year for 2XKO, as my most anticipated game finally nears its release dateCan 2XKO make waves in a genre dominated by classic IPs? We'll not be waiting long to find out.Image credit: Riot Games Article by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 2, 2025 2025 is the year in which we'll finally, finally get to see 2XKO come out. If it feels like an age since whispers about Riot's in-house fighting game were floating around... you're right! The developers at Radiant were aquired all the way back in 2016 - roughly 8 years ago. This year we'll finally see just how big a splash Riot can make in the fighting game space.I for one think it'll be a big deal, and a game that has the potential to truly shift the genre in a few significant ways. It's rare a game can do that. Guilty Gear Strive was the straw that broke the digital camel's back during the height of the COVID pandemic, pushing developers to finally adapt improved network infrastructure industry-wide. Back in 2009, Street Fighter 4 kicked off a fighting game revival of sorts, introducing a new generation (including me) to the genre and igniting a spark that would lead to several major releases for IPs that had been hibernating. I have no doubt that 2XKO has the potential to be in the same boat in terms of impact.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The reason why is clear. Riot Games has a particular approach to making new games in that when it does decide to venture into a new gaming scene, it wants to be a major player. Valorant is the prime example of this, adding a hero-style twist to a tactical shooter, bridging the gap between Counter Strike and Overwatch. It has proven impactful too, building a significant playerbase that brushes up against CS's popularity. But this has not always proved a guarantee of industry-shaking success. Legends of Runeterra still exists, but has certainly struggled during its life. Designed as a player-friendly online card game, the game was solid! However, in spite of a shift in approach, it failed to really take on the big hitters like Magic the Gathering Online or Hearthstone. Nonetheless, it still exists, but is likely far from the crown jewel it was intended as.2 Riot has already played around with 2XKO in competitive settings, albeit very briefly. | Image credit: LouffyWhere 2XKO will land in the wider fighting game space as the new kid on the block remains to be seen, but with a forward-thinking network system, a cool lobby system that replicates the real life arcade and spectator experience, and a simplified approach to controls, it's clear the devs have made strides towards accessibility in hopes of opening up the game to those outside of the fighting game fanbase. Whether it'll work is the big question. During the alpha lab, we did see a portion of the playerbase fresh to fighters remain frustrated at parts of the experience. Perhaps we'll discover how firm the barrier to entry really is. It's not like games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Rocket League, and CS2 etc are particularly easy to pick up - maybe presentation and a big IP like League is what is needed. The game, despite not being out, already has its superfans. | Image credit: NittenIt's also the first traditional fighter to truly embrace the free-to-play model. While developers like Capcom and Bandai Namco have dipped toes into the live service world, Riot Games is built upon this model. If any company can take a proper crack at a free-to-play fighting game with this model, it's Riot, surely. The challenge will be convincing a userbase that perhaps isn't used to that kind of monetisation in their games. Still, we've seen big games like Tekken 8 and Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising shoot shots at the idea.While I'm optimistic, I do forsee a few roadbumps post-launch. For one, it's got to keep people invested. Assuming the game will hit the 10-character milestone, that's not a huge roster compared to other games, especially in a tag fighter. While the fuse system provides extra depth that'll surely mix up the experience for many, one hopes the game won't grow stale quickly. Then there's a current lack of single player content, and while I've never been convinced a big story mode or other single player activity really works at capturing hearts and minds in the long term, it remains a component many casual players value quite highly.Ultimately, I'm excited. If 2XKO drops and makes waves, we could see a wider growth in the genre. A rising tide lifts all ships, as they say. On top of that, a truly successful free-to-play model could push other developers to embrace it, and the huge number of curious players that comes with the deconstruction of a financial barrier to entry. I have no doubt that the development team are focused primarily on just making a great fighter - and having played it a few times over the past few years I feel they have. I do worry about the level of expectations placed upon this game from players, even as I write this article which arguably adds onto that pressure. Oops.With the game coming out this year, expect to see a lot of noise around 2KXO, especially here. There's a lot riding on the game, not just for Riot Games, but for fans of the genre as a whole. The team has been patiently tending the 2XKO garden for a while, but how sweet the fruits of this labour will be, and how many will hop over the fence to taste the juice, is the big question I'm keen to see answered in the coming months.

Were thrilled to offer some of New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab V.E. Schwabsbest novels in our latest book bundle, The Magical Worlds of V.E. Schwab!To help you decide if this bundle is worth cozying up for this winter, here is an overview of eachtitle included, including what readers like and dislike.The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueGood Reads Score: 4.18/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.5/5The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is a captivating fantasy novel that exploresthe life of Addie LaRue, a young woman from 18th-century France who makes a Faustianbargain to live forever. However, bargaining with devils has consequences, and Addie is cursedto be forgotten by everyone she meets.Her existence is marked by 300 years of loneliness as she wanders the world as a vagabond,yearning for recognition and meaningful connection. But fate is a fickle fool, and when Addieencounters a man who remembers her name, her life dramatically shifts to explore unknownpaths.The story delves deeply into themes of memory, identity, and the human need for connection,woven together by Schwabs lyrical prose.The tale unfolds across two timelines, alternating between Addies past and present, providing arich narrative structure that enhances and strengthens the narrative. The novel also exploresprofound philosophical questions about existence, the quest for acknowledgment, and thelegacy you leave behind, adding layers of depth and self-reflection to Addies journey.Despite its many strengths, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has a few criticisms. Somereaders find the pacing slow, with certain sections dragging, while others feel that Addiescharacter development could be deeper, given her centuries of experience. However, theseflaws do not detract from the books emotional resonance and thought-provoking exploration ofimmortality and identity, making it a worthwhile read for fans of introspective and literary fantasy.The Fragile Threads of PowerGood Reads Score: 4.29/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.6/5The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab is an engaging sequel to her Shades of Magictrilogy, set seven years after A Conjuring of Light. The novel expands on the world of theLondons, introducing familiar characters like Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard. Alongside fan favoritesemerge new faces like Tes, a young woman with the ability to manipulate the threads of magic,and Kosika, the enigmatic Queen of White London.Akin to much of Schwabs writing, the worldbuilding remains a standout feature. Rich cultures,layered magic systems and evolving political dynamics create page-turning immersion.The plot is filled with political intrigue, dangerous quests and unexpected twists, creating asense of depth and complexity. However, some readers have noted that the pacing is slow,particularly in the early chapters, which might detract from the overall momentum.Despite these criticisms, the novels open-ended nature left many readers eager for the nextinstallment, with new questions arising as some old mysteries are resolved.Overall, The Fragile Threads of Power is a worthy addition to the Shades of Magic universe.While its pacing and familiar elements may not appeal to everyone, Schwabs intricatestorytelling and the blend of old and new characters make it a rewarding read for fans of theseries.A Conjuring of LightGood Reads Score: 4.31/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.8/5A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab is the thrilling and emotional conclusion to the Shades ofMagic trilogy. Set across the parallel Londons, the novel follows Kell, Lila, Rhy and Holland asthey battle Osaron, a dark force threatening their world.Schwabs rich world-building, with its intricate depictions of the distinct Londons and their uniquecultures and magic, continues to captivate readers. The novel deepens the magical lore andhistory from the previous books, adding complexity to the narrative. Similarly, she weavessignificant character development to amplify the emotional depth of the story.The emotional relationships, especially between Kell and Lila, are poignant and authentic,though some argue that their romance overshadows other important elements. While the novelfeatures thrilling action sequences and intense battles, some readers note pacing issues,particularly in the slower, introspective sections.Despite these minor flaws, A Conjuring of Light delivers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Itsstrong world-building, character development and emotional depth make it a compelling andimpactful read for fans of fantasy and romance.A Gathering of ShadowsGood Reads Score: 4.21/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.5/5A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab is the second book in the Shades of Magic series,continuing the adventures of Kell, Lila, Rhy, and other beloved characters across parallelLondons.The novel delves into the aftermath of the first book and introduces the Element Games, amagical tournament that brings competitors from various realms, adding vibrant new elementsto the world-building and complexities for the characters to face. Throughout the book, Schwabs engaging prose further develops her intricate magical universe,balancing action with deeply introspective moments.As with most of Schwabs novels, the book raises thought-provoking themes about identity,power and self-mastery, further developing her characters, like Rhy evolving into a moreresponsible leader and Lilas self-discovery journey.However, some readers have pointed out pacing issues, particularly with the buildup to theElement Games, which takes up less narrative space than expected despite significantmentions. Additionally, the novel ends on a cliffhanger, leaving some plot threads unresolveduntil the third book.Overall, A Gathering of Shadows is a captivating continuation of the series, with rich world-building and compelling characters, though its pacing and open-ended conclusion may leavesome readers wanting more.ViciousGood Reads Score: 4.2/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.7/5Vicious by V.E. Schwab is a dark and thought-provoking novel that explores the morallyambiguous side of heroism. Set in a world where individuals gain extraordinary powers throughnear-death experiences, the story follows Victor Vale and Eli Ever, two college roommateswhose shared ambition for power transforms their friendship into a toxic rivalry.Their intense and manipulative relationship, filled with betrayal and love-hate dynamics, drivesthe narrative forward, making it a captivating exploration of toxic friendships and the blurredlines between good and evil.Schwabs morally gray characters, particularly Victor and Eli, are complex and difficult tocategorize as purely good or evil, making the story all the more compelling. The world-buildingis dark and atmospheric, though some readers may feel it lacks depth, leaving them wantingmore immersion in the setting.Despite these minor flaws, Vicious remains a captivating and complex tale of ambition, revengeand the moral ambiguity of power, making it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and antiheronarratives.VengefulGood Reads Score: 4.14/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.7/5Vengeful by V.E. Schwab is the gripping sequel to Vicious, continuing the exploration of morallyambiguous characters and complex superhuman abilities. The story picks up with Victor Valesresurrection and his ongoing rivalry with Eli Ever. New characters, particularly Marcella Riggins,bring fresh dynamics and complexities to the narrative. Marcellas pursuit of power and hertransformation into an ExtraOrdinary (EO) adds an intriguing subplot, making her a captivatingfigure as she embarks on a vengeful, glamorous path.One of the novels strengths is its exploration of the toxic and complex relationship betweenVictor and Eli, which continues to be a major highlight. Schwab uses this relationship to explorethemes of power, revenge and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy, evoking acomplex quandary about the nature of good and evil.As with many of Schwabs novels, her unique power system, where abilities are gained throughnear-death experiences, adds an extra layer of intrigue and danger throughout the tale, keepingyou wondering if characters will escape near-certain demise.However, the novel does have flaws. Pacing issues arise, with some sections feeling uneven,and while the plot twists are engaging, they may be seen as excessive or predictable. Marcellascharacter, though compelling, is underutilized, and the non-linear structure and multipleperspectives may disrupt the narrative flow.Overall, Vengeful is a thought-provoking continuation of the Villains series, offering suspense,betrayal, and a deeper dive into the complexities of its morally gray characters. While it may notsurpass its predecessor, it remains a captivating read.A Darker Shade of MagicGood Reads Score: 4.05/5 Barnes & Noble Score: 4.6/5A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab is a captivating fantasy novel set in a world of parallelLondons, each with a unique magic system. The story follows Kell, one of the lastAntarimagicians who can travel between these worldswhose role as an ambassador andoccasional smuggler intertwines with that of Delilah Bard, a daring thief from Grey London.Together, they embark on an adventure filled with magic, danger, and political intrigue.Schwabs world-building is a major strength, with each London offering distinct cultures andrelationships to magic. The creation of Red, Grey, White, and Black Londons provides a richand imaginative backdrop for the story. The characters, particularly Kell and Lila, are well-developed, and their dynamic partnership adds depth to the narrative. Kells enigmatic natureand Lilas fierce independence make them relatable and memorable protagonists.However, some readers have pointed out pacing issues, as slower sections interrupt theotherwise fast-paced action. Additionally, while the romance between Kell and Lila plays asignificant role, it may overshadow other important plot elements. The magic systemsinconsistencies have also been noted, potentially undermining the stakes and tension of thestory.Overall, A Darker Shade of Magic is an engaging and well-written introduction to the Shades ofMagic series, with an imaginative setting and compelling characters, despite some pacing andplot clarity concerns.Warm UpGood Reads Score: 3.76/5 Barnes & Noble Score: N/AWarm Up by V.E. Schwab is a chilling prequel novella to her Villains duology, offering readersan intriguing glimpse into the world of ExtraOrdinaries (EOs) and the dark side of superhumanabilities. The story follows David, a man who gains the power to manipulate shadows aftersurviving a near-death experience. Initially exhilarating, his new ability soon becomes a burden,isolating him from society.Schwabs evocative prose and atmospheric world-building create a gripping narrative,immersing readers in a dark, gritty world that sets the stage for the Villains series.The novella delves deeply into Davids internal struggle, exploring themes of isolation, identityand the blurred lines between hero and villain.Schwab effectively develops Davids character, making him both sympathetic and menacing.However, the novellas brevity is a double-edged sword; while it provides a concise andemotionally resonant story, it leaves certain plot points unresolved. The short length limits the exploration of supporting characters and the broader world-building,which may frustrate some readers.Overall, Warm Up is a compelling prelude that enriches the Villains series, offering valuablecontext for the main duology. While it may not stand alone as a fully satisfying read, itshowcases Schwabs ability to create complex, morally ambiguous characters and sets the tonefor the dark world of EOs.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)As a mischievous omnipotent being once said, Star Trek isn't about mapping stars and studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence. The voyages of the starships Enterprise et al. are journeys of self-discovery. It's about the people we meet on those strange new worlds and what they teach us about ourselves. It's not about taking turns to phaser each other in the face. Despite issues elsewhere, that's where Star Trek: Legends really fails.It's not all bad, though. Emerald City Games' turn-based trawl, published here by Qubic Games, debuted on Apple Arcade back in 2021 and though some may baulk at its mobile-first design, it translates fairly well to Switch. The UI is well-proportioned and the touchscreen integration functions as you'd hope.A grand total of 95 characters from across the franchise are represented, from vintage Trek to the latest live-action shows (nobody from Prodigy or Lower Decks, though). In fact, with so many characters lovingly rendered, some of them in multiple forms, it's the missing ones that stand out. The major captains are present, except Archer - we need 100% more Bakula up in here. And where's Ensign Crusher when you need someone to take the helm? Several fan favourites are locked in DLC packs, too.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Props to Emerald City's artists for capturing the actors' and characters' essence in their animations and movesets, though. Mr. Data's idle animation has him examining his tricorder, and seeing him disintegrate some poor enemy before emotionlessly resuming his work made us grin. The Fortnite-style caricatures might be divisive, but real effort has gone into these renderings. The basic mobile structure with timers, currencies, daily tasks, resource harvesting, numbers going up is extremely familiar, especially to anyone who's played Tilting Point's Star Trek Timelines, but the animated characters add personality beyond static card collection. Assigning them stations on the idle main menu's bridge is a nice touch and gives minor stat boosts, too.There's no getting away from those mobile elements, though, even if microtransactions are pleasingly absent. The story uses the Nexus (the temporal time-juggling energy ribbon from Star Trek: Generations) to explain away the accumulation of Starfleet heroes from across time, plus the 'shadow' versions you encounter. Michael Burnham, Worf, and Leonard McCoy find themselves aboard the USS Artemis assembling a crew to battle an unknown enemy and save the day. Those three officers stick with you through the narrative, driving things forward with dialogue whether they're still in your growing away team or not.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)Fans may get a smile from the fairly entertaining writing and the story's themes are sufficiently existential and weighty. Given the endless parade of clones you'll encounter, however, you'll find it hard to care about your Beverly Crusher or Will Riker much more than the one you just vaporised. There's no voice acting beyond a handful of battle yelps and comments, and nothing from the original actors. Audio across the board is acceptable, but you'll be disappointed if you're expecting familiar themes and sound effects.Likewise, the battles themselves the meat and potatoes here don't do enough to engage you early on. Your team of up to four (which can include non-Starfleet characters and generic officers) spawn into the environment and face off against opponents by taking turns to blast or bosh each other in the typical tactical manner. Shields or other natural cover may spawn at the start of the round and levelling up your officers eventually unlocks and enhances their four bespoke moves.Most characters have a standard phaser attack plus cooldown moves related to their discipline (Command, Engineering, Science, etc.) or character. Data's Android Backhand has a chance to inflict Stun, preventing enemies from initiating any action. Alternatively, Soong's finest can reduce the opposing side's Attack and Morale stats by distracting them with a Logical Paradox. Picard's eponymous Maneuver buffs your entire team, Bones' Tri-Ox Hypospray boosts one ally's Morale, increasing the chance they'll jump in with an extra hit every turn, and so on.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)It's simple stuff and it's executed well enough the blasts and blows hit with gusto but it's extremely one-note. As you go through the motions, skipping from node to node and beaming down for each round, the absurdity of these characters calmly and patiently exchanging phaser beams to the chest is tough to ignore when the battles, especially early on, just aren't varied or interesting enough.The moment Commander Riker joined our team, our winning tactics for the rest of the game were set: immediately boost him with Bones' hypospray, lay down Covering Fire with Riker (a super effective, multi-target attack which takes out all shields and multiple enemies), and then pick away at the rest of them, healing as necessary until the battle is won. Rank-up, rinse, repeat.You could argue it's on us to switch in new characters and build them up, but when a strategy just works there's little incentive to change; by the time you unlock Advanced or Expert difficulties, your enthusiasm will have warped away. Occasional branching paths are locked behind character disciplines (eg. you'll need an appropriately levelled engineer to open a door or something), but it's not enough to be worth the grind, especially given the long load times.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Generally, loads between individual battles aren't too bad inside story missions. But going into missions from the main menu, returning to the main menu, firing up Arena (ranked matches with rewards) or Ops encounters (limited-time events with specific character unlocks) sends you to a loading screen you'll be seeing an awful lot.Going into the first mission to test at the time of writing, the initial load is 26 seconds, and the same again when we back out to the main menu. Add in smaller interstitial loading screens between menus and all the tooltips and Darmok gags in the galaxy can't stop interminable loads from dragging down the entire enterprise. Our Switch profile puts our play time at "30 hours or more" and that's with x4 animation speed turned on for most of it; we'd estimate a quarter of that was spent staring at the Artemis' stern on the static load screen.Performance-wise, the v1.1.1 launch day patch seemed to soften the presentation of the backgrounds significantly, yet with no real change to the load times. We didn't note any difference between docked and handheld performance, though we experienced several hard crashes, including upon completing the final mission in the game. Frequent autosaves meant not having to replay more than a single battle, but suboptimal is the word.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Despite the evident work that's gone into this, the repetitiveness and excruciating loads give you too much time to dwell on the soulessness of the framework here. You could plug any property into this template with more or less the same result, or you could switch out characters for starship strategy, but ultimately it would be the same unengaging war of attrition - and with less personality. For your 12 bucks or regional equivalent, you get loads of characters to unlock, at least. Paying roughly the same again will get you all the DLC ones, but you'll still be pulling the majority of your crew randomly via the in-game gacha mechanic. The journey to build a complete crew is exhausting.Maybe we expect too much. The co-op puzzle-solving mechanics of Star Trek Prodigy - Supernova were equally tried-and-true unremarkable, even but they felt like a better fit for Trek. Tessera Studios was able to tap into the core values of the series in a way that just isn't possible given the template here; Legends' battles simply aren't satisfying enough to distract you from the dissonance.ConclusionPerhaps all the timed daily tasks and events made more sense in a mobile context, and it's possible they could hook you here if you have endless patience and affection for these crews. For dedicated Trekkies content to multitask with their Switch on their lap, Star Trek: Legends may well deliver compulsive delights - the audio-visual feedback as the numbers go up is satisfying, as is the thrill of pulling an Epic or Legendary character. Ultimately, though, while collecting your favourite crewmembers sounds like a fun mission, the bland battles involved and the chronic load times between them aren't enough to make this a worthwhile journey. Legends isn't terrible, but it is just your favourite Star Trek characters phasering each other until one of them disintegrates.Fun takes on the characters, with good animation and considered movesetsA decent roster covering most of your favouritesGood audio-visual feedback that gives blows and blasts some nice heftInterminable load timesTactics only really come into play at higher difficulties......by which time your enthusiasm will have beamed awayIndiscriminately phasering endless clones doesn't feel very TrekAverage 5/10

All punch'd out.We don't know about you, but amongst all of Nintendo's game series, Punch-Out!! rarely sits at the top of our revival wishlist. Don't get us wrong, we'd absolutely bloomin' love a new entry, but we'd honestly rather see the likes of F-Zero and Chibi-Robo! make their grand return on the Switch or its upcoming successor.Regardless of whether or not you agree with us on this, it sounds like the Punch-Out!! series may well be dead and buried for good; at least with regards to developer Next Level Games. The lastest mainline entry, simply called Punch-Out!!, launched for the Wii in May 2009 with a WiiWare game entitled Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! following just a handful of months later. Thanks to the criticism levelled toward the former's use of stereotypical characters, however, it sounds like Nintendo isn't prepared to commence work on a new title anytime soon.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kIf you have played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask over the past 25 years (and, if you're reading this, we'd wager that you have), then you likely will have engaged in a spot of lighthearted gambling at Mamamu Yan's Doggy Racetrack. The rules of this cute minigame are simple: choose a dog, place a bet, and win big if your pick performs well. The unspoken rule is that you never pick the lone blue dog. Why? Because the blue dog never wins. At least, that's what we thought.Blue dog's racing abilities are poor, to say the least. No matter how many times we've played the minigame ourselves or watched others take part in speedruns, the colourful canine never seems to bring back top dollar. We were content to live with this fact (not everyone is cut for racing royalty, after all), but a handful of Majora fans dared to think more positively. If you can teach an old dog new tricks, then surely blue dog can get a win.That's what was pondered by YouTuber Vidya James (and brought to our attention by Tom's Hardware). In the above video, the channel showcased that a blue dog win is, in fact, possible. You see, there's a glitch where the doggy race can end prematurely if a select pooch hits a very specific track coordinate, granting the lucky pup first place. If blue dog was to hit that spot, then victory would be his.The catch is that the game can produce over one quadrillion different races (thanks to the dogs' speed RNG and race conditions), which Vidya James clarified would take 34 million years to sample. Ah.And so we arrive at the speedrunner's best friend: an emulator. YouTube channel Falkush wrote a script which would run the racing minigame at a faster speed before recording the result and automatically repeating it with a new RNG.After 8,410 races, the script nabbed ol' Bluey (not that one) a win with the premature end glitch! A good result, no doubt, but we were never going to feel completely comfortable until we saw our little guy get the gold without the glitch.So, Falkush did just that. Using the emulator to minmax each of the dogs' abilities to leave the blue competitor with the best race conditions possible, the Majora fan embarked (sorry) on over 30,000 race attempts until they finally, finally, got the result they were after. You know what? You can check it out for yourself below.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kOkay, so yes, the successful run might have relied on a script and emulator to only produce the ideal conditions, and the chances of recreating them on a legitimate copy of the game are next to impossible, but who cares? After 25 years of losses, we finally got to see our little blue boy take the gold. The ultimate underdog.It's far from the most game-changing discovery, and we can't see the speedrunning community adopting the technique any time soon, but we wanted something sweet to start the new year, and an unlikely prized pooch certainly delivered. Go blue dog! The GameCube version, that isUnmasked for fan PC portsWhat do you make of this unlikely win? Bark your thoughts in the comments.[source youtube.com, via tomshardware.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:221 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles126 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher161 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Hits For The Holidays' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo Reveals Japan's "Top 30" Most Downloaded Switch eShop Games Of 2024Suika Game takes out the top spotBest Of 2024: Why Play Final Fantasy VII Remake When You Could Play FFVII 'Demake'?"more than just pirate versions"Reminder: New Mario Kart And Animal Crossing Lego Sets Launch Next MonthHere's another look

CES 2025 officially kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, running through the end of the day on January 10. The official dates are specific to when the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center is open to attendees, and ultimately belie the shows true duration. A pair of press days kick off Sunday with a few smaller events leading up to a scrum of press conferences on January 6.Press conferencesImage Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg (opens in a new window) / Getty ImagesWell be watching the following with a close eye here are TechCrunch:AMD: (Monday at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET) AMD has its work cut out for it at CES 2025.Competitor Nvidia has been sucking the oxygenout of every room it graces, as the chipmaker remains at the forefront of the AI boom. So, how will AMD compete with Nvidias reported RTX 5000 announcement? The company should show off its own next-gen GPU. As part of an ongoing rebrand, the RDNA 4 cardscould arriveas either the RX 8000 or RX 9000 series.Toyota: (Monday at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m ET) We expect Chairman Akio Toyoda to go all in on Woven City, the carmarkers living laboratory. Our automotive editor Kirsten Korosec adds: Details are slim about exactly what will be revealed. TechCrunch, which was at the initial announcement in 2020, will be watching to see how startups will be incorporated into Woven City and whether Toyota followed through on its plans to build a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells.Samsung: (Monday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET) Samsungs CES presser is always an odd duck. The Korean electronics giant generally keeps its powder dry when it comes to consumer electronics. After all, its expected to announce its latest flagship handset the Galaxy S25 toward the end of January. CES 2025 is going to continue the companys tradition of TVs and appliances. There are also odds and ends like consumer robots that will most likely never see the light of day. Samsunghas adoptedthe tagline AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere for the presentation.Nvidia: (Monday at6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET) Nvidia will no doubt have the biggest CES 2025. After all, the company has pretty much the biggest everything nowadays. The chip giant is sporting a $3.4+ trillion market cap, due largely to itsfoundational position in the ongoing AI boom. Companies like OpenAI and Meta have purchased Nvidia processors by the boatload, and thats unlikely to change in the new year. Founder and CEO Jensen Huang will help kick off CES 2025 with his trademark leather jacket and an unwavering vision,per Nvidia.Notable keynotes from the following day include Twitter/X CEO Linda Yaccarino at 1:30 p.m. PT and Delta CEO Ed Bastian at 5 p.m. PT. The latter, notably, will take place at jam band hot spot, the Sphere. Both will be available to stream at the official CES YouTube page.TrendsImage Credits:Brian HeaterThe shows hot topic will almost certainly be the only thing anyone in tech seems to talk about these days: AI. Thats nothing new for CES, of course. The category has been at the forefront for years now, with 2024s show delivering some of the earliest generative-AI-powered consumer devices.The Rabbit R1 was, perhaps, the most notable from last years show. The handheld generated a lot of buzz at the event, though as with other AI devices like Humanes AI pin, the product failed to live up to any expectations.The subject wont be limited to this manner of product, however. This year, any product that doesnt mention AI in some form will be in a small minority. As mentioned above, Nvidia and AMD will be going head to head on the chip front. Nvidia will be a particular focus, as the chipmaker sets the stage pace for AI in 2025, including the release of the much anticipated GeForce RTX 50 GPU. The company will also touch on other key categories, including robotics and transportation.AI will grace everything from cars to refrigerators these year. Some applications will prove genuinely useful, but many if not most will be a solution in search of a problem. This is always an important thing to keep in mind at an event like CES. Its a huge show; last years hosted 4,300 companies and nearly 140,000 attendees. Theres a lot of noise, and plenty of AI applications exist in attempt to rise above it.Image Credits:Kirsten KorosecOver the past decade, CES has transformed into one of the years top automotive shows. This has primarily been driven by automotive manufacturers bids to becoming bleeding-edge pioneers: Where better to showcase that than the years biggest consumer tech show? The 2021 addition of the Las Vegas Convention Centers new West Hall has facilitated that expansion.Questions remain whether CES can maintain its status as a major car show. Anecdotally, fewer large names appear to be participating in a meaningful way, including U.S. manufacturers like Ford. This is likely due, in part, to Detroits North American International Auto Show returning after a year off. That event is set to kickoff January 10, overlapping with CES. Thats not to say that there wont be big headlines out of Vegas next week. In addition to Toyotas participation, Sonys press conference should once again feature Afeela, the companys collaboration with Honda. Firms like Hyundai which now owns Boston Dynamics will likely showcase its focus on humanoid and other robotics.Image Credits:HyundaiRobotics have increasingly become a focus point for CES in recent years. I anticipate most transportation companies discussing the topic, from manufacturing to eVTOLs. The car industry has been the tip of the automated manufacturing sphere for years, a fact accelerated by various employment and supply chain crises since the pandemic. eVTOLs, meanwhile, scored a major FAA win late last year. CES continues to be a major launching pad for computer monitors. In fact, Samsung, ASUS and MSI all announced the addition of the worlds first 27-inch 4K OLED monitors with 240Hz refresh rates. Smart appliances always get a lot of love at the show, as well. LG has already revealed a bunch of news on that front. Samsung should follow suit at its press conferences on Monday.After an extended lull, I anticipate a new wave of smart home devices. Between interoperability through the Matter standard, the explosion of generative AI platforms, and a second wind for smart assistants from Google, Amazon, and Apple, companies will be showcasing how these devices might excel where their predecessors failed.Image Credits:Cory Green/YahooAfter its latest hype cycle, extended reality still has a lot to prove. The Vision Pro hasnt taken off as Apple had hoped, and competitors are struggling to compete with Metas ability to subsidize the cost of the Quest. Big names in the space like HTC and Magic Leap have largely pivoted to enterprise applications. Chipmakers like Qualcomm, however, are still very much focused on making a splash.

Overshadowed by the shiny AI features, the latest iPhone update brought multiple quality-of-life improvements, such as the new Home Screen controls.

The Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 is a solid little machine capable of handling most workloads. And the best part is that it's fairly inexpensive for the specs.

VPNs are handy internet privacy tools, but with so many options on the market, here's what you should look for in a good VPN.

As many as 60% of people make goals for the new year but only 9% stick to those aspirations for the ... [+] full year.gettyRoughly 80% of the people who make resolutions at the start of a new year truly believe they can achieve their goals. The reality is that less than 10% stick to their resolution and make it a reality. Psychologists state that a key factor to achieving life goals such as New Years resolutions is having a plan and ChatGPT can help with that planning.Whether its improving your health, learning more about AI, losing weight, boosting your finances, spending more time with your family or any other area you want to improve in 2025 the five ChatGPT prompts below can help increase your chances for success.Each of the prompts was designed using a structured combination of different goal-setting models and methods that have a proven record of success along with a brainstorming session with ChatGPT to fine-tune the queries. Just cut-and-paste the customizable prompts that are in italics and quotes below into any free AI model.ChatGPT Secret 1 - Resolution Roadmap GeneratorPrompt: "Act as my personal strategist. My New Years resolution is [insert resolution]. Help me break this goal into specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) steps that span the next 12 months. Include checkpoints to ensure I can measure progress and adjust the plan if necessary. Organize the plan month by month, starting with foundational steps in the first quarter that build momentum toward achieving the resolution by year-end. Provide suggestions for overcoming common obstacles and maintaining motivation."Rationale: The only way to successfully overcome a big goal is to break it down into smaller, achievable steps. Having laid down incremental progress on a monthly basis, the roadmap allows for consistent checks and changes to prevent boredom or burnout.Customization Tips:Including deadlines for each step ensures accountability and creates a sense of urgency.Specifying constraints, such as available time or financial limitations, tailors the plan to fit within realistic parameters.Identifying existing resources, like tools, skills or networks, ensures the plan builds on strengths.MORE FOR YOUChatGPT Secret 2 - Habit Accountability TrackerPrompt: "Help me build a daily habit that directly supports achieving my New Years resolution of [insert resolution]. Create a 30-day tracker that outlines specific daily tasks I can complete to reinforce this habit. Suggest weekly milestones that signify progress and provide small, meaningful rewards to celebrate consistency. Include motivational quotes or affirmations to keep me inspired. Offer practical tips for maintaining the habit, such as pairing it with an existing routine or setting reminders, and provide a reflection question for each week to assess my growth."Rationale: Habits are the building blocks of behavior change, and with practice over 30 days, consistency may solidify a new habit. This tracker brings in both day-to-day accountability and a weekly review to sustain motivation and measure progress.Customization Tips:Adjusting the habit frequency ensures it aligns with the individual's schedule.Adding triggers, like completing the habit after brushing teeth, helps establish a reliable cue.Including personalized motivational quotes or affirmations ensures the individual feels emotionally connected to maintain the habit.ChatGPT Secret 3 - Personal Motivation CoachPrompt: "Be my motivation coach as I work toward my New Years resolution of [insert resolution]. Generate three encouraging messages I can use during moments of doubt or struggle, tailored to my personality, preferences and specific challenges. Ensure each message reflects empathy, inspires resilience and reminds me why this goal matters to me. Include a strategy in each message for reframing negative thoughts, such as focusing on progress rather than setbacks. Offer a short visualization exercise or mantra with each message to help me re-center and regain motivation."Rationale: Motivation ebbs and flows, and having pre-prepared messages for challenging moments may provide an immediate boost. Messages can be tailored to an individual's personality for the greatest emotional resonance to enhance effectiveness.Customization Tips:Sharing motivational triggers ensures the messages resonate deeply.Addressing specific obstacles increases the relevance of the encouragement.Specifying tone, such as tough love or empathy, aligns the messages with the individual's preferred coaching style.ChatGPT Secret 4 Time Optimizing ConsultantPrompt: "Help me effectively allocate my time to achieve my New Years resolution of [insert resolution]. I have [insert number] hours per week to dedicate to this goal. Create a weekly schedule that outlines specific tasks or milestones for each time block, considering my peak productivity hours. Provide tips for maximizing efficiency during these time blocks, such as using the Pomodoro Technique, eliminating distractions or batching similar tasks. Offer a review strategy at the end of each week to assess what worked, what didnt and how I can adjust for the next week."Rationale: Setting realistic time management is essential for people who juggle many commitments in life if these resolutions are to come into being. This prompt means the available time shall be used strategically, focusing on the high-priority tasks that relate to the resolution.Customization Tips:Including preferred times of day ensures tasks align with natural energy levels.Indicating non-negotiable commitments ensures the schedule is realistic and doesnt conflict with existing priorities.Requesting specific efficiency techniques tailors the approach to the individual's working style.ChatGPT Secret 5 Progress CheckerPrompt: "Act as my progress coach. My New Years resolution is [insert resolution]. Create a simple yet effective monthly evaluation framework to measure my progress toward this goal. Include specific metrics or indicators I should track and a set of reflection questions to assess whats working, whats not, and why. Provide a strategy for making course corrections if I fall behind, such as revising milestones or reallocating time. Suggest ways to celebrate milestones to stay motivated and include an inspiring message to keep me focused on my ultimate objective."Rationale: Regular assessment prevents small missteps from becoming big and the individual from veering off course. Including a course correction component within the framework makes it adaptable, which is a key trait in overcoming challenges and sustaining momentum.Customization Tips:Asking for specific metrics ensures the evaluation focuses on tangible outcomes.Including reflective journaling prompts deepens self-awareness.Adding a contingency plan builds resilience, preparing the individual to adapt and persevere through challenges.These prompts can all be used together or in piecemeal. While theres no single panacea to achieve all your goals for the new year, if individuals had difficulty in the past they might want to give an AI model such as ChatGPT a try. They have nothing to lose except a pattern of self doubt and discouragement.