During CES 2025, AMD has announced an update to its line-up of APUs, which meld high-power CPUs with strong graphics processing. Dubbed the Ryzen AI Max series of APUs, at the highest end, these new chips feature up to 16 CPU and 40 GPU cores.At the highest end, AMD has the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which clock in at a maximum boost frequency of 5.1 GHz, has 16 CPU cores, 40 GPU cores, and a neural processing unit offering up to 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS). These APUs will be available starting in Q1 2025.On the lower end, the Ryzen AI Max PRO 380 will feature 6 CPU cores with 12 threads and 16 GPU cores, with a max boost frequency of 4.9 GHz. Filling out the line-up are the Ryzen AI Max and Max PRO 390 with 12 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores at a max boost of 5 GHz, the and the Ryzen AI Max and Max PRO 385, which features 8 CPU cores and 32 GPU cores at a max boost of 5 GHz. The only difference between the 390 and 385 is the amount of cache memory, with the 385 coming in at 40 MB while the 390 features 76 MB.These new APUs, developed under the codename Strix Halo, run on AMDs Zen 5 architecture for the CPUs, and RDNA 3.5 architecture for the GPUs. The APUs are available in the AI Max form, as well as the AI Max Pro form, the latter of which are designed specifically for business-class workstations.

During CES 2025, Asus has unveiled its new external GPU module that connects to a PC by using Thunderbolt 5. Dubbed the Asus ROG XG Mobile, the latest eGPU is set to offer power equivalent to a GeForce RTX 5090 mobile chip, and rather than using a proprietary cable like Asus previous eGPUs, will instead use Thunderbolt 5.The newest iteration of the Asus ROG XG Mobile also features a host of I/O options, including USB ports, an SD card reader, USB-C ports, and 5 Gbps ethernet connectivity. The XG Mobile will also offer up support for multiple monitors through DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1 ports.While Asus has revealed features of the new XG Mobile, it hasnt yet announced raw performance numbers for the system. The system is priced at $2,199.99. Asus has also announced a similar system based on the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, priced at $1,199.99.For context, these external GPUs are often targeted at users that would like to have as much power as possible in their PC, but cant justify a full tower desktop PC that would take up space and wouldnt be as portable when compared to a laptop. These eGPUs tend to be a great deal for users that would like to bolster their laptops hardware capabilities with more powerful graphics processing, and still manage to stay portable.The new Asus eGPUs make use of mobile versions of desktop GPUs recently unveiled by Nvidia under its new GeForce RTX 50-series lineup, which includes four new graphics cards that are slated to hit the market over the next couple of months.

AMD has unveiled its next generation of graphics cards during CES 2025. Running on the AMD RDNA 4 architecture, the new line-up of Radeon RX GPUs features a new naming convention, and will compete against Nvidias 40-series mid-range graphics cards. Interestingly, the company pointed out during its presentation that its new naming convention for the GPUs is meant to allow users to directly compare them with Nvidias offerings.Dubbed the Radeon RX 9070, RX 9070 XT, RX 9060 and RX 9060 XT, the graphics cards feature upgrades to their compute units over the previous RX 7000-series graphics cards. The chips in the cards are based on the 4nm process node, and will compete directly with the GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4060, and RTX 4060 Ti respectively.While AMD hasnt yet announced a release date for the new GPUs, the company and its partners will start releasing the graphics cards during Q1 2025. Unfortunately, AMD hasnt revealed too many details about the clock speeds and number of compute units in the new graphics cards. We do, however, know that the RX 9070 and its XT counterpart will feature 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, while the RX 9060 and 9060 XT will feature 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM.Along with upgrades to hardware, the new GPUs will also make use of AMD FSR 4, which will allow high quality 4K upscaling, as well as other features like FSR Frame Generation, and AMDs Anti-Lag 2 technology. While games that support FSR 3.1 will also automatically support FSR 4, users will need a GPU running on RDNA 4 to make use of the FSR 4 features.For other graphics cards news, check out details of Nvidias newly-announced GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs.

Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2 movies announcedHorizon film to be produced in partnership with PlayStation Productions and Columbia Pictures News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Sony has announced film adaptations of Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2.Revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday, the Horizon movie will be produced in partnership with PlayStation Productions and Columbia Pictures, as reported by The Verge.The two studios previously collaborated with 2022's Uncharted film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg.The Helldivers 2 adaptation will be produced by Sony Pictures. No further details about the project have been announced.Sony previously announced a series adaptation of the Horizon franchise produced by Netflix in 2022.The series was reportedly cancelled last July, according to a report by Rolling Stone, which accused its showrunner Steve Blackman of "toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behaviour."During the CES presentation, Sony also announced an anime adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima based on its multiplayer mode Legends.

Chris Kerr, News EditorJanuary 7, 20252 Min ReadImage via SonySony is developing a new anime series based on Ghost of Tsushima in partnership with Aniplex and Crunchyroll, both of which are owned by the PlayStation maker.The series will be called Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. As the name suggests, it will be based on the game's 'Legends' cooperative mode and incorporate elements from Japanese folktales and mythology.The series will be produced by PlayStation Pictures and Sony Music in collaboration with Aniplex, the studio behind Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Solo Leveling, and Sword Art Online.It will premiere on anime streaming platform Crunchyroll in 2027.Sony acquired Crunchyroll in 2021 and merged it with Japanese anime distributor Funimation in a bid to create the "ultimate destination for anime fans." Aniplex was founded in 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan.The project will become the first anime adaptation of a PlayStation property, but Sony is no stranger to the world of transmedia. Massive PlayStation franchises such as The Last of Us and Uncharted have already been turned into an award-winning HBO series and Tom-Holland-led-action-romp, respectively.Others such as Gran Turismo and Twisted Metal have received similar treatment. More are coming, too, with Sony today confirming that movies based on Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2 are currently in the works (thanks Eurogamer).Sony feels its Ghost of Tsushima anime is a testament to the "creative synergy" on display across its subsidiaries and the "versatility" of its video game properties."Having already proven the immense quality and versatility of our gaming properties across multiple successful film and television projects, we couldn't be more excited to announce our first ever anime adaptation," said Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, in a press release."Ghost of Tsushima's rich, immersive world and its fantastical Legends mode based on Japanese mythology provide the perfect canvas for this project, and Aniplex is the perfect partner to translate Sucker Punch Productions' hit video game into a stunning new anime series."Read more about:Transmedia[Company] PlayStationAbout the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Google DeepMind is assembling a new team of artificial intelligence researchers to develop world models that can simulate physical environments. The initiative will be led by Tim Brooks, a former co-lead for OpenAIs Sora project who joined DeepMind in October to work on Googles video generation and world simulators.World models are a relatively new development within AI that could serve a variety of purposes, such as creating real-time interactive media environments for video games and movies, and realistic training scenarios for robots and other AI systems. Its also part of Googles push to achieve an artificial general intelligence system, or AGI, before its competitors.DeepMind has ambitious plans to make massive generative models that simulate the world, Brooks announced in an X post on Monday. Brooks included two open job listings for research engineers and scientists who will help to advance AI world models capable of simulating real-world scenarios by solving problems around training at massive scale, curating training data, and studying how they can be integrated with multimodal language models.We believe scaling pretraining on video and multimodal data is on the critical path to artificial general intelligence, DeepMind said in the job descriptions. World models will power numerous domains, such as visual reasoning and simulation, planning for embodied agents, and real-time interactive entertainment.The race to be the first to declare AGI is heating up, so Googles focus here isnt surprising. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that the company has cracked how to achieve the tech industrys long-sought benchmark, and that autonomous AI agents may start to meaningfully join workforces this year.There are several competitors who already have a head start over DeepMinds world modeling project, including Nvidias Cosmos platform for advancing physical AI, autonomous vehicle, and robot development; and the World Labs startup created by the godmother of AI, Fei-Fei Li.The new DeepMind team will work alongside existing Google AI projects including its flagship Gemini AI models, Veo video generator, and Genie Googles prior world model for simulating playable 3D environments in real-time.

Philips Hue users will soon be able to create their own AI-powered lighting scenes, the company announced on Tuesday.Philips Hues new generative AI lighting assistant lets users create personalized lighting scenes based on occasion, mood, or style. They can do so by typing commands like Give me a scene for a garden party into the Hue app and also by using their voice. The assistant will then either recommend scenes from the existing Philips Hue gallery or create a new one entirely. In addition to creating scenes, the AI assistant can also be used to adjust the settings of existing lights, including brightness levels and color. The assistant will recommend scenes based on prompts. Image: Philips HueThe news comes after Hueblog reported that Philips Hue was working on a generative AI feature in October. According to Hueblog, the AI Playground lets users create lighting scenes based on typed text like Create a scene for a childrens birthday party, but there was no mention of voice commands.Philips Hue isnt the first to offer an AI-powered lighting assistant. Govees AI Lighting Bot generates similar dynamic lighting effects and also responds to voice prompts. Meanwhile, Nanoleafs Magic Scenes feature creates similar scenes, too, but only responds to typed short phrases like tropical paradise.Philips Hue says the AI assistant will be compatible with all of its lights. The company hasnt divulged details about its exact availability, but stated itll start rolling out in the first quarter of 2025.RelatedThe AI-powered lighting assistant isnt the only piece of news Philips Hue announced on Tuesday. The Philips Hue Sync TV app now supports LG TVs, while thecolor-changing Philips HueDatura ceiling light is now available in the US starting at $299.99. The frameless ceiling panel offers a pair of individually controllable lights and customizable color effects.Philips Hue also announced new smart home security features, including smoke alarm sound detection and the ability to stream live camera feeds to Amazon Alexa and the Google Nest Hub. Users can also now check out live camera views or schedule system settings straight from their devices.

Dense embedding-based text retrieval has become the cornerstone for ranking text passages in response to queries. The systems use deep learning models for embedding text into vector spaces that enable semantic similarity measurements. This method has been adopted widely in applications such as search engines and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), where retrieving accurate and contextually relevant information is critical. These systems efficiently match queries with relevant content by building on learned representations, driving huge advancements in knowledge-intensive domains.However, the main challenge for embedding-based retrieval systems is their susceptibility to manipulation by adversaries. The reason is that these systems often build on public corpora, which are not immune to adversarial content. Malicious actors can inject crafted passages into the corpus in a way that affects the retrieval systems ranking to prioritize the adversarial entries over the queries containing them. This can threaten the integrity of search results with the spread of misinformation or the introduction of biased content, endangering the reliability of knowledge systems.Previous approaches to counter adversarial attacks have used simple poisoning techniques, such as stuffing targeted queries with repetitive text or embedding misleading information. Although these methods can break single-query systems, they are often ineffective against more complex models that handle diverse query distributions. Existing defenses also do not address the core vulnerabilities in embedding-based retrieval systems, leaving the systems open to more advanced and subtle attacks.Researchers at Tel Aviv University introduced a mathematically grounded gradient-based optimization method called GASLITE for crafting adversarial passages. GASLITE performs better than previous techniques because it focuses precisely on the retrieval models embedding space rather than modifying content in the text. It aligns itself with certain query distributions, which results in adversarial passages achieving high visibility within retrieval results. Thus, this makes it a potent tool for evaluating vulnerabilities in dense embedding-based systems.The GASLITE methodology is grounded in rigorous mathematical principles and innovative optimization techniques. It constructs adversarial passages from attacker-chosen prefixes combined with optimized triggers designed to maximize similarity to targeted query distributions. Optimization takes the form of gradient calculations in the embedding space to find optimal token substitutions. Unlike previous approaches, GASLITE does not edit the corpus or model but instead focuses on generating text that the retrieval systems ranking algorithm can manipulate. This design makes it stealthy and effective; adversarial passages can blend directly into the corpus without being detectable by standard defenses.The authors test GASLITE with nine state-of-the-art retrieval models under various threat scenarios. The method consistently outperformed baseline approaches, achieving a remarkable 61-100% success rate in ranking adversarial passages within the top 10 results for concept-specific queries. These results were achieved with minimal poisoning of the corpus, with adversarial passages comprising just 0.0001% of the dataset. For example, GASLITE demonstrated top-10 visibility across most retrieval models when targeting concept-specific queries, showcasing its precision and efficiency. In single-query attacks, the method consistently ranked adversarial content as the top result, which is effective even under the most stringent conditions.Further analysis of the factors that contributed to the success of GASLITE showed that embedding-space geometry and similarity metrics significantly determined model susceptibility. Models using dot-product similarity measures were particularly vulnerable because the GASLITE method exploited these characteristics to achieve optimal alignment with targeted query distributions. The researchers further emphasized that models with anisotropic embedding spaces, where random text pairs produced high similarities, were more susceptible to attacks. This again points towards the importance of understanding embedding-space properties while designing retrieval systems.It underscores the need for strong defenses against adversarial manipulations in embedding-based retrieval systems. The authors thus recommend utilizing hybrid retrieval approaches like dense and sparse retrieval techniques that can minimize the risks provided by such methods as GASLITE. It serves, on its own, to expose the vulnerability in current retrieval systems to risks and pave the way for more secure and resilient technologies.The researchers urgently call to focus on the risks presented by such adversarial attacks to dense embedding-based systems. The minimal effort that GASLITE could use to manipulate search results shows the potential severity of such attacks. However, by characterizing critical vulnerabilities and developing actionable defenses, this work provides valuable insights into improving this robustness and reliability in retrieval models.Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Nikhil+ postsNikhil is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is pursuing an integrated dual degree in Materials at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Nikhil is an AI/ML enthusiast who is always researching applications in fields like biomaterials and biomedical science. With a strong background in Material Science, he is exploring new advancements and creating opportunities to contribute. [Recommended Read] Nebius AI Studio expands with vision models, new language models, embeddings and LoRA (Promoted)

With Immaculate, Nosferatu, The Substance, Longlegs, and more, 2024 set a high bar for spooky stuff. But 2025 looks set to keep the scares going for another year. From big studio blockbusters to grimy little indies to interesting art films (dont call it elevated), 2025 has something for everyone who needs a good scare in the new year.Wolf Man (January 17)Scary 2025 starts on a strong note with Leigh Whannells return to the world of Universal Monsters. As he did with Invisible Man from 2020, Whannell promises to bring a kinetic visual style and social relevance to the classic monster. His werewolf update stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner as a married couple who get waylaid in the woods after a lycanthrope attacks the father. As father Blake (Abbott) struggles with his inner beast, its up to mother Charlotte (Garner) to protect their young daughter (Matilda Firth) and herself.Presence (January 24)Dont let the big names fool you. Presence may come from director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, with Lucy Liu and Julia Fox in the lead, but it falls firmly within the filmmakers experimental phase. Presence has a traditional haunted house premise, in which a family senses an entity in their new home. Soderbergh shoots the entire film in first-person perspective, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Nickel Boys in innovating the technique on the big screen.Companion (January 31)Between his affable demeanor and solid performances in The Boys and Star Trek: Lower Decks, Jack Quaid has become not only a good nepo baby, but also a Tom Hanks nice guy for Millennials. Writer and director Drew Hancock plans to test those feelings with Companion where Quaid plays a nice guy who kidnaps a young woman (Sophie Thatcher from Heretic) under romantic pretenses. So far, we dont know much about the plot other than what the trailer shows. But the emphasis on Barbarian director Zach Cregger as a producer on Companion promises a couple of upsetting twists.Heart Eyes (February 7)Director Josh Ruben scored a surprise hit with his imminently likable Werewolves Within in 2020. His follow-up Heart Eyes sounds like Rubens moving into less pleasant territory. Heart Eyes involves a serial killer hunting victims on Valentines Day, a classic slasher premise. But it wont be all doom and gloom. Ruben has cast former Disney player Olivia Holt in the lead, alongside Scream regular Mason Gooding and horror icon Devon Sawa.The Monkey (February 21)With last years buzzy Longlegs, director Oz Perkins fully moved out of the shadow of his famous father Anthony, aka Norman Bates himself. Perkins will continue that momentum with his second movie in eight months, one that goes just as weird as Longlegs. The Monkey adapts the Stephen King story about a cursed wind-up toy. Theo James of The White Lotus plays the owners of the toy in dual roles; Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, and Halloween Ends Rohan Campbell round out the cast.The Woman in the Yard (March 28)Hot off the deserved Netflix hit Carry-On, Jaume Collet-Serra has become one of our most reliable genre directors. Sure, he has a few misses like Black Adam, but House of Wax, Orphan, and Non-Stop stand as enjoyable crowdpleasers. Collet-Serra turns back to horror with The Woman in the Yard, a chiller about a mysterious figure who suddenly appears in a familys front lawn. Collet-Serra has a strong lead in Danielle Deadwyler, who won attention for Till and The Piano Lesson.Drop (April 11)Christopher Landon made his name with great horror comedies Happy Death Day and Freaky, but hes ready for something different. As he told Den of Geek, Landon wanted a break from the horror/comedy world, returning to the tone of earlier projects such as his Hitchcock riff Disturbia. With Drop, Landon takes on the world of social media and dating. Meghann Fahy of The White Lotus plays a single mom on her first date, with a man who may or may not be who he says he is. Laughs might be harder to come by in the Drop, but it sounds like the expected tension will be there.Sinners (April 18)One of the more heavily anticipated movies of the year comes from Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. The duo have been turning out smart crowdpleasers since the directors debut Fruitvale Station, through the first Creed and both Black Panther films. Sinners puts Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers saving their hometown from an onslaught of vampires. Between the period piece setting and strong supporting cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld and Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners seems poised for another blockbuster for Coogler and Jordan.Until Dawn (April 25)Until Dawn has been entertaining gamers for a decade thanks to its application of the Butterfly Effect concept to a horror game. David F. Sandberg of Shazam! and Lights Out fame, as well as Conjuring-verse mainstay Gary Dauberman, hope to bring the same mechanic to the big screen. Its hard to say exactly how the Until Dawn movie will translate the players choice aspect that represents the Butterfly Effect mechanic. But at least the horror vets can guarantee some solid horror thrills.Final Destination: Bloodlines (May 16)The Final Destination series went out on top with the delightfully gnarly Final Destination 5, which perfected the franchises Rube Goldberg scares. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein make the jump from Disney Channel movies to the big screen to helm the latest entry, the first in 14 years. As with previous Final Destination films, Bloodlines doesnt boast the biggest names in its cast, with Stargirls Brec Bassinger in the lead. But the biggest draw remains the late, great Tony Todd, appearing one last time as the knowing mortician William Bludworth.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!28 Years Later (June 20)Few properties have more claim to the zombie resurgence of the 2000s than Danny Boyles aggressive and innovative 28 Days Later in 2002. After sitting out the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, Boyle returns to the franchise for 28 Years Later. To be honest, the first trailer for 28 Years Later doesnt offer much we havent seen from the many, many zombie stories that followed Boyles first outing. However, Boyle and frequent collaborator Alex Garland have never been people who do the expected. Chances are that stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes will deal with some surprising twists, especially as the movie sets up another sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, for 2026.M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)The first M3GAN became a hit thanks in part to Blumhouses strong internet advertising campaign. The sequel M3GAN 2.0 doesnt have that same element of surprise, but it does have the same creative team returning, with Gerard Johnstone directing, Akela Cooper writing, and James Wan producing. Also back are Allison Williams and Violet McGraw as an aunt and niece brought together after a tragedy leaves the latter orphaned, and Amie Donald and Jenna Davis as the body and voice of M3GAN as well.I Know What You Did Last Summer Sequel (July 18)I Know What You Did Last Summer never reached the heights of the Scream movies it aped, but it still had a healthy audience. That was enough to get two sequels about a vengeful fisherman chasing Jennifer Love Hewitt and her pals. Reportedly, Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. will show up in this latest entry, but not as the leads. Instead Madelyn Cline of Outer Banks and Glass Onion fame will be the beleaguered heroine this time around. Thor: Love & Thunder co-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson steps in to direct, with journalist Sam Lansky and Scrambleds Leah McKendrick also writing the script.The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5)Unlikely as it seems, The Conjuring franchise has become one of the most reliable shared universes outside of the MCU, spinning off movies about Annabelle, the Nun, and La Llorona (they cant all be winners). The mainline series returns for its fourth and supposedly final entry, The Conjuring: Last Rites. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back to put a lovable spin on real-world scam artists paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and Michael Chaves, who helmed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Curse of La Llorona, directs.The Bride! (September 26)Speaking of shared universes, the MCU still pales in comparison to the monster movies that Universal Pictures made from the 1930s through the 50s. Attempts to repeat the success of those first movies has failed (RIP Dark Universe), but the legacy of those classic characters will never stay in the ground for long. Thus enters Maggie Gyllenhaal, writer and director of The Bride!, which reimagines the original as a tale of womans liberation in 1930s Chicago. Jesse Buckley stars as a murdered woman, rebuilt as a mate for the Monster (Christian Bale). Penlope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard and Annette Bening co-star.Saw XI (September 26)If youve only seen one or two Saw movies, you might think you know what to expect from the newest movie Saw XI. You might think its all just a bunch of torture and misery, nothing more. Saw XI will certainly have lots of nastiness, just like its surprisingly great predecessor, Saw X. But the Saw franchise is also about overly complex timelines and crazy twists, which director Kevin Greutert and writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstanall regulars for the franchisewill surely bring to Saw XI.The Black Phone 2 (October 17)After leaving Doctor Strange 2 and the world of big budget blockbusters, director Scott Derrickson got down to basics with the solid supernatural thriller The Black Phone. Derrickson and co-writer C. Robert Cargill return to the terror this year, building off the original short story by Joe Hill.The Black Phone 2 continues the fight between child killer the Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and the one who got away, Finney (Mason Thames). In the first movie, Finney escaped the Grabbers basement through the help of his psychic sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) and the ghosts of previous victims, who communicated via the titular telephone. They also seemed to welcome the Grabber straight into hell. Which raises questions about what could happen next.Predator: Badlands (November 7)Alright, were all a bit disappointed that the next Predator movie isnt the one set in feudal Japan. Still, director Dan Trachtenberg earned a lot of good will with his last movie Prey, the best Predator film since the original. Trachtenbergs back for Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning as a pair of twin sisters. The pair tries to survive a futuristic wasteland where theyre hunted by the titular monsters.Five Nights at Freddys 2 (December 5)It didnt make anyones top 10 lists, but no one can deny that Five Nights at Freddys was a bonafide hit, becoming the highest opening Blumhouse movie ever. So of course were going back to the pizza place in 2025. According to early reports, Five Nights at Freddys 2 will adapt the second game in the series, with Matthew Lillard back as the primary villain. Game creator Scott Cawthon will be on hand again to ensure that fans of the original property are entertained, even if everyone else is a bit mystified.Death of a Unicorn (TBA)Death of a Unicorn almost sounds like a parody of an A24 movie, but rest assured its a real thing. Longtime producer Alex Scharfman writes and directs this story of a father and daughter (Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega), who crash into a unicorn on their way to a retreat hosted by their pharmaceutical company boss. The first trailer for the film promises surreal satire, anchored by a solid cast. Ta Leoni, Richard E. Grant, and Will Poulter all play rich people were sure to want to eat. Luckily, the unicorn(s) will be there to chow down for us.Fear Street: Prom Queen (TBA)The Fear Street trilogy has proven to be a true hit for Netflix, thanks to director Leigh Janiak bringing the energy of the R.L. Stine books to the screen. The series continues with Fear Street: Prom Queen, which doesnt seem to be launching a new trilogy, but will surely continue the same themes of the original. Janiak isnt directing this outing, but shes got a solid replacement in Matt Palmer, who made 2018s Calibre. Hell be working with an interesting cast, which includes Ariana Greenblatt, Katherine Waterston, and Lili Taylor.Frankenstein (TBA)Its not just about the Bride in 2025. The mad scientist and his monster will also stalk the screen. The master Guillermo del Toro writes and directs this latest adaptation of the Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein, with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Monster he creates. Although del Toros making the movie for Netflix, that shouldnt worry those concerned for his artistic integrity. The animated Pinocchio adaptation that del Toro did for Netflix remains one of the most beautiful and unique entries in his filmography.King Spawn (TBA)Spawn might be one of the most reliable indie characters in comics, but poor Al Simmons hasnt fared as well on the screen. The schlocky 1997 movie has its defenders, but try as he might, creator Todd McFarlane hasnt been able to get a new movie going. According to McFarlane, a hard-R movie called King Spawn is finally in production for Blumhouse. That said, no director or actor has been officially attached, but Jamie Foxx has expressed interest.V/H/S/8 (TBA)Anthology films are famously hit or miss, which makes the V/H/S series all the more impressive. Of course, the series has had some excellent creators involved, including Ti West, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, and Mike Flanagan.No word yet on who will join on for the eighth entry, but each of the previous seven entries have had at least one excellent short, so were optimistic.Wildwood (TBA)One of the more interesting entries on this list, Wildwood comes from Laika, Americas answer to Aardman. Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) directs and Laika regular Chris Butler writes this adaptation of the childrens fantasy novel by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. Before anyone grouches about including an animated adaptation of a kids book, keep in mind that previous Laika movies Coraline and ParaNorman are solid horror films, even if theyre aimed at a younger audience.Eddington (TBA)Heres what we know about Eddington. Its made by Ari Aster. And thats about all we need to know to be excited by it. Okay, it does look like Aster has an impressive cast lined up, including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone. And Aster is coming off his very divisive comedy(?) Beau Is Afraid. And still, even those who hated that last film are at least curious about a new Aster project.Hope (TBA)Its been nearly 10 years since Korean director Na Hong-jin released The Wailing, an excellent, moving exorcism film. But director Nas finally back in 2025 with Hope, a thriller that mixes in some sci-fi elements. So far we only know that Hope takes place in a harbor town, and that Western actors Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender will appear alongside Hwang Jung-min and Zo In-sung.

If further proof were required that gameshow The Traitors isnt made by a TV production company but by a cabal of supervillains plotting inside a hollowed-out mountain, the shows release schedule would be it. Its been designed to disorient and weaken our senses the TV equivalent of being spun around in a hall of mirrors. Ask anybody when the next episode of The Traitors is on and they wont be able to tell you. Wednesdays, yes. Thursdays, I think so. Fridays, yeah. Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday? No, but also maybe?It didnt help that the first episode of series three aired on January 1, at a time of year when the names of weekdays sink underneath the festive slush and leave us navigating the passing of time only by the increasing honk of Dads Special Cheese. (Still able to get the milk out of the fridge without gagging? Itll be Boxing Day. Can only approach said fridge with a novelty Rudolph tea towel blocking your smell and taste holes? Probably time to go back to work now.)Immediately after episode one aired, episode two was made available to stream early on BBC iPlayer a common ploy used by drug dealers to get customers hooked. That left those of us weak enough to submit strung out and going cold turkey the following night. Then Friday came, and with it, episode three, after which nothing. For FOUR DAYS.When was the last time you had to wait for something you actually wanted? GP appointments, Avanti West Coast trains and Glastonbury tickets aside, nobody waits for stuff anymore. The modern internet has made open-beaked baby birds of us all. With fluttery wings and gaping mouths, we demand a constant slurry of mashed-up caterpillar to be glooped straight into our gullets. Verify the transaction and the gloop keeps coming. Uber Eats, Tesco Whoosh, Amazon, DeliverooRead more Being made to wait for television feels even more outdated. For years, the streaming model has taken months sometimes years worth of peoples careful creative work, loaded it onto the back of a tipper lorry and then in one go, slid it all into a massive quarry and watched it disappear. Its been terrible for the industry but great for the baby bird viewers. So much gloop! No waiting.And now: waiting. The Traitors insists on it, because the BBC knows that waiting is all part of the fun. Not because each episode of The Traitors is as richly flavoured as an episode of the also weekly-released Wolf Hall and needs time to steep and infuse, but because delaying gratification is a game and The Traitors is a gameplayer extraordinaire. With a glint in its eye to rival Claudia Winklemans, it wants its audience on our toes, twitching and guessing. Generously, itll deliver three episodes over three consecutive nights to lull us into the false security of a routine, and then snatch the 9pm slot away for Casualty and Silent Witness for the next half a week. Its toying with us, keeping us in Trait-icipation, just like its castle-based contestants. Barring surprises, heres what we know:When is The Traitors Next On BBC One?Episode four 9pm, Wednesday January 8Episode five 9pm, Thursday January 9Episode six 9pm, Friday January 10Episode seven 9 pm, Wednesday January 15Episode eight 9pm, Thursday January 16Episode nine 9pm, Friday January 17And presumably (but as-yet unconfirmed)Episode 10 9pm, Wednesday January 22Episode 11 9pm, Thursday January 23Episode 12 9pm, Friday January 24The Traitors series three airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.