Freedom Wars Remastered gives a PlayStation Vita classic a new chance at finding an audience on current consoles and PC, and is well worth a look for Monster Hunter fansTech16:01, 08 Jan 2025Combat is fun, if a little clumsy(Image: Dimps Corporation/Bandai Namco)Freedom Wars was one of the brightest parts of the PlayStation Vitas software library when it launched back in 2014, bringing a unique narrative conceit and fun, bite-sized missions that felt perfect for a handheld.Reborn again on console and PC in 2025 with a Remaster, some of the games idiosyncrasies work against it, but it remains a fun, Monster Hunter -esque romp thats kept me logging in to whittle down my sentence throughout the review period.It still feels better suited to a handheld, but if you've never played before it's a great way to check out a title that deserved better back in 2014.Building a loadout is great fun(Image: Dimps Corporation/Bandai Namco)After a decade-long gap, you can be forgiven for not knowing what Freedom Wars is all about. Set in a dystopia where humanity is kept under the thumb of a watchful government in cities called Panopticons.Panopticons rival each other for resources, and anyone stepping out of line is branded a Sinner, doomed to spend comically large amounts of time in prison cells. Each crime carries its own penalty, and early on your character opts to lay down for a nap rather than stay seated, adding an extra decade onto your already six-digit prison sentence.Its a hokey Orwellian nightmare that occasionally revels in its own silliness, and while character voice acting is fine , its definitely the storys staging that had me logging in regularly and the fun combat, too, of course.With almost a million years on your prison sentence, your Sinner is sent on missions for the totalitarian government to earn early release. Each successful sortie brings your sentence closer to zero, with more challenging ones unlocking as you tick down the total. Its a fun inversion of trying to climb up the ranks of other action RPGs of this ilk.The game is best played with friends(Image: Dimps Corporation/Bandai Namco)Missions play out similarly to Monster Hunter or God Eater, with players picking a loadout and heading into relatively small arenas to gather resources and fight enemies before extracting.Sinners have ranged and melee weapons to choose from, and each has module slots that can be used to increase stats, and youll need them for the games tougher encounters.Some missions focus on dealing with other humans (and fellow prisoners), but Freedom Wars is at its best when it pits you against huge biomechanical beasts called Abductors that capture civilians like classic Doctor Robotnik inventions from Sonic games.These require a team effort to take down, as you draw its fire, search for weak spots, and try to shoot off its key components. Doing so earns you better rewards (more on that in a moment), but in the short term will make fights easier, too.Sinners are equipped with a Thorn, a futuristic grappling hook used for traversal, but also for tugging Abductors down, or climbing atop them. It gives everything a more kinetic feel, but it can feel clumsy at first.Sadly, I did feel melee combat never really starts to feel any less clunky. Ranged weapons have a satisfying kick and recoil patterns, but getting in close I found myself accidentally darting past enemies I was trying to hit. Its not on the same level as Monster Hunter, but the way you can switch between ranged and close-quarters combat certainly helps make up for that.Characters' sentences are always displayed between missions(Image: Dimps Corporation/Bandai Namco)Once you take down your foes, or scour the (relatively basic) environments for materials, you have the option to donate them to your Panopticon in exchange for currency to buy Entitlements, which can unlock additional weapons and even AI comrades.You can also keep them for yourself, using them to craft better gear, and the decision-making of whether to retool your own loadout or work towards something longer-term is a fun one Ive not seen any other game offer.It helps that missions can be relatively bite-sized, meaning you can fly through a few in an hour or so, helping the cause and grinding for what you need. Its a hangover from the games handheld origins, but it makes me think its the ideal game for the Steam Deck or Switch as a result.I played on PS5, however, and while the bump in resolution is appreciated, theres no denying the game looks its age. Still, it runs well, but similar to the Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Remaster, its clear its flatter, squarer arenas were developed with much less powerful hardware in mind.Article continues belowFreedom Wars Remastered gives an under-appreciated gem another chance at pulling an audience, and its mix of unique narrative concept and varied combat make it well worth a look.Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Review code provided by the publisher.RECOMMENDED

Is there room for a 2? (Nintendo)Leaks of Nintendos next console have continued to snowball, with an insider posting what appears to be the Switch 2 logo on X.Nintendo Switch 2 leaks have accelerated to an everyday occurrence over the past few weeks, with images showing the console itself, the dock, and the seemingly magnetic Joy-Cons.These leaks have only grown in volume since the start of 2025, with replicas of the console and a rumoured April launch date recently popping up at CES in Las Vegas.If that wasnt enough, another insider has now seemingly outed the logo for Nintendos next console, suggesting a reveal might be imminent.The logo comes from Universo Nintendo editor-in-chief Necro Felipe Lima, who claims to have seen the logo after being sent a photo of the console from a reliable source.In a post on X, Necro shared a recreation of the logo based on what I saw and respecting the measurements, which you can see below.As you can see, the logo itself is basically exactly the same as the original Switch, only with a massive 2 latched onto it, which is probably exactly what you would expect.If its real, the logo confirms the console will actually be called the Nintendo Switch 2, which is what the system has already been dubbed by fans.While the alleged leaks havent left much to the imagination around the console itself, the big question is when it will be revealed. Nintendo has said it will be shown before April, and various insiders have suggested January as a strong possibility.This has been further supported by insider Nintendeal, who wrote on X that they were now 99% sure the Switch 2 will be officially revealed this month, after changing his mind based on new, but unspecified, information.While January is a reasonable assumption anyone can make (theres only three months left to choose from, after all), the sheer amount of leaks might force Nintendo to make some sort of announcement soon even if that wasnt their original intention.A reliable insider has claimed an announcement around Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is set to arrive this week, leaving a late January reveal for the Switch 2 as the most likely timing.More TrendingAs for when the console will launch, speculation has varied greatly from as early as April to somewhere between late May and June. The Switch 2 leaks dont stop (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Xbox handheld details emerge at CES as Microsoft talks Windows integrationAdam StarkeyPublished January 8, 2025 5:27pmUpdated January 8, 2025 5:28pm Microsoft is still very keen about making an Xbox handheld (Valve/Microsoft/Metro)Microsoft has discussed more of its plans for an Xbox handheld, as it attempts to combine the Xbox dashboard and Windows.After the failure of the Xbox Series X/S, Microsofts future in the games industry remains a issue of hot debate, even within the company itself. What we do know though is that theyre working on both a next gen console and a handheld.Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has already confirmed prototypes are underway for a portable device, which will be a few years out. Its never been confirmed but that alone implies the handheld is the next gen console.Another rumoured option is that it might not be made by Microsoft itself, and will instead see the Xbox operating system being placed on third party devices, such as Lenovo or ROG Ally handhelds.While Microsoft hasnt given an explicit answer on the subject, Microsofts vice president of Next Generation, Jason Ronald, has said it is planning on combining Xbox and Windows in order to bolster its plans in the space.Speaking during an AMD and Lenovo event at CES titled The Future Of Gaming Handhelds, Ronald said: Weve been really innovating for a long time in the console space, and as we partner across the industry its really about how do we bring those innovations that weve incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space. Microsoft wants to unify Xbox and Windows (Microsoft)Ronald later spoke to The Verge after the event, where he went into further detail about Microsofts intentions in the handheld space.I would say its bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but its really locked to the console, he added. What were doing is were really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem.While his comments are pretty vague, and appear to apply more generally to Windows on handhelds at large, Ronald does state that the company is focused on really simplifying the Windows functionality so it is much more like a console experience.As for how this will look in practice, Ronald implied it wouldnt simply involve porting the Xbox operating system to Windows. I think, at the end of the day, our goal is to make Windows great for gaming on any device, he added.The reality is the Xbox operating system is built on top of Windows. So theres a lot of infrastructure that we built in the console space that we can bring to the PC space and really deliver that premium gaming experience on any device.Ronald also teased Microsoft will have a lot more to share later this year, implying some kind of overhauled integration between Windows and Xbox could be on the way soon something which might propel its future handheld plans. The Steam variant of the Lenovo Legion Go S (Lenovo)Elsewhere at the event, Lenovo officially announced the Lenovo Legion Go S. This new handheld is essentially a sleeker version of the Legion Go without detachable controllers and a kickstand.Crucially, while the Lenovo Legion Go S will launch with the Windows operating system later this month, a future model will come packaged with the SteamOS. This is the first time a handheld outside of Valve will carry the Steam operating system.The Windows 11 version will begin shipping later this month, priced $729.99 (UK prices are not listed) with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. In May, Lenovo will launch a cheaper $599.99 model, with the same processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB storage.According to The Verge, the Steam variant will launch at the same time in May, only it will be even cheaper at $499.99 with Z2 Go processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB storage. For comparison, the Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED are available in the US for $399 and $549 respectively, so its competitively priced too.More TrendingLenovo also announced its next generation handheld, the Legion Go 2, which is still in the prototype stage but will sport an 8.8 inch OLED display with VRR support, 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. No release date or price for the device has been released. The Lenovo Legion Go 2 will be a while off yet (Lenovo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Germain Lussier Published January 8, 2025 | Comments (0) | Jod and the crew finally make it back to At Attin. Image: Lucasfilm Even before Star Wars: Skeleton Crew was released, fans were curious about Jod Na Nawood. On the show, the scoundrel of many names, played by Jude Law, has delightfully tiptoed the line between a roguish hero and a devilish pirate. And while he seemed to recently flip a switch on Lanupa after betraying the crew, many fans still held out hope it was all a ruse. Well, in the series penultimate episode, We Are in So Much Trouble, Jod finally showed his true colors and we loved it. After a very entertaining sequence of the parents trying to get a message off At Attin, which included many, many of those iconic circular Star Wars stun blasts, we pick up with the crew finally on their way home. Unfortunately for them though, Brutus and his pirates arrive first. There, they tell Jod that if he doesnt finally deliver them treasure, hes dead. Unable to break through the intimidating and deadly barrier surrounding the planet, Jod comes up with a plan. The kids arrive in the new and improved Onyx Cinder, so Jod tells the pirates the ship is the key to get onto the planet. They capture it and attempt to board. Youd assume the kids would just surrender, but these arent the same kids that left the planet. Theyve changed. Theyre more capable. And with a little trickery, theyre able to capture the pirate leader Brutus, scaring the rest of his followers. One person isnt scared though. Thats Jod. And in arguably the most surprising and brutal moment in the entire series so far, Jod shoots a helpless, defenseless Brutus in the head with a blaster, claiming his pirate crew back for himself.As Jod figures out what to do next, the kids get that message from their parents. It gives them new hope and, with a little help from SM-33, theyre able to escape the pirates and fly through the barrier. Theyre home free, or so they think. But nope: Jod stowed away and soon takes control of the ship, using the lightsaber he got in Tak Rennods vault to chop off 33s head. He then proceeds to threaten the kids with the slow, painful murder of their parents if they dont shut up and let him do his thing. That, coupled with the elimination of Brutus, finally turned the switch for Jod. Hes in this for himself. Hes not a hero. Hes an evil, stinking, killer pirate.Jod and the treasure of At Attin. Lucasfilm Which is kind of amazing, right? Assuming it sticks through the final episode, we love that the big bad of the show has been staring us in the face from the very beginning. Jod has never been a full hero, but hes done heroic things to help the kids, as well as himself. And yet, the fact he always had all those aliases and a latent Force ability made him extra cagey and formidable. We kind of hoped he was a good guy, but its so much more satisfying for the show itself that he wont be. At least, not yet. It gives the kids a real threat to (hopefully) defeat. Realizing the Onyx Cinder is actually from At Attin, its arrival puts a whole new protocol into play. The higher-ups on the planet dont know that Jod is a pirate arriving with the missing kids. They believe hes a Republic emissary arriving for a shipment of gold. Which is a little too convenient for us, the viewer, but works out perfectly for Jod. Hes ushered right down into a huge, impressive series of vaults (1,139 in fact) filled with Old Republic credits. Its the treasure he and every pirate ever has always dreamed of. And he found it. Hes a legend. By this point, the families have been notified that the kids have returned and they reunite. Its a touching moment but is quickly interrupted by Jod, who pulls out his lightsaber to let them know who is still in charge. We Are in So Much Trouble finally got the Skeleton Crew back to At Attin, finally revealed Jod to be the true villain we hoped he wasnt, and pulled the curtain back ever so slightly on the truths of the planet. Its literally filled with gold. Why? To what end? And how will the crew save the day? One more episode to find out.The first seven episodes of Skeleton Crew are now on Disney+. The season finale airs on January 14. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Germain Lussier Published January 6, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published January 2, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published December 26, 2024 By Germain Lussier Published December 11, 2024 By Justin Carter Published December 8, 2024 By Cheryl Eddy Published December 4, 2024

Refurbishment of a Student Residence in Nantes / Guine et Potin ArchitectsSave this picture! Stphane ChalmeauDormsNantes, FranceArchitects: Guine et Potin ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:8500 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Stphane ChalmeauManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Alucobond, Kline Lead Architects: Anne-Flore Guine, Herv Potin, Maria Calvo More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The design of the extension to the university campus proposes an "articulation" following a simple, clear geometry, linking the various fragmented entities.This articulation clings to the existing buildings and connects the two existing and preserved buildings, stretching out from the entrance forecourt/hall.Its layout and geometry make it easy to structure the boundaries between the "urban" front and the "landscaped" rear.In keeping with this idea, it is the whole of the building that naturally shapes the exterior spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The building envelops and structures. Thus, planted areas are no longer residual spaces cohabiting with dull, closed facades, but with a chromatic vis--vis organized by strong transparencies and a graphic requalification of existing facades.The existing faades, in the "hard French" style of modernist architecture by Andr Guillou and Pierre Doucet architects, retain their original checkerboard, "honeycomb" appearance in favor of more generous, higher-quality joinery elements, and reinforced insulation to meet thermal performance targets.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In this way, the simplicity of this articulation enhances the renovated existing building to create a unified, homogeneous whole. In addition, the new green and grey tones of these elements qualitatively reveal the historical and landscape singularities of this site, dotted with gardens, despite the urbanization of the nearby city center.Opening up to the imagination, this architectural composition offers a graphic and singular potential.Save this picture!This formal intention, in addition to its impact, symbolically crystallizes the Cit Universitaire's restructuring and renovation program and composes the generous image of a real estate complex on the scale of the district.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Nantes, FranceLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsGlassConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 08, 2025Cite: "Refurbishment of a Student Residence in Nantes / Guine et Potin Architects" 08 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025393/refurbishment-of-a-student-residence-in-nantes-guinee-et-potin-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

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Getting enough sleep is crucial to your physical and mental well-being. Yet, lack of sleep is something many of us experience. New findings published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine state that 1 in 7 adults have difficulty falling asleep, while 1 in 6 adults have trouble staying asleep. There can be several reasons for this, according to the Harvard Medical School. These include poor diet and lack of exercise, along with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.However, one major issue is stress. According to experts from Johns Hopkins, about 44 percent of adults claimed that stress lead to one or more sleepless nights. While many factors can cause stress in our lives, such as money, health, and relationships, recent findings indicate that job stress is causing some U.S. adults to sleep poorly.How No Sleep Impacts WorkHaving a stressful job is nothing new. Around 65 percent of working adults in the U.S. consider their jobs a form of stress in their lives, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This stress can be harmful to an employee's physical and mental health, especially if they arent getting enough sleep.According to the new study, lack of sleep was associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and premature death. The study authors also noted that workers with little sleep performed poorly at their jobs, and even led to some workplace injuries.What is Job Strain?The study characterizes job strain as high job demands with little job control. Job demands can include work overload, repetitive tasks, burnout, and role conflict. These characterizations come from Karasek's JobDemandControl model, which the researchers used to analyze their data.Researchers analyzed data collected from the last nine years through the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study and ranked study participants based on four different sleep-related disturbances.These disturbances include trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep, waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep, and feeling exhausted during the day, no matter how much sleep they got.The results indicate that higher job stress leads to more sleep disturbances over time.Our findings also suggest that the continuous formulations of job strain demonstrate better model performance with consistent and robust results, offering empirical evidence for future psychosocial occupational health research in the United States, said the first author, Yijia Sun, an MS candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles, in a press release.Improving Job StrainWith the study results, the authors are pushing for workplace changes or interventions to reduce stress.Strategies such as redesigning workloads and promoting worker autonomy could play an important role in improving sleep health and workers well-being, said corresponding author Jian Li, MD, PhD, a professor of Work and Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the release.Sleep is crucial to your health and may need to take precedence in certain situations. If stress is keeping you awake at night, there are some methods that may help you fall asleep and stay asleep.According to Johns Hopkins, gentle breathing exercises can help your body and mind relax before bed. You can also practice tai chi or yoga to help remove stress and tension from your body. Cutting back on alcohol and caffeine intake can help you feel less restless as you try to sleep, along with staying physically active.Try putting your phone and other devices away an hour before going to bed and set boundaries with your working hours. Dont answer the phone or respond to emails after a certain time. Prioritize sleep to prioritize your health. This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Alternative Formulations of Job Strain and Sleep Disturbances: A Longitudinal Study in the United StatesHarvard Medical School. 8 reasons why you're not sleepingJohns Hopkins. Sleepless Nights? Try Stress Relief TechniquesOSHA. Workplace StressA graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

NewsParticle PhysicsCosmic rays could help reveal how tornadoes formMuons could gauge pressure changes caused by twister-generating supercell thunderstorms Measuring conditions within supercell thunderstorms and their tornadoes (pictured) is a challenge. Subatomic particles called muons could help reveal pressure changes within storms.Ryan McGinnis/Moment/Getty Images PlusBy Emily Conover54 seconds agoSupercell thunderstorms are known for their devastatingly gnarly tornadoes, but exactly how the twisters form is poorly understood. A new study suggests that scientists could glean hints with a little help from the cosmos.Muons, subatomic particles that are like heavy versions of electrons, could reveal the atmospheric pressure within a thunderstorm and resulting tornado, researchers report in a paper accepted inPhysical Review D. The particles are produced by cosmic rays, which are an assortment of high-energy particles from space, including protons. When cosmic rays careen into the atmosphere, they produce muons that rain down on Earth including through tornadoes.

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04108-4The enzyme nitrogenase fixes nitrogen gas to form bioavailable ammonia, a vital process for life. Two studies solve a long-standing mystery: how a small protein saves nitrogenase from destruction by oxygen.

Nature, Published online: 08 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08351-7Tripotential intermediate progenitor cells are responsible for the local production of GABAergic neurons, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes in the human neocortex.