There was a long-running joke that Bethesdas Skyrim had become so ubiquitous that it would run on anything. Starting life on the humble Xbox 360, it found its way on to Nintendo Switch, virtual reality headsets, PS5 and even Amazons Alexa. After more than 13 years, its sequel is still nowhere to be seen, so role playing game veterans Obsidian are offering fans an alternative in the form of Avowed.Im taken aback by just how fun and breezy it is, given that it has been spun off the somewhat stuffier computer RPG Pillars of Eternity. Entering the games colour-saturated world, Eora, I explore a luscious overgrown cavern with my alarmingly athletic mage, and find myself leaping across chasms and climbing rock faces without breaking a sweat.Where Skyrims dull colour palette and clunky combat betray its 2011 origins, Avoweds kineticism and vibrance make first-person spellcasting feel fun. As I unleash bursts of acid at a horde of charging skeletons or fling a barrage of ice missiles at an apocalyptic cult, chopping and changing between spells is as easy as holding down a trigger and pressing a button, and each attack is animated in an explosion of light and colour.I think players are going to be really pleased with how fun the combat feels, moment to moment, says game director Carrie Patel. We wanted to take the momentum and sense of impact from more action-forward games, and add that player-driven progression and choice from our RPG roots.Refreshingly jovial Avowed. Photograph: ObsidianI am accompanied through my demo by a sneering, sarky companion called Kai, and armed with a classic wheel of dialogue choices. There is more than a touch of Mass Effect here, with the actor who voiced Garrus in Biowares sci-fi epic offering up a similarly endearing companion in Kai. Players will see the effects of their choices play out in front of them, even in the early hours, says Patel. Later in the game, the choices youve made along the way are going to affect which characters are willing to trust you.Where Bethesda approaches fantasy with a furrowed brow, Obsidian opts for a more irreverent tone. Its banter levels land somewhere between Guardians of the Galaxy and 2023s Dungeons & Dragons film which will be off-putting for people for whom the Avengers style of dialogue has not so much soured as entirely curdled. Its the companions and their personalities that will make or break it.Were really excited for players to meet the companions that we built for them, says Patel. We had a lot of fun building these characters out and trying to develop interesting moments between them. As you move through the world, theyll talk to each other, giving you time to get to know them, and also to see them get to know each other.In many ways what I see here is less Diet Skyrim and more Skyrim Zero not so overindulgent and without the dodgy aftertaste. With its elements of Uncharted and Mass Effect, its a refreshingly jovial take on the familiar fantasy setting.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotion

Like many great things, Date Everything! started off as a joke. Envisioning a game where a lonely remote worker starts chatting up their furniture, Final Fantasy voice actors Ray Chase and Robbie Daymond soon became obsessed with the concept. What if there really was a game where you could date literally everything?Now boasting more than 70,000 lines of dialogue and 100 dateable inanimate objects, their weird game about hitting on household appliances has become a reality. Partnering with Team 17 and fellow voice actor and producer Amanda Hufford, they have brought their silly concept to life, a game that they describe as wholesome, flirty and fun.Within seconds, Im flirting with a dishwasherYou may be wondering how this all works. Well, when the player slips on their Dateviators VR glasses that transform inanimate household items into talking, dateable beings once lifeless furniture and appliances suddenly get a whole lot chattier and, within seconds, Im flirting with a dishwasher.We knew what we wanted to make sure that it felt wholesome, that it was sexy but never vulgar, says Robbie Daymond, Our mantra was, we want to make something where you wouldnt be embarrassed if anybody walked in on you playing it.With dateable characters ranging from tables and microwaves to fireplaces and TVs, each potential lover is brought to life by a different voice actor. From the wonderfully unhinged microwave who thinks hes fighting an interdimensional war, to the art of the pickup line spouting fratboy fireplace, every appliance is distinctly, endearingly weird.No need to be embarrassed Date Everything! Photograph: Sassy Chap GamesIts also doing things differently when it comes to paying its actors fairly. One of the superpowers we have is that we know a lot of people in the industry, says Daymond. We have a good relationship with [actors union] SAG, and we were able to make a contract that gave residuals back to the actors who worked on it. Thanks to a combination of clever writing from TV writer Logan Burdick and brilliant voice acting throughout, even in my brief demo, I felt compelled to meet the next endearingly unhinged appliance just to see what would happen next.It sounds like a product of the pandemic, but actually the premise for Date Everything came about in 2018, when Draymond wondered if anyone would relate to the boredom and social deprivation of remote working. Im really excited that something this surreal exists, reflects Burdick. I think its incredible that everyone took a chance on it.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionWhen I started working with the team, I was a little sceptical, chimes in the games quiet coder, Jack. But being able to play it and see that the amount of care and attention that was given to each character really impressed me. A lot of games are mainly doing just the same thing in a subtly different way. This is not a generic game, and nowadays thats something very important.

Call of Duty Black Ops 6's Squid Game crossover is here, and one player has completely betrayed his comrades with a sneaky soundboard prank that'll have you frozen just to be safeTech14:50, 06 Jan 2025Call of Duty is getting a Squid Game crossoverCall of Duty fans were treated last week to a crossover event with the Netflix smash hit Squid Game, and while there are skins and the controversial inclusion of a new event pass, the big draw is the new 'Red Light, Green Light' mode that made Season 1 so memorable.The concept is simple run from one end of the football pitch from the Red Card map to the other, but with the challenge of doing so when the creepy animatronic girl isn't looking. If she catches you, it's game over.One Black Ops 6 player has managed to surprise his fellow contestants in the mode, though, and it's well worth a watch.WARNING THE BELOW CLIP CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGEContent cannot be displayed without consentAs shared by BlackOps6Hub on X (formerly Twitter), one streamer has put the "Green Light" song onto a soundboard so he can trigger the sound at will.That means as contestants wait to step forward, it lulls the already tense entrants into thinking it's safe to step forward.As you can see in the video, it works a charm, causing multiple rivals to be mowed down. Perhaps even more enjoyable is the accompanying voice chat.Squid Games has come to Warzone, too(Image: Squid Games)While some players are mad, one certainly has a sense of begrudging respect for the sound, saying "you're smart as f***".Others seemingly think it's a glitch on the behalf of the game, but the result is the same instant death for anyone caught moving.It's yet another example of Call of Duty players being a resourceful bunch. Earlier today we reported on users submitting information requests to get access to their in-game matchmaking skill ranking which would otherwise be kept away from public view.Don't fall for this prank(Image: Squid Games)We expect the Squid Games mode to stay live until late in January when Season 2 of Black Ops 6 and Warzone arrive, so be sure to check it out while you can just be wary of the soundboard prank.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Call of Duty players are so desperate to find their matchmaking ranking that they've started using personal information access requests to Activision-BlizzardTech14:23, 06 Jan 2025Black Ops 6 is Call of Duty at its best(Image: Grab)Call of Duty fans are a dedicated bunch, but one of the most contentious topics in recent memory has been the inclusion of Skill-based Matchmaking (SBMM).While some like to play against players they're (at least theoretically) equivalent to in skill, others say it makes each match feel less enjoyable and more of a slog.Black Ops 6 has been a hit, but the debate has reared its head again after one content creator revealed a method to get some extra information about your own matchmaking status.As shown by TheXclusiveAce above, you can head to Activision's Privacy Page and request your information via your Activision account (thanks, IGN).If you were expecting a throwaway number with very little information, you might be pleasantly surprised. as TheXclusiveAce reveals, each multiplayer match is logged. it includes hits landed, streaks, and even the amount of time you spent moving.As far as matchmaking skill ratings, TheXclusiveAce cross-references the relatively arbitrary number of 400 with his kill/death ratio to help extrapolate some of the data contained.The video suggests that your skill does in fact correlate with that of your lobby, meaning if you're in a higher-skilled lobby and struggle in a match, you may find a loss of skill rating puts you in an easier lobby next time.Article continues belowWe're not sure it'll help you much while playing 'Red Light, Green Light' in the game's current Squid Game crossover, but TheXclusiveAce's video is well worth a watch if you're at all interested in the machinations running behind the scenes of one of the most popular shooters in the world.Now, if someone can reverse engineer a fix for those pesky hackers in Warzone, we'll be flying. Last month, Activision's anti-cheat team admitted it 'missed the mark' amid rising complaints of cheaters in the battle royale.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Markus Notch Persson has "basically announced" Minecraft 2, with the first game's creator also taking aim at Microsoft for their handling of the Minecraft brandTech14:10, 06 Jan 2025Minecraft is the best-selling game in history(Image: Mojang/Microsoft)Minecraft fever is well and truly alive. We've seen the announcement of a theme park, the movie is just weeks away from launching, and the blocky brand still lays claim to being the best-selling game of all time.Now, though, original creator Markus Notch Persson has discussed working on a "spiritual successor" to Minecraft, even going so far as to say "I basically announced Minecraft 2" in a lengthy response to a poll or his next game."I don't super duper care exactly which game I make first (or even if I make more), but I do know I'm making one, so I figured I'd absolutely be willing to give it an honest shot in the form of a spiritual successor to minecraft and put up a poll about it."Content cannot be displayed without consentThe lengthy response, which you can see below, also acknowledges that Persson doesn't want to "sneakily infringe on the incredible work the Mojang team is doing" but takes aim at Microsoft for the company "doing the Microsoft shittification about".Minecraft was acquired back in 2014 for $2.5 billion by Microsoft, with the corporation now owning the rights to the IP. That would mean Persson couldn't work within the Minecraft 'universe' without working with Microsoft, which seems unlikely given his comments here.Markus Persson is planning to work on something new(Image: PA)He does, however, say he respects Microsoft, and praises them for "letting the studio do things their way".Article continues belowPersson has been a controversial figure in the past, proposing heterosexual pride as a holiday, suggesting feminism is a "social disease", and supporting QAnon conspiracies while also engaging in transphobia online. He was not invited to the Minecraft 10th anniversary celebration.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Will the wait ever end? (Nintendo)Everyones waiting for the announcement of the Switch 2, but Nintendo may have other priorities for this week.Nintendo may have had innocent intentions when it announced the companys next console will be revealed at some point before April, but as we approach the closing date their strategy has led to some feral side effects.With so many leaks about the console, the deadline date has made every other official announcement since seem like a calculated act of trolling between Alarmo clocks, music apps, and Direct presentations dedicated to the Nintendo Museum.Another announcement which would have been more positively received at another time is the revamped version of Xenoblade Chronicles X and it seems like the Switch port might be taking centre stage this week, instead of the new console.Insiders have suggested Nintendo could reveal its next console in the first week of January, but insider Pyoro, who is generally reliable when it comes to Nintendo leaks, has claimed there will be only be news about Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.When asked about the Switch 2 reveal speculation on X, Pyoro remained coy on the subject until someone asked directly about Xenoblade, which prompted a vague emoji to suggest that will be the announcement.When probed further, Pyoro, who originally teased the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition announcement last year, before it was officially annouced, replied: Last time due to my vagueness, people expected the Switch 2 announcement but it turned out to Xenoblade. I dont want to mislead yall again.Asked directly if any announcement is coming this week, they eventually replied: Xenoblade.While its possible Nintendo could surprise drop the Switch 2 reveal any day now, others have suggested it will be later this month, at the earliest. According to fellow Nintendo insider Samus Hunter, they were told late January or early February some times ago [sic].Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is set to be released on March 20, 2025, so some kind of marketing push before then makes sense, to highlight the improvements in this new version. Its likely therell be some form of special edition too, much like the collectors set for the Switch version of Xenoblade Chronicles 1.If an announcement around the Switch 2 is scheduled for later this month, that means well likely have to endure a lot more leaks before that time.More TrendingNintendo has only confirmed the console will be backwards compatible, but weve already seen alleged images of the new Joy-Cons, the console itself, and the new circular dock. Xenoblade Chronicles X is coming to Switch in March (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

New year, new you. Perhaps its time to upgrade your home to make it feel cozier and more welcoming. You dont need all kinds of new furniture or floor or cabinets or anything super expensive to recreate the feeling of your living room. Lighting can do so much to reshape the feeling of your entire living space. This Govee RGBIC floor lamp is can liven up any room its in and its currently 33% off. Normally priced at $150, you can get it now for just $100 for a limited time.See at AmazonThis modern floor lamp is a single vertical bar that projects the light into the corner walls of the room its placed in. And being RGB LED, it can illuminate your space in any color under the rainbow to change the mood on the fly.If youre like me, youre against The Big Light. That is the over head light be them from a hanging fixture or, even worse, multiple high hats across the ceiling. I dont want my living room to feel like a grocery store or a science lab. Lighting at eye level or lower creates a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, and the Govee floor lamp is perfect for that.Set the Mood, Any MoodThe Govee floor lamp can be set to display multiple colors at once and you can choose between 58 different scene modes.Use it to decorate for the holidays with red and green lights, or just keep them a warm orange or yellow as you cozy up to read a book or watch a movie. When youre looking to turn up, they can even sync with your music, taking any party to the next level.The Govee floor lamp supports smart control so you can use your voice to operate them with your Alexa or Google Assistant. You can also set up routines so that they turn on or off at certain times of the day, dim as it gets late, shift to different scenes during specific occasions, and more all automatically.Installation is simple. Once the bar is assembled, simply run the light strip through it and youre ready to go.Amazon has the Govee floor lamp now going for its lowest price ever as part of a limited time deal. Get yours for 33% off, a savings for $50. You can reinvent your whole living space for just $100 after setting up your new Govee floor lamp.See at Amazon

If youre on the hunt for a pair of great noise-cancelling wireless over-the-ear headphones from Apple and you have $200 to spend, youre not going to be browsing in the AirPods Max aisle. Fear not, the Beats Studio Pro are back on sale at Amazon, with a healthy 43% drop in price bringing them down to that $200 sweet spot.See at AmazonYou wont be sacrificing performance when you bring home the Beats Studio Pros their noise-cancelling properties are among the very best available, and with personalized Spatial Audio and USB-C Lossless Audio among its perks, your $200 will be well spent on high-performing headphones youll enjoy for years to come.Best of the BeatsWith incredible sound when you want it and noise cancellation when you want a truly immersive listening experience, the Studio Pros are the best of the Beats lineup of wireless headphones. Theyre also compatible with both Apple and Android devices, and they have a 40-hour battery life per charge, one of the longest of any wireless headphones on the market.The Beats Studio Pro listening experience is customizable you can create up to 3 listening profiles with personalized spatial audio engineered specifically for your hearing. The Active Noise Cancellation feature of the Beats Studio Pros is also fully adaptive so you can let in as much or as little external sound as you like while you listen to music, podcasts, or other digital content. The Beats are able to measure and analyze the external sound and create a filter to drown it out at 48,000 times per second.Hardwiring the Beats Studio Pro headphones via a USB-C or Apple Lightning-to-3.5mm audio jack will let you discover Lossless Audio, maybe the best-quality sound of all. Lossless audio is a compressed file that retains all of the information and nuance of the original recording.Connect Easily, Listen for HoursPairing the Beats Studio Pros to either Apple or Android devices is easily done with a single touch that connects via Class 1 Bluetooth, delivering extended range and far fewer dropouts than most wireless headphones. That makes them perfect for audio or video calls, where the voice-targeting microphones also help filter out background noise. Whether youre using the Beats Studio Pros for calls or entertainment, youll enjoy their upgraded UltraPlush over-ear cushions for comfort during extended wear.The Beats Studio Pros are normally $350, but this Amazon deal for 43% off brings them down to just $200 far less expensive than their AirPods Max cousins, but able to deliver as much quality sound. Theyre sure to head back north toward that $350 price sooner than later, though, so dont wait.See at Amazon

NetEase is bringing the Fantastic Four to Marvel Rivals this week, in a battle against Dracula himself.

Cobalt Coach House / FoilsSave this picture! French & TyeArchitects: FoilsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:160 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:French & Tye Lead Architects: Ned Scott More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The project is a dramatic and extensive remodeling of a coach house in Peckham which comprises a full-width, double-height living space and a sculptural blue-stained plywood staircase over two floors.Save this picture!Save this picture!Given the lack of amenity space to the rear of the property, the new design flips the previous arrangement by arranging the primary living space at the front of the property where is it served by a light-filled double-height space and an enclosed courtyard off the street.Save this picture!Save this picture!The bedrooms and a utility space are relocated to the rear of the property. The double-height space also makes a feature of the unusual chimney stack which is a remnant of the days in which the property operated as a coach house.Save this picture!New internal windows help to draw natural light into the first floor and allow views out over the double-height space. A large corrugated and galvanized steel gate gives the house a contemporary presence on the street. The house also features furniture that has been designed and made by me (living room chairs, living room tables, and dining room tables).Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeFoilsOfficeMaterialBrickMaterials and TagsPublished on January 06, 2025Cite: "Cobalt Coach House / Foils" 06 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025308/cobalt-coach-house-foils&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream