Getting consistent quality rest is undeniably essential for proper daily functioning. If you're like me, you know it doesn't always come easy. Long-term sleep deprivation isn't just frustrating -- it can have severe health implications, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and depression.Like others, I struggle with getting enough rest and am always looking for ways to improve my sleep quality. I came across a few TikTok videos about the Lemme Sleep brand and the effectiveness of its sleep gummies but remained skeptical. Ive tried countless sleep hacks, remedies and supplements over the years -- would this one be any different? I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give it a shot.What is Lemme?Lemme(or Lemme Live) is a vitamin brand created by American media personality Kourtney Kardashian Barker. It has a variety of wellness supplements for sleep and de-stressing, boosting energy, digestive health, vaginal probiotics, fat-burning gummies and more.Kourtney explains on Lemmes website that her mission was to develop vitamins and supplements with clinically backedingredients that are also tasty.I have to hand it to Lemme -- its marketing is superior. Its email campaigns and social media posts are aesthetically pleasing, striking a balance of simple and informative. It stays on top of trends and strategically offers attractive solutions to common health issues or insecurities many people face: Do you desire radiant hair and skin? Try theLemme Glowgummies. Are you struggling to lose weight? Consider theLemme Burnand Lemme Curb duo to combat fat and manage unwanted cravings. Do you want to be more productive throughout your busy day? Try theLemme Matchagummies for sustained energy and focus. The list goes on. Lemme offers a variety of health supplements, not just sleep aids. LemmeInitial thoughts on LemmeThe sleep gummieswere sold outwhen I initially tried to buy them, so I signed up for the company's emails.I was notifiedthat they were back in stock a few days later and immediately ordered a bottle. Since signing up for the email and text campaigns just a couple of months ago, Ive noticed Lemme Sleep gummies have gone out of stock multiple times -- a sign they remain trendy.Right away, I was impressed by the container. I am a sucker for good packaging, and Lemme nailed it. The bottle is fun, and the materials feel high-quality. Itismadeof100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The mailers and shipping boxes are also recyclable and biodegradable, which I appreciate (and expect, quite frankly). The Lemme Sleep gummies are packaged in fun, recycled plastic bottles. Aly Lopez/CNETOlly vs. LemmeMy Lemme Sleep gummies arrived just as I ran out of theOlly Sleep gummiesI'dbeen takingfor the past month.Ollyis a comparable brand that offers a variety of vitamins and supplements. With Olly Sleep, I noticed that while they would make me almost immediately sleepy, they were not always enough for me to get solid, deep sleep and stay asleep throughout the night -- my two main issues. They were consistent and certainly never made my sleep any worse.To compare the ingredients:Olly Sleep has melatonin, L-theanine and botanicalsLemme Sleep has melatonin, L-theanine, magnesium and botanicalsOlly has 3 mg of melatonin, whereas Lemme Sleep has 5 mgOlly has 100 mg of L-theanine, and Lemme Sleep has 50 mg I had just finished a bottle of Olly Sleep when my Lemme Sleep gummies arrived. Aly Lopez/CNETGiven that a serving of the Olly Sleep gummies has less melatonin but more L-theanine than Lemme Sleep, I wasnt sure how the two would compare.To me, the berry flavor of Lemme Sleep tasted better than Olly Sleeps blackberry flavor, but I wouldnt want to eat either of them like candy.The Lemme gummies dissolved much faster than Olly's, which are, well,gummier.A bottle of Lemme Sleep has 60 gummies (30 servings) and costs $30. A bottle of Olly Sleep has 50 gummies (25 servings) and is priced at only $14 -- less than half the price. $30 for a bottle of dietary sleep supplements like this is one of the higher price tags I've seen. My first night taking Lemme SleepWhile preparing for bed, I took the recommended dosage of two gummies. Less than 30 minutes later, I felt myself drift off to sleep. I remember feeling incredibly relaxed as if peacefully floating on a cloud. According to my sleep tracker, I slept for 10 hours and 4 minutes -- a new high score. Im not sure that Ive ever slept that long.As shown in my sleep data below, I woke up a few times throughout the night but fell back asleep quickly each time. I didnt remember having bizarre dreams, which is unusual for me. I did wake up feeling rather groggy and probably would have slept even longer if my dog hadnt woken me up asking to go outside.In those 10 hours, I spent less than 1 hour in deep sleep (53 minutes) and most of the time in core/light sleep (7 hours). The recommended amount of deep sleep for adults is around 1.5 to 2 hours, or 20% to 25% of the total time asleep. Ideally, I would have spent 2 to 2.5 hours in deep sleep, which may explain why I woke up still tired -- that, or I overslept for the first time in years. My sleep latency, or the time it takes to fall asleep, was also very short. After taking two Lemme Sleep gummies, I slept for a shocking 10 hours. Aly Lopez/CNETOverall, I was impressed by my experience on the first night of taking Lemme Sleep. My average sleep time is usually around 6.5 to 7 hours, so this was a surprisingly drastic difference.Is it OK to take sleep supplements every night?Throughout my years of testing and researching varioussleep aids, I'm hesitant to rely heavily on supplements with melatonin.Dr. Navya Mysore, primary care physicianandmedia health expert, confirmed these hesitations. "Sleep supplements are OK from time to time. Generally, I don't recommend them for everyday long-term use. Up to two months is OK whileyou aretrying to figure out the source of the sleep issue, but long-term use of melatonin may affect how you naturally produce melatonin."To avoid overdoing it and to test the actual effectiveness of Lemme Sleep, I varied the number of gummies I took each night. The instructions on Lemme's website also say that you can start with a one-gummy dose if you're looking forlighter sleep or want to see the effect before taking a two-gummy dose. Throughout the 24 days of my experiment, there were eight nights when I took two gummies, eight nights when I took one gummyandeight nights when I took none.My second night taking Lemme SleepHaving slept for a deliciously long time after the first night of taking Lemme Sleep, I was looking forward to it the next night. I only took one gummy and was surprised by the results. Like the first night, I fell asleep quickly. Unlike the first night, I slept for a measly 5 hours and 15 minutes and spent over 2 hours awake throughout the night.Other factors could influence sleep quality, such as bedroom environment, stress levels, extraneous noises, exercise, etc. On this particular night, nothing out of the ordinary would have been to blame though. For hours, I was awake, frustratedandconfused about why I couldnt sleep when the previous night had been such a success. It was like taking one gummy had the opposite effect. I slept half as long the second night as I did the first night after taking Lemme Sleep. Aly Lopez/CNETTrial and error: Testing various amountsAbout a week later, I had another 10-hour night after taking two Lemme Sleep gummies. Like that first night, I didnt get as much deep sleep as I would have liked (less than 1 hour). I spent nearly an hour awake, which is more than preferred. Regardless, I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated -- not as groggy as I had the first time. The second (and final) night of getting 10 hours of sleep during the testing period. Aly Lopez/CNETMy sleep data resultsOn average, I slept the most (around 8 hours per night) after taking two Lemme Sleep gummies. Compare that to a lower average of 7 hours, 22 minutes after taking one Lemme Sleep gummy, and the lowest of 6 hours, 38 minutes on nights when I took zero gummies.Number of gummies taken vs. average hours slept I slept the most after taking two Lemme Sleep gummies, around 8 hours.Although I slept the most after taking two Lemme Sleep gummies, it was not consistent, and it wasn't necessarily better sleep, as shown below. Toward the end of the trial, taking one gummy resulted in the most consistent sleep and the least amount of time awake. I was impressed by the low awake times I experienced after taking only one gummy. For four nights, I was awake for 6 minutes or less, which is a significant improvement.Nightly hours slept vs. number of gummies taken I consistently got the least amount of sleep on the nights when I took no gummies.Regarding mysleep cycle, the most significant difference is that I spent more time in light/core sleep after taking two gummies. Interestingly, my deep sleep remained roughly the same (about an hour) regardless of how many gummies I took. I spent about as much time awake on nights when I had no gummies and nights when I took two. On the nights I took only one gummy, I spent the least time awake.Average time spent in each sleep phase I spent the least time awake on nights when I took only one gummy.Lemme break down the ingredientsIn one serving (or two gummies), Lemme Sleep has:5 mg of melatonin20 mg of magnesium50 mg of L-theanine25 mg of a botanical blend (chamomile, lavender and elderberry) Lemme Sleep has melatonin, magnesium, L-theanine and a proprietary herbal blend. Aly Lopez/CNETI consulted with Dr. Navya Mysore about these ingredients. The melatonin dose is a good average amount -- usually what I recommend to my patients to try. Magnesium citrate is very low and not what I would suggest for sleep. I like magnesium bisglycinate; about 400 mg before bed is a good dose. They are still trying to figure out the dosage for L-theanine and what would help with sleep, but 50 mg seems on the lower end.In regard to the botanical blend within the Lemme Sleep gummies, Mysore explains, There is little evidence that the other ingredients [in the botanical blend] support sleep. In general, I'm not a fan when they try to mix many things into one supplement. It's often better to take the individual supplement where you can have a higher dose of the supplement itself. I encountered this opinion in other online reviews of Lemme Sleep.Its also important to note the disclaimer on Lemmes website, which reads, These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.What people are saying about LemmeLemmes vitamins and supplements are also available onAmazon, with mixed customer reviews. The Lemme Sleep gummies currently have a 3.8/5-star rating out of 1,400 reviews -- 17% of which are one-star. Most users who left negative reviews said that while the gummies are undeniably tasty, they didnt seem to improve their sleep quality. Some reviewers claimed they slept worse or were awake longer than usual throughout the night after taking them.58% of customers have left glowing five-star reviews on Amazon. Many said taking Lemme Sleep fixed their out-of-whack sleep schedules by helping them fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The contrasting reviews, similar to my own experience, remain somewhat divided -- after all, sleep patterns, behaviors and reactions to supplements are extremely personal and different for everyone.The reviews onLemme's websiteare much more positive: currently, 83% of the reviews are five stars, and many users claim they're the best sleep supplements theyve ever taken.Final thoughts on the Lemme Sleep gummiesI did not expect the inconsistencies in my sleep when taking the Lemme Sleep gummies. Sometimes, I would wake up feeling groggy; other times, I would be wide awake and ready to start the day. Sometimes, I would sleep for 10 hours, sometimes 5. Overall, it improved my sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) and helped me get more sleep, on average, though not necessarilybettersleep.Toward the end of the experiment,I found thattaking one gummy was most effective inkeeping me asleep throughout the night.Moving forward, Ill likely take the Lemme Sleep gummies on nights when Im feelingespecially sleep-deprived and have the timeto potentially sleep for 10 hours.Be sure toconsult your doctor before trying Lemme Sleep or other dietary supplements. Generally, its best not to rely on a nightly sleep supplement and to work on naturally enhancing your bodys ability to produce melatonin. For additional ways toimprove your sleep habits, Mysore recommends getting enough exercise, stopping caffeine intake by noon and limiting the number of caffeinated drinks you have daily (no more than two to three), having a consistentsleep/wake schedule, keeping thebedroom cooland turning offscreensat least 1 hour before bed.You should try the Lemme Sleep gummies if:You regularly struggle to fall asleep and stay asleepYou want a sleep supplement with melatoninYoure searching for a temporary solution for getting into a regular sleep patternYou should skip the Lemme Sleep gummies if:You dont want a sleep supplement with multiple ingredientsYou're looking for a consistent, long-term solution for insomniaYou're looking for a budget sleep supplement

1 of 22James Martin/CNETOn this second day ofCES 2025, we're hunting down all the novel products and interesting concepts that will have you wondering what the tech landscape looks like for the rest of the year. The annual event in Las Vegas is the largest of its kind, which means there's still a lot for us to explore and share.2 of 22James Martin/CNETA lava lamp with thumping speakersTo play your favorite music, would you prefer a portable Bluetooth speaker that looks like, well, a thousand other speakers? Or one that not only sounds great but also pulses with color in time to the music? Govee showed off its newTable Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL, which syncs to the music playing from its integrated JBL speakers. The lava lamps of old only wished they could be this cool.3 of 22Patrick Holland/CNETA Wonder-ful way to photograph your backyardPhotographing birds, insects and other natural marvels in your yard often involves a big problem -- you. We're not criticizing your talents, but rather your human-sized presence. The Petal camera fromWonder, with its stalk-like shape and solar leaf, is designed to take photos of your yard in its natural state. The 12-megapixel camera uses AI to identify what it records and can report back to you on what it discovered.4 of 22Lisa Eadicicco/CNETShoes to make you feel better and boost performanceYou can buy shoes that will help you run faster or jump higher, but that's not what's going on here. These astronaut-suit-looking boots are actually for when you're doing nothing -- specifically when you're recovering from a workout or performance. TheNike + Hypericerecovery shoes apply adjustable compression and heat to your feet and calves, while also letting you move around instead of being locked down. Despite their futuristic looks, they're not actually from the future -- some athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games used prototypes to aid in faster recovery between events.5 of 22Zooey Liao/ CNETA laptop with a screen that unrollsWhen you've experienced the joy of working on multiple screens, it's hard to go back to just one. And yet we typically don't have much choice when traveling or away from our normal setup with a laptop. One option is to tote and set up add-on screens, but that means extra bulk and extra work. Lenovo has a different idea using flexible screen technology. TheThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollablelaptop's screen extends from 14 to 16.7 inches, expanding the screen real estate and giving you some breathing room -- or space to watch a movie under that spreadsheet you need to work on. You can see it in action here.6 of 22Antuan Goodwin/CNETAn EV that runs on sunshineForget the pump -- heck, forget the plug. This solar-powered electric car can get up to 40 miles of everyday driving in a day. TheAptera solar vehiclelooks like a dolphin and holds just two people, but did you catch the part about being powered by the sun? Every part of it is optimized for efficiency, from its weight -- about half that of a regular EV -- to its carbon fiber chassis and low profile wheels. For longer trips you can plug it in and get up to 400 miles from a full charge.7 of 22Lisa Eadicicco/CNETA super bright and detailed watch screenWhen new smartwatches are announced, the companies make a point of showing off the screen brightness. For good reason: Even high-nit screens can have trouble competing with bright sunlight -- especially here in Las Vegas -- while at the same time being bright enough to see in low-light environments at night. Samsung Display demonstrated aMicro LED smartwatch conceptthat goes up to almost 4,000 nits compared to 3,200 nits on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or the 2,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 3. So far this is just a proof of concept, but since Micro LEDs are already present in televisions, it could be time to start using them in smartwatches.8 of 22SwippittA 2-second iPhone battery swapEven as battery life improves in our phones, there comes that point where we need to set it down to charge. Even the latest fast-charging technologies require dozens of minutes to get the power level up to working. If you're impatient or need to run out the door right away, how does a handful ofsecondssound for a fresh battery top-off? TheSwippittis a box that looks like a toaster into which you drop your phone with a special Swippitt case. After a few seconds the machine swaps out the depleted battery in the case with a fresh one that's charged and ready. It supports the iPhone 14 and later, with Android compatibility coming soon. The entire setup isn't cheap at around $700 for the hub and one case, but could be worthwhile for a small business or family on the go.9 of 22Jon Reed/CNETA battery backup for your fridgeYou'll never forget the smell -- or taste, if you were unfortunate enough -- of unexpected spoiled milk. If your refrigerator goes out, either from malfunction or more commonly a power outage, sooner or later its contents will go sour.BioLitehas a backup battery solution for the fridge or any other appliance that needs constant power. Instead of installing large whole-home battery system, the BioLite battery is tied to the appliance that needs it. Think of it as a portable power station that doesn't go anywhere. With two battery units, it packs 3 kilowatt-hours of energy -- enough to run a standard fridge for a couple of days.10 of 22Celso Bulgatti/CNETNo really, the TV is actually getting closerAfter the movie Avatar changed the theater-going experience with high-quality 3D projection, the TV industry spent vast sums bringing 3D to home televisions. Unfortunately for them,few peoplebrought those televisions home. But the 3D dream will never truly die, as evidenced by Samsung Display's wildstretchable display concept. Instead of simulating a scene in three dimensions, the display actually extends like some kind of pixelated souffl, depending on the imagery being played. It's too early to tell if this concept will scale to a product that's usable, but we'll bet "warp the actual screen" wasn't on most people's minds when they were watching 3D movies.11 of 22James Martin/CNETWho needs YouTube when you've got a microwave?Microwave ovens were meant to simplify cooking in the kitchen, and in one respect theLG Signature Smart Instaview microwaveconcept tries to do that. With intelligent cooking sensors and a range of foods it can cook automatically, the microwave in theory will be your chef.And then there's the 27-inch display plus several cameras. Follow along while your food cooks; get a top-down view of what's simmering on the range below; heck, turn it into your own culinary show. Overkill? Maybe -- we'll see how the chicken nuggets turn out in 2026 when LG hopes to bring it to market.12 of 22Antuan Goodwin/CNETA future (and futuristic) motor to power electric vehiclesYou may not need a snowy parking lot to do donuts with tomorrow's EVs. Donut Lab showed off the latest generation of its Donut Motor, a wheel-shaped drive unit that powers the wheels of an EV. Instead of a central engine moving each wheel, this type of in-wheel electric motor provides the oomph. Combine several of them around the vehicle and you're no longer bound by the space and weight limitations of a central engine.So what's so great about this second-generation Donut Motor? It's smaller and lighter than other similar devices -- the 21-inch model is apparently 88 pounds (40 kg), roughly a third of a standard electric drive unit. Less weight means fewer components and more range. Be sure to read all ofAntuan Goodwin's detailed writeupto see just how interesting this approach to future EVs is.13 of 22James Martin/CNETStick this TV almost anywhereTelevisions tend to stay put, especially as they've grown in size. You may have even organized a family room around the placement of the TV. But suppose you could tote that TV anywhere? TheDisplace TVis designed to be hyper portable. We're not talking "small enough to haul on vacation." This TV, which comes in 27-inch and 55-inch versions, includes built-in batteries so it's free of all cables. But you don't fully appreciate the concept of this "anywhere TV" until you attach the Pro model to any flat surface via giant suction cups. The software helps you level the device and applies the suction to ensure a tight seal.14 of 22RoborockA robot vacuum that can do the tidying for youTracked-in dirt? Clumps of pet fur? Robot vacuums were built to automatically whisk them away. But drop a sock or a pair of underwear on the way to the laundry room? Most vacuums either push the garments around or, worse, choke on them, stopping everything until they can be rescued by a human. But not theRoborock Saros Z70, which extends a normally hidden mechanical arm to pick up the debris and move it to a designated area out of the way. We suspect it will be not only good for cleaning, but for entertaining small children (and honestly, us adults too).15 of 22James Martin/CNETSmart glasses that actually look like glassesThe evolution of vision-centric wearables continues to come from both ends of the spectrum. On one side are expensive, immersive headsets like the Apple Vision Pro. On the other are options like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses that can record audio and video but leave the glasses portion unobstructed. And in the vast middle are lots of opportunities for AR. Here, CNET's Lisa Eadicicco tries outHalliday XR smart glassesthat incorporate a small screen that puts information in your field of view. A companion ring gives you some control over what you see without tapping the frames or a connected phone or other smart device.16 of 22James Martin/CNETThis robot is a charm (and charming)We have robots that clean floors and robots that mow lawns, but what about robots that turn to look at you? That's the idea behindMirumi, a fuzzy robotic baby sloth that hangs off your bag as a charm and sparks joy. You'd think it was just a stuffed toy until it swivels its head to look at people or objects nearby and focuses on them. It's cute, not creepy, we promise.17 of 22James Martin/CNETIs your dedicated e-reader in a drawer?We know people who like the convenience of reading books electronically but don't want to carry a separate dedicated e-reader in addition to their phone or laptop. However, those devices usually offer better readability and certainly longer battery life due to their E Ink displays. Are those folks stuck juggling multiple devices? Not if they pick up theTCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G, a $200 phone with a separate mode that mimics an e-reader in both visual style and reduced power consumption.18 of 22James Martin/CNETDigital art on your wall with fewer cablesWe're used to seeing TVs on walls everywhere, but when you're not watching them, they're usually just big black rectangles. Samsung's Frame TVs turn the displays into art -- well, art with connection cables snaking from the back. The new Frame Pro syncs up wirelessly to Samsung's Wireless One Connect box for transmitting material from a set-top box. It also employs Samsung's Neo QLED panels for better image quality.19 of 22Jon Reed/CNETAdd some fizz to your daily water intakeIf you prefer bubbles in your bottles, you typically need to stock up on prepackaged carbonated water or remember to prep your SodaStream. Or you can take the bubbles anywhere with aRoam SodaTop. This $50 water bottle cap uses a small carbon dioxide cartridge to fizz up what's in the bottle, giving you fresh carbonation whenever you want it.20 of 22LymowMow mow, mulch mulchWe imagine anyone who buys a robot lawnmower already has a great lawn to run it on, but what if your tract of grass is wilder than normal? The $3,000Lymow Onecould be what you're looking for. Not only is it outfitted with tank-like tracks -- called, no kidding, the Savage Traverse System -- it includes mulching blades that are strong enough to macerate leaves, fruit, pine cones and small branches. A centrifugal fan disperses the matter and prevents clogging. Your curious pets should be safe, though, because the Lymow One has obstacle recognition and avoidance tech.21 of 22LeafyPodGive voice to your soon-no-longer-suffering plantsWe would never judge anyone who talks to their plants. When the plants start talking back, though, we start to raise a few eyebrows. Don't worry, the companies at CES haven't (yet?) bred a new strain of Audreys. Instead, LeafyPod has unveiled a smart planter for your home flora. With sensors and a packet or two of AI mixed in, theLeafyPod planter adjusts water intake from a reservoir to prevent overhydrating and makes recommendations about sunlight exposure. The planter holds up to four weeks of water, so it can take care of your green buddies while you're on vacation.22 of 22Patrick Holland/CNETA space for handmade artNot everything at CES is cutting edge. There's always space for bespoke, handcrafted artwork like this latt design of C|NET's throwback logo, created by a barista at Dandelion Chocolate in Las Vegas. Although Las Vegas is swarmed by CES vendors and visitors like us this week, we also recognize the people who live and work here year round -- in this specific case fueling us with the caffeine to bring you even more cool finds over the next few days.

Dwarf Fortress' roguelike Adventure Mode gets full Steam launch this monthFollowing lengthy public beta.Image credit: Bay 12 Games/Kitfox Games News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 8, 2025 After nine of public beta access, hugely influential colony sim Dwarf Fortress' roguelike Adventure Mode is getting its full Steam release on 23rd January.Adventure Mode, if you're unfamiliar, offers an alternative way to explore Dwarf Fortress' ludicrously in-depth, procedurally generated worlds - trading the usual colony management for a roguelike RPG, complete with procedural quests, NPCs, and turn-based battles.Dwarf Fortress' Adventure Mode isn't a new thing, of course. It's been available as part of the free (and nearly two decade old) ASCII version for years, but it wasn't included when the game made the jump to Steam as a notably slicker paid release - featuring the likes of sprite-based visuals, a mouse-driven UI, and Steam Workshop compatibility - in 2022.Dwarf Fortress Adventure Mode release date trailer.Watch on YouTubeThat changed last May when developer siblings Zach and Tarn Adams launched a public beta version of Adventure Mode for Dwarf Fortress on Steam. At the time, the duo noted the beta had "some missing bits" seen in the ASCII version - ranging from additional graphics and sounds to butchery, crafting, and trading - that would be implemented prior to its full release.And now, following nine months of beta access, Adventure Mode's full release is officially set for 23d January. "Thank you to all the urists who participated in the beta and left their helpful feedback," the Adamses wrote in announcement on Steam. "The mode has come a long way since it first launched in beta and we couldn't have done it without your help!""We are excited to shift focus back to Fortress Mode very soon," the announcement continued, "but this is also not the end of Adventure Mode development. Many updates in the future will be applied to both modes and there's still more to add to Adventure Mode in the future. As with everything in Dwarf Fortress development, it will all come in due time."Prior to Adventure Mode's full launch on Steam (and itch.io, where the Premium version is also available), the Adamses have released what'll likely be one of the mode's last pre-launch beta updates, featuring a long list of improvements and additions - as detailed the latest patch notes.

Pokmon Presents livestream looks set for next monthLegends Z-A news likely - but will we see it running on Switch 2?Image credit: The Pokmon Company News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Jan. 8, 2025 The Pokmon Company will once again hold a Pokmon Presents livestream next month, according to leak of data from Pokmon Go.Datamined references to a Pokmon Presents 2025 event tied to the franchise's annual Pokmon Day were spotted today by prolific code sniffers The Pokemod Group. The existence of a Pokmon Presents livestream on or around Pokmon Day (27th February, the anniversary of Pokmon Red and Green's original Japanese debut) is not a huge surprise. Pokmon Presents livestreams have often (but not always) been held on the date. Like a Pokmon-focused version of a Nintendo Direct, at least one Pokmon Presents broadcast has been held each year since 2015, and sometimes multiple times a year. Typically, these contain details on all Pokmon projects to be released over the coming months, including console and mobile games, plus other updates on the franchise.To date, we hadn't heard anything official about 2025's first Pokmon Presents, and this year bringing with it Switch 2 had potentially added another wrinkle, in that presumably the livestream will also feature whatever may be in the works for Nintendo's still currently unannounced console.This could include a Switch 2 version of the already-announced Switch game Pokmon: Legends Z-A (which was conspicuously revealed last year without showing any actual gameplay, as if a better-looking version was also in the works).All of this begs the question - will Switch 2 be unveiled before 27th February? That date is a month before Nintendo's own deadline to announce the new console (31st March), but judging by the pace of Switch 2 leaks now, it seems very likely.

Splash Damage cancels Transformers: Reactivate, says roles "at risk of redundancy""This decision did not come lightly."Image credit: Splash Damage News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Splash Damage has announced it's cancelling the development of Transformers: Reactivate, and that it'll be "scaling down" the studio as result, leaving roles "at risk of redundancy".Transformers: Reactivate was unveiled for PC and consoles at The Game Awards back in 2022, promising online action for one to four players featuring some of the franchise's most iconic characters. However, little has been heard about the game since its reveal two years ago, and now Splash Damage has confirmed development has ceased."Today, we have some very difficult news to share," the company wrote in a statement on social media. "The decision has been made to end development of Transformers: Reactivate. This means we will be scaling down to refocus our efforts on other projects. Unfortunately, despite every effort, a number of roles across the studio are now potentially at risk of redundancy."Transformers: Reactivate was announced in 2022.Watch on YouTube"This decision did not come lightly, and it is a difficult time for the studio and our people. We want to take a moment to thank the team who worked on Transformers for their dedication and passion." Splash Damage, which is based in the UK, did not specify the reason for the game's cancellation, nor did it reveal how many jobs are at risk following today's news."Hasbro was an incredible and supportive partner throughout," it continued, "and we hope to work with them again. To the many fans, your excitement and support helped keep us going.""While not being able to see the game through to release is painful, having to say goodbye to friends and colleagues hurts even more. We're now focused on doing everything we can to support them through this tough period, just as we are committed to caring for those who will stay with us as we build a stronger Splash Damage for the future.""Thank you for your compassion and understanding."

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide The first official details for WWE 2K25 have been revealed. We have entered the new year, and this means marketing is set to begin and go into overdrive for the next video game from 2K before it releases near WrestleMania. While official information is minor right now, the WWE 2K25 cover star leak possibly tees up an historic Showcase mode for players to enjoy. Since 2K22, the annual series has largely been very good with each iteration slightly building upon the foundations. In our 2K24 review, we praised the stellar presentation and fun gameplay, along with the assortment of returning modes and new match types. The roster list was also the biggest ever with over 200 wrestlers from day one, and then 2K improved the roster with even more iconic superstars as DLC such as CM Punk. While 2K24 was good, fans expect 2K25 to be even better. There will hopefully be even more match types and new wrestlers from NXT, and there should be another new MyRise and Showcase mode. In the past, Showcase mode has focused on the career of one particular superstar such as John Cena for 2K23, and its possible we know the WWE 2K25 Showcase mode angle thanks to the cover star leak. WWE 2K25 cover star leak The leaked WWE 2K25 cover star is Roman Reigns. The tribal chiefs significance to the game was teased during a backstage segment on the Netflix debut of Monday Night RAW, but the actual cover appears to have leaked online. Screenshots of Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Bayley, Damien Priest, and Liv Morgan have been uploaded to the games profile page on Steam. However, Steam also uploaded an image of what appears to be the WWE 2K25 cover with Roman Reigns getting ready to deliver a Superman punch as Paul Heyman admires him in the background. Steam have since replaced the image with the games logo, but you can still find the leaked cover on Reddit: Its not official that Roman Reigns is the cover star as of writing. Plus, there could be other cover stars for the game as this leak appears to be for the Standard edition. Cody Rhodes graced the cover of the Standard edition for 2K24, meanwhile, it was Rhea and Bianca Belair for the Deluxe, and a host of wrestlers for the 40 Years of WrestleMania package. Possible Roman Reigns Showcase modeAssuming Roman Reigns is the cover star athlete for WWE 2K25 as the leak suggests, its possible we could be getting a Showcase mode dedicated to the tribal chief. Not every cover star is the Showcase mode as seen with Cody Rhodes for 2K24, but John Cena was for 2K23. A Roman Reigns Showcase mode would make sense as hes one of the biggest stars in the company, and his reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion was historic at 1,316 days. While a lot of great matches could be included, unfortunately, there would also be a lot of amazing matches missed thanks to the absence of wrestlers such as Daniel Bryan, Edge, Cesaro, and Brock Lesnar. Plus, some of Roman Reigns title matches have already been part of previous Showcase modes such as against John Cena for 2K23, and against Cody Rhodes for 2K24. Rather than a Roman Reigns Showcase mode, the more appealing option would be a Bloodline Showcase mode. This could explore the massive history of the entire Bloodline, and thus introduce new legends to the series such as Afa and Sika. We will have to wait and see who the Showcase mode star is for 2K25, assuming the mode does return. Roman Reigns teased something big for January 27th, meanwhile, WWEGames is teasing a grand reveal for January 28th. For more WWE 2K, check out our guides forhow to break the ringin 2K24, along with how todownload the best community creations.WWE 2K24Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Simulation, Sports, Wrestling7VideoGamerRelated TopicsWWE 2K25 Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

When it comes to accommodations, few cities come close to Pariss plethora of tony escapes. Recent luxury hotel openings include the colorfully crisp Le Grand Mazarin or the garden-inspired La Fantaisieboth visions brought to life by AD100 talent Martin Brudnizki. Theres also the newly debuted Htel de La Botie, with playfully chic interiors from AD100 designer Beata Heuman, or Fabrizio Casiraghis Htel des Grands Voyageurs for those coveting a quietly luxurious retreat. TheSaint James Hotel, imbued with an Art Deco flair by AD100 designer Laura Gonzalez, is also a delight.The 6 Most Luxurious Paris Mansions That You Can Actually Stay In: For a less predictable encounter with the City of Light, book a Paris mansion hotel with a pied--terre ambiance. Keep readingPhoto: Gregoire Gardette6 Secret Gardens in Paris That Everyone Must Visit: Tucked off the beaten path, see the City of Lights from a whole new perspective. Keep readingPhoto: Htel Particulier MontmartreDesign Happenings Not to MissAt Paris Dco OffIt wouldnt be Paris Dco Off without a visit to one of Frances heritage textile ateliers. We suggest Pierre Frey, which is celebrating citywide this season with each of the companys four showrooms (including Braqueni, Thorp of London, and Zuber), taking on distinct atmospheres for previews of the latest launches. The largest collection, Deserts, will bring reinterpretations of kilim patterns, Berber carpet archives, and more to the Htel de Guise, a historic Left Bank property, temporarily transformed into a veritable Pierre Frey town house (locations vary).Fair first-timer Delcourt Textiles will be showing upholstery fabrics that emphasis natural materials.Photography courtesy Delcourt CollectionKvadrat is launching its latest Sahco collection, Wild at Heart, which revisits the brands roots: Ulf Moritz, the designer who shaped the Sahco in the late 1980s, believed no idea was too wild to be executed as long as it became a perfect rendering, says Bengt Thornefors, Sahcos creative director. The collection will be showcased in a cinematic installation dubbed Hollywood in the Distance by Rafael de Crdenas at contemporary art gallery Galerie Dumonteil (38 Rue de l'Universit).Meanwhile, at De Le Cuona, corduroy, houndstooth, and other timeless menswear fabrics inspire the textile houses new collection, Natural Rebel, set to launch in March (12 rue Jacques Callot). LA-based interior designer Sean Leffers is showing his inaugural line of handmade natural fiber fabrics, which draw on his trove of antique Asian textiles (7 rue de Savoie; on January 16 only). And fair first-timer Delcourt Textiles will be showing an exclusive range of upholstery fabrics in natural materials at Passage Saint-Sulpice, a new Paris Dco Off pop-up space (La place Saint-Sulpice).Marquise Matsugae by Sean Leffers, whose inaugural collection will be available at Kneedler Fauchre showrooms in February.Photography courtesy Sean LeffersA first look at the romanticized florals in Ralph Lauren Homes Rue Bohme collection, which indulges in a palette of indigo, chambray, cream, and white.Other musts on our Paris Dco Off list: Ralph Lauren Homes Spring 2025 Rue Bohme collection, which embodies bohemian glamour with distressed florals and paint-splattered velvets (4 rue Vide Gousset); Loro Piana Interiors Pure and Pristine collection (19 rue de Saints Pres); and Schumacher, which will present panel sets by Libertine fashion designer Johnson Hartig, plus a new spin on the companys iconic Shivalik Hills Tiger fabric, and more. Dedar, too, never disappoints (9 rue Jacob).At Maison & ObjetLast year Surrealism celebrated its 100th anniversary, and in 2025 the artistic movements uncanny legacy continues to reverberate throughout the design world. This January, Maison & Objet and creative studio Peclers Paris invite you to their dream world with Sur/Reality, the design fairs latest theme. Immersive installations dreamt up by Elizabeth Leriche, Franois Delclaux, and Studio Uchronia are set to showcase the theme across decor, retail, and hospitality realms, respectively. For the latter, Studio Uchronias Julien Sebban has conceived the fanciful Hotel Uchronia (Hall 7). True to the Parisian firms signature aesthetic, the conceptual boutique hotel packs a colorful punch, amplified by lighting, fabric, design objects, and even a soundscape that plays via perception. In the imagined venues Caf-Bar, for example, day and night are reversed. Each of Hotel Uchronias three zones offers its own sensorial experience.

Since Donald Trump won back the presidency on November 5, a parade of Silicon Valley luminaries have been engaging in an unseemly grovel-fest, making pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, shoveling million-dollar contributions to his inaugural fund, and meddling in the editorial departments of the publications they own in an apparent attempt to gain the new leaders favor. Yesterday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, hold my beer.In a five-minute Instagram video, rocking his new curly hairdo and a $900,000 Gruebal Forsey watch, Zuckerberg announced a series of drastic policy changes that could open the floodgates of misinformation and hate speech on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram. His rationale parroted talking points that right-wing legislators, pundits, and Trump himself have been hammering for years. And Zuckerberg wasnt coy about the timing, explicitly saying the new political regime was a factor in his thinking: The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech, he said in the video.In Zuckerbergs telling, the main impetus for the change is the desire to boost free expression. Metas social networks had become too extreme in restricting the speech of users, he said, so the thrust of the changeswhich included ending Metas multiyear partnerships with third-party fact-checking organizations and retreating from efforts to diminish the spread of hate speechis to let freedom ring, even if it means were gonna catch less bad stuff.This is an edition of Steven Levy's Plaintext newsletter.SIGN UP for Plaintext and tap Steven's unique insights and unmatched contacts for the long view on tech.But the tell is in Zuckerbergs nomenclature. He described his companys (not completely successful) efforts to avoid promoting toxic content as censorship. He has now adopted the same bad-faith characterizations of his employees work that the political right did, which used it as a bludgeon to force Facebook to allow ultraconservatives to promote things like targeted harassment and intentional misinformation. In reality, Meta has every right to police its content in the way that it wantscensorship is something governments do, and private companies are simply exercising their own free speech rights by deciding what content is appropriate for their users and advertisers.Zuckerberg first indicated that he might be OK with the term in a simpering letter he wrote last August to Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, saying that the Biden administration wanted Meta to censor some content related to the Covid-19 pandemic. (The content remained, which actually illustrates that Facebook is granted the power to shape free expression in the US, not the government.) But in his Instagram post yesterday, Zuckerberg bear-hugged the term, using it as a synonym for the entire practice of content moderation itself. Were going to dramatically reduce the amount of censorship on our platforms, he promised. An alternate reading might bewere letting the dobermans out!In the same letter to Jordan, the former left-leaning CEO took a vow that he would no longer side with either political party. My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or anotheror to even appear to be playing a role, he wrote. Now that Trump is elected, thats all out the window. It feels like were in a new era now, he said in yesterdays video. Apparently, its an era where private companies change their rules to ensure theyre in sync with the party in power. In the last week alone, Zuckerberg replaced the departing Nick Clegg, the companys former president of global affairs, with Joel Kaplan, a former GOP operative and clerk to the late Justice Anthony Scalia, who once urged Facebook to ignore misinformation during the 2016 election. Zuckerberg also tapped Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White, an ardent Trump supporter, to sit on Metas board.Another indication that theres a MAGA element to these changes is Zuckerbergs announcement that hes moving Metas trust and safety and content moderation teams from California to Texas. Once again, he said out loud that the reasons for the geographical move were political: I think that will help us build trust to do this work in places where there is less concern about the bias of our teams. Hello, Mark? This move simply anchors Metas content arbiters in a location with a potentially different bias. Its also a conspicuous statement that Zuckerberg himself might consider CaliforniaTrumps kryptoniteas a less savory place to work than deep-red Texas.

The Nobel peace prize winner Maria Ressa has said Metas decision to end factchecking on its platforms and remove restrictions on certain topics means extremely dangerous times lie ahead for journalism, democracy and social media users.The American-Filipino journalist said Mark Zuckerbergs move to relax content moderation on the Facebook and Instagram platforms would lead to a world without facts and that was a world thats right for a dictator.Mark Zuckerberg says its a free speech issue thats completely wrong, Ressa told the AFP news service. Only if youre profit-driven can you claim that; only if you want power and money can you claim that. This is about safety.Ressa, a co-founder of the Rappler news site, won the Nobel peace prize in 2021 in recognition of her courageous fight for freedom of expression. She faced multiple criminal charges and investigations after publishing stories critical of the former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.Ressa rejected Zuckerbergs claim that factcheckers had been too politically biased and had destroyed more trust than theyve created.Journalists have a set of standards and ethics, Ressa said. What Facebook is going to do is get rid of that and then allow lies, anger, fear and hate to infect every single person on the platform.The decision meant extremely dangerous times ahead for journalism, democracy and social media users, she said.Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said on Tuesday he would remove factcheckers in the US and replace them with a crowd-sourced moderating service similar to the community notes feature on the rival social media platform X.He added that Meta would also get rid of a bunch of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse and work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more.Meta has said it has no immediate plans to remove factcheckers outside the US, although the rest of the changes will be implemented worldwide.Ressa said she would do everything she could to ensure information integrity. This is a pivotal year for journalism survival, she said. Well do all we can to make sure that happens.In October, the human rights group Amnesty International claimed that authorities in the Philippines were using Facebook to red-tag young activists, a term referring to the labelling of campaigners and others as alleged communist rebels and terrorists.In 2021 a Meta whistleblower, Frances Haugen, claimed there was a lack of safety controls in non-English language markets, such as Africa and the Middle East, and that Facebook was being used by human traffickers and armed groups in Ethiopia.I did what I thought was necessary to save the lives of people, especially in the global south, who I think are being endangered by Facebooks prioritisation of profits over people, she told the Observer.At the time, Meta, then operating under the corporate brand of Facebook, said the premise that it prioritised profit over safety was false and that it had invested $13bn (11bn) in protecting users.In 2018, after the massacre of Rohingya Muslims by the military in Myanmar, Facebook admitted that the platform had been used to foment division and incite offline violence. Three years later, the human rights group Global Witness claimed that Facebook was promoting content that incited violence against political protesters in Myanmar. Facebook said it had proactively detected 99% of the hate speech removed from the platform in the country.

Boomer SchoolerIt always felt like this vague form of superficial hell to me Doom: The Gallery Experience devs on turning a 90s shooter into high cultureRead on to find out which Renaissance paintings they think Doomguy himself would get a kick out of.Image credit: VG247 Article by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 8, 2025 I've had a lot of experience in these gallery spaces and it always felt like this vague form of superficial hell to me, Filippo Meozzi, director and producer of Doom: The Gallery Experience, tells me.I work in the art industry as an artists assistant, I produce sculptures and other things like that. So, I'm fairly familiar with the process of gallery openings and sort of just the nightmare that is going to Galleries and experiencing these high-brow, drinking wine, [saying] pompous phrases to each other [kinds of people].To see this content please enable targeting cookies. So, when he got the chance to re-create that kind of environment in Id Software's 1993 shooter for a school project, he decided to do so.The idea that I thought [of was] Doom is, you know, you go to hell and you kill demons and part of going to a gallery opening is you're fighting the demonic nightmare of all of these people blowing smoke up everyone else's back end, Meozzi explains.I approached Liam [Stone, Doom: The Gallery Experiences programmer and artist] - we've been making things together for the past few years. We made a game about six months ago for a game jam and that was also fairly successful, we have a very good working relationship. So, he was my other half in terms of making sure that this vision came to light and that the project was able to be in a state that we were all really happy with, especially from a technical end.The pair got to work and rebuilt the whole level of E1M1 from the ground up, with the goal to make sure that the game was playable via browser so that itd be accessible and easy to send to people. We were gonna go with the engine regardless of what we ended up doing and that became Doom pretty [early] on, Stone recalls. I think it was necessary over finding some kind of online implementation of Doom to mod, because we had a lot of, you know, you click on paintings and you open links. We needed something that we could just quickly iterate on and have everything we need at a moments notice. Not a bad interior re-decorating job, if you like white walls. | Image credit: Filippo Meozzi and Liam StoneWhile acknowledging that Dooms wealth of mods - including the likes of Thatchers Techbase - have proven it to be a fairly prolific infrastructure for development, Meozzi says the pair still found creating The Gallery Experience to be kind of a challenge.Adapting that to a platform it was never really made for in terms of [game-making software] Construct 3 was the big one for them, but the director definitely thinks they nailed the vibe and the feel they were going for.The gallery you stroll around in the game isnt designed to directly mirror one specific real-world location, instead, Meozzi says its designed to be a sort of every-gallery. Really, any gallery you go to will always have the same format of either wood or concrete floors, white walls, gray ceiling, he explains, They're always painted the same. They always feel the same. They're always square, boxy, nightmarishly lit rooms, regardless of the art thats in them.So, the duo got to decorating. We took the layout of the map and painted the walls white, gave it a nice new floor, some brand new ceilings, and moved some of the furniture around a bit to re-adapt the space. Meozzi explains, adding that hes proud of how they were able to capture the oppressive feeling that the galleries sort of impose on you.One thing the pair did end up sticking with from Doom - after originally being a little split on whether to do so - was including a few secret areas for the player to find. Two of these are in exactly the same places that they were in the original game, with Stone explaining that, after originally leaving the courtyard section open, the developers thought making the player do some work to get into there areas would help TGE appeal to those whore more in it for the silly Doom revamp than they necessarily are the art. When you're all done, you can grab yourself a $14 poop jar as a souvenir. | Image credit: Filippo Meozzi and Liam Stone/VG247Spoiler alert: one of the areas you can find contains some beer and is the hideout of a strange character called Galaktor. I ask the devs who this strange beverage-gifting fella with his own area (and his own cold brews) is, and they respond with wry smiles. Galaktor has really been sort of a mascot for us for the past few years, Meozzi reveals. We've incorporated him into most of the projects we've done in one shape or another its like an easter egg for each other. Whys he got the beer? Well, because you sometimes get it at gallery openings, but isnt as common as wine. Of course. Which it seems is why its hidden away with Mr Galaktor.Getting back to art itself, it all comes from one place - New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art - which had a free, open source collection of exhibit images that the pair were able to use, linking out to the museum websites pages to allow players to learn more about the painting or sculpture theyre examining with one click.In terms of the gallerys layout, Meozzi adds that the duo knew what they wanted to put in each bit and which types of styles and eras they wanted to touch on and found quite a few things we thought were quite entertaining and didnt really have a lot of information on them. One of these is an Ancient Egyptian Toilet Jar, which you can procure a copy of from Doom: TGEs gift shop. Having bought it during my playthrough, I can definitely recommend it as a purchase.Aside from that, Meozzi says his personal favourite piece of art included in Doom: TGE is that statue of Diana in the courtyard, while Stone is quite fond of the colourful sculptures in the Egyptian section.I ask the pair which - if any - of the art on display they reckon Doomguy himself would vibe with the most, or if they think hes just there for the free snacks. Citing the religious elements of the Doom games, Meozzi picks out the paintings of a madonna and her child and a return from a hunt in the Renaissance section. I feel like he would sort of gain this sort of forging of spirit [from] the affinity for holy images, he reasons, Having that resonate with him, I think that would be his most motivational section to bring back with him to his expeditions to hell. Would Doomguy dig Greek sculptures too? We tried asking, but all he did was grunt. | Image credit: Filippo Meozzi and Liam Stone/VG247As for what Doom: The Gallery Experiences developers are taking from the experience of having their game gain a surprising amount of traction compared to their expectations, theres plenty. First of all, Meozzi says the pair appreciate the support from everyone, in terms of just seeing it as a parody, seeing it as not such a strict mimic of the initial experience that was the field that we were going for.He adds that its always good to promote people to go and experience art. There's a museum in most major cities across the world. Whether its ticketed or not, whether you're a student, you can find ways to go and get access to it. I think it's an important part of experiencing how things develop to be able to see what people make in a very artistic sense. One of the major things was that I consider video games to be a form of art and not many people in the art spheres consider that as well, but I think it's important to see almost everything that anyone's capable of doing as some form of artistic contribution to the world.Meozzi and Stone definitely plan to keep on making games together as part of their contribution to the world, with this experience having galvanised them a bit, even if the pair tell me theyd probably still have kept on doing so regardless, with Stone adding that their future projects will likely have a similar sense of bizarreness to them.Theyd also be open - in the hypothetical scenario that the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art was to reach out and offer them the chance - to creating a physical, real-life version of Doom: TGEs gallery. I think that would be the most full circle completion to the thought child that this is," Meozzi says.Making this ironic experience become a real experience, and it would become just like an incredibly meta, hyper absurd - I don't even know how to put words to that. It would just be bizarre and it would be fantastic.