Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04215-2Studies reveal how risky play can benefit child development. But encouraging it can be a challenge for parents.

A woman with a known nut allergy had a severe allergic reaction after sex, even though her partner bathed and brushed his teeth first. Here's why.

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AT CES 2025, Microsoft VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald teased a refreshed user experience for Windows handheld gaming PCs: one that could combine the best aspects of its operating system and Xbox. While Windows 11 allows for more choice--users can access Steam, Epic Games Store, and several other marketplaces--it can be a chore to use because it is natively designed for PCs and laptops--not handheld systems with much smaller screens."We've been really innovating for a long time in the console space, and as we partner across the industry it's really about how do we bring those innovations that we've incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space," Ronald said an AMD and Lenovo event (via The Verge). "I would say it's bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it's really locked to the console. What we're doing is we're really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem."Ronald explained that Microsoft aims to bring a console-like experience to handhelds and "make Windows great for gaming" on any device. Microsoft will have more details to share later in the year, Ronald said, adding that the idea is to move away from a Windows desktop setup on handhelds and toward a "gaming-centric" experience.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Final Fantasy VII is among the most beloved entries in the series, but could there one day be another film adaptation? Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase said in an interview recently that, although nothing is "officially planned," he's aware of the game's appeal in Hollywood.Kitase told Danny Pena that he's "seen and heard about various Hollywood directors and actors playing Final Fantasy VII, and many creators respect the title."Kitase added: "I've been hearing things about creators out there who are very interested in the property who love the Final Fantasy 7 universe. And so, yeah, personally, I would love to see something come out of these creators in terms of a cinematic or some kind of visual piece."Continue Reading at GameSpot

Humble has revealed its January 2025 lineup of PC games, giving subscribers a selection of tactical adventures, grim souls-like action, and sci-fi thrillers to check out. If you're unfamiliar with it, Humble Choice is a $12 monthly subscription service that offers a monthly batch of PC games that are yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your membership. There are also several other benefits included, like exclusive discounts at the Humble store and access to the Humble Vault--an additional rotating library of games exclusive to members. Sign up for Humble Choice Humble Choice January 2025 GamesAgainst the StormJagged Alliance 3Blasphemous 2Beneath OresaFort SolisBoxes: Lost FragmentsDordogneThe Pegasus ExpeditionThere aren't too many high-profile games this month, but the selection is still solid overall. Fort Solis is an engaging narrative game set on a Martian mining base, and it combines strong performances from Roger Clark and Troy Baker with sharp Unreal Engine 5 graphics to create a gripping interactive story. Then there's Blasphemous 2, a metroidvania souls-like with imaginative pixel art and hordes of horrible monsters to slay. Set after the Wounds of Eventide DLC from the first game, Blasphemous 2 follows the Penitent One as he explores a strange land.Another highlight this month is Jagged Alliance 3, a well-received sequel that was released back in 2023. As the commander of a team of mercenaries, it's up to you to utilize them and restore order to the fictional land of Grand Chien in this tactical-RPG. For something more relaxing, you can check out Dordogne for a unique narrative game that features sumptuous hand-painted watercolor graphics and a story about uncovering forgotten secrets from the past.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Now that Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Echoes of Wisdom have all taken massive strides toward innovation, the future is wide open for The Legend of Zelda. It's unclear where the Legend of Zelda franchise may go from here in terms of its story and gameplay, but Zelda: Spirit Tracks, one of the series' most beloved entries, may hold the key to further innovation.

After a ton of leaks and rumors, Intel has finally made official its Arrow Lake series of mobile processors at CES 2025. The lineup includes five new Core Ultra 200H series mobile chips, six new Core Ultra 200HX series chips, and 12 new Core Ultra 200S series desktop processors, further expanding its portfolio. All these processors come with AI-enabled features to optimize performance and deliver even more efficient performance than the previous generation.

Marvel's Universe offers an expansive array of characters, and Marvel Rivals taps into this rich lore to bring a wide range of heroes and villains to life. Among the extensive villain roster is Dracula, who takes center stage in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls.

Its hard not to get excited when you boot up Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ritas Rewind and hear the nostalgic guitar riffs of the theme song. The game starts with sending the gang back to the 90s before jumping straight into the action: flipping and fighting their way through waves of putty patrollers deployed by iconic villain Rita Repulsa. The rangers or ranger, if youre playing alone fight their way through a sandy valley and across some rooftops before getting on a speeder and blasting away bad guys in a chase through the canyon in the first few levels. Its all leading into the first big fight, where the rangers transform their vehicles into the Megazord. Whats supposed to be a marquee battle is actually just a watered-down, timing-heavy version of Punch-Out!! a big letdown that continues throughout the rest of the game.Its not that Ritas Rewind is bad, but the good parts are limited to the repetitive side-scrolling levels that shine largely due to nostalgia for the genre and franchise. The locations and art are stunning re-creations of iconic locations from the series, but there ends up not being enough variety in what you do in those locations: Enemies and movesets are both limited, and, frustratingly, theres very little evolution of the speeder chase and Megazord fights. While Digital Eclipses 2022 release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge felt alive and buzzing, Ritas Rewind feels slow and stale it doesnt have the iteration or depth expected of a reimagining of the 1994 classic. Shredders Revenge, too, was a modern version of the classic TMNT brawler, with mechanically interesting combat and variety in enemies; Ritas Rewind, by comparison, feels clunky. Its that comparison that may be detrimental to Ritas Rewind: I came into the experience expecting an evolution of the classics, like with Shredders Revenge, but what Digital Eclipse created is more akin to what it was like playing a 16-bit brawler back in the day. It doesnt feel like a game that was made in 2024.If youre looking for a simple experience that is a true throwback, youll likely have more fun with Ritas Rewind. In that case, youre in for a nostalgia treat: The colorful world is full of references and grotesque enemies youll remember, like Chunky Chicken and Turkey Jerk. The best parts of Ritas Rewind are the aesthetic of the environment and its characters, and seeing where the game takes you next. The big change from other brawler games is the Time Disruptor, which putties occasionally carry into the battleground. Its set to a timer, and if its not destroyed before it self-destructs, the timeline rewinds briefly meaning youll have to fight whatever bad guys youve already defeated again. It doesnt add much difficulty or meaning, however it just fills time.And, perhaps, the team at Digital Eclipse needed that: Ritas Rewind took just over two hours to beat. Its not much shorter than Shredders Revenge, but repetition made everything blur together. Ritas Rewind ends up relying far too heavily on nostalgia, creating something thats maybe too close to the SNES game its drawing from instead of pushing the genre for more depth.Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ritas Rewind was released on Dec. 10 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One. The game was reviewed on Windows PC via Steam Deck using a pre-release download code provided by Digital Eclipse. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can findadditional information about Polygons ethics policy here.