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 Call of Duty franchise is one of the biggest in the gaming industry. Throughout the years, Activisions shooter series has peaked and troughed with player counts varying every year. While the Black Ops 6 cycle began on the front foot with millions mastering Omnimovement and completing the Easter Eggs within Zombies maps, the games launch success appears to be failing to result in long-term engagement. As the first season of Treyarchs 2024 release comes to an end, the number of issues impacting players has continued much to their annoyance. As the start of Season 2 moves into view, Call of Dutys player count has continued to drop to levels that were last seen during the Modern Warfare 3 cycle.The decline of Call of DutyWith the Squid Game collaboration managing to miss the mark with its unnecessary paid event pass, Steams player count has dropped a further 7% over the last 30 days according to Steamcharts. During the month of December, the game dropped its player count by 46% despite the gamers having far more free time during the holidays.Call of Dutys steep decline in players has continued since Black Ops 6 launched in late 2024. Throughout December and the last 30 days, the player count has dropped a total of 50% making it the largest slump since January 2023 where 2022s Modern Warfare 2 had hit rock bottom.The root cause of players deciding against playing Call of Duty is due to the lack of anti-cheat measures. Whether its casual or competitive matches, the chances of encountering a player gaining an unfair advantage are significantly higher than intended.Can Call of Duty recover?Season 2 has already promised the arrival of better anti-cheat to prevent hackers from ruining the action in both multiplayer and Warzone. While this is positive news and a step in the right direction, it could be too late to recover the dwindling numbers.Black Ops 6s player count peaked at 313,313 shortly after launch and has struggled to maintain them. With half of Steams numbers gone, is it possible a fresh season armed with new content and less hackers can recover the situation? Only time will tell.For more Call of Duty, check out the best C9 loadout along with all of the active promos featuring plenty of exclusive content.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Manufacturing engineer Douglas Dorsey started working at Boeing in 1984 and retired in 2017.Dorsey worked on the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner, where he said things began to unravel.He reflects on his time on the shop floor and how Boeing plans to repair its reputation.This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Douglas Dorsey, who lives in Washington state, about his career as a manufacturing engineer at Boeing. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I started my career at Boeing in 1984, and I worked there for over 30 years.I was a manufacturing engineer. My responsibilities included writing instructions and coming up with assembly sequences for aircraft.During my career, I worked on several aircraft projects for Boeing, including the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, the Boeing 777, and the 787 Dreamliner. It was always interesting and challenging. I worked with dedicated employees and on cutting-edge programs.I retired in 2017 feeling proud to have worked there. I was a "lifer" with Boeing blue blood running through my veins.However, while working on the Boeing 787 program in the 2000s, I noticed that outsourcing manufacturing tasks to suppliers became a really big problem for Boeing. When I worked on the shop floor, I saw the negative impacts of outsourcing to suppliers, such as slower production and delivering incomplete parts.Even after retiring, I've stayed up to date with Boeing. I've followed the news on malfunctions and strikes, but I think management is taking baby steps in the right direction.I saw chaos unfold at Boeing due to mismanagement and outsourcingDuring the good old days, I had a positive opinion of Boeing. In my first decade at the company, the chain of command was clear. You knew what your job responsibilities were and could count on your line managers. Most importantly, there was no drama with executives, and we had confidence in those in command.But in 1997, upper management was thrown into chaos when Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas, with McDonnell Douglas executives taking top positions at Boeing. Harry Stonecipher, who was briefly Boeing's CEO, resigned in 2005 after he was found to be having an affair with an employee.It was like a corporate soap opera played out in the media. As an employee, the news was distracting and felt like evidence of the level of disorder at the top of the company.At the same time, the Boeing 787 program was underway. The 787 was launched as a complete departure from how Boeing airplanes had traditionally been constructed. To reduce the time from program launch to when the planes were in service, Boeing would have "risk-sharing partners" deliver complete aircraft sections to the final assembly site.787 program managers and employees implicitly understood this new production method, and we cautiously believed it might work. But it began to unravel bit by bit and ended in a three-year delay.I wondered why we were accepting substandard work on 787I was a project manufacturing engineer for the 787, creating work instructions, and a liaison manufacturing engineer, working on the shop floor to resolve issues with existing work instructions.At the beginning of each new airplane program, program leadership and supply-chain management divided major sections of the aircraft among various subcontractors, suppliers, and risk-sharing "partners." When suppliers were late in delivering their components or delivered them incomplete, this became "traveled work," which had to be completed by Boeing employees during final assembly.I spent much of my time on the program trying to accommodate parts that had a "non-conformance" tag on them and had to be reworked and installed into the build.I wondered what was going on and why we were accepting substandard, incomplete work.As an engineer, I wasn't privy to the decisions going on in the upper chambers of management, but I could see the chaos filtering down. It felt like the company wasn't listening to its mechanics about how to improve processes.I remember group meetings where employees, including myself, questioned decisions by management and offered constructive criticism that was politely but bluntly blown off.The 787 was sadly delayed three years.Confusing supply chains seem to still cause problemsIn 2024, there was an incident with a Boeing 737 Max plane in which a door plug blew out after takeoff.Although I retired in 2017, I think this was caused by mismanagement of traveled repair work. The plug door was manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems, a Boeing subsidiary that was sold off in 2005.An investigation found that because the part 737MAX9 fuselage is shipped in whole, mechanics at Boeing rarely work on the plug doors. When the plug door frame had to be repaired and the plug door replaced, two separate groups of mechanics working on the door made mistakes.As a result, a plug door malfunctioned and Boeing's reputation was damaged alongside it, leading the FAA to increase its oversight of 737MAX9 planes' production processes.It's always disappointing when the company you worked for makes major news headlines for a mistake. However, it doesn't change my general opinion of Boeing. I know there are many dedicated employees who are committed to doing their jobs properly and safely.Boeing is taking baby steps in the right directionI still know some Boeing employees and followed the recent strike. I think employees have gotten a good package, but they didn't get a return to the legacy defined-benefit pension plan. When I retired, I still benefited from the traditional pension plan and also had a 401(k).Back in 2014, Boeing promised employees that they'd build the 777-9 in Washington. Building the next new plane in Washington is also part of the strike package. These promises show that Boeing management is waking up to the matter of outsourcing.Boeing is also bringing Spirit AeroSystems, which it sold in 2005, back in-house. All the workers will be merged back under one camp.The lines of communication between two in-house teams are often simpler and more direct than with a supplier.I think this shows Boeing acknowledging it went down a bad path when it sold the supplier.I see these actions as baby steps in the right direction. Kelly Ortberg, Boeing's CEO, is trying to steer the company on a new course, but I think it's going to take a long time.Editor's note: In response to a request for comment from Business Insider, a Boeing spokesperson highlighted remarks by CEO Kelly Ortberg during the company's third-quarter report:"Much has been written about how we got to where we are, but most also recognize that Boeing was once a benchmark for what good culture looks like. And I believe we can return to that legacy. I know culture change starts at the top. Our leaders, from me on down, need to be closely integrated with our business and the people who are doing the design and production of our products. We need to be on the factory floors, in the back shops, and in our engineering labs. We need to know what's going on, not only with our products but with our people."

The Two of SwitchesWhen is the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal coming? Some fans have turned to tarot readings for an answer, and I'm only 50% sure they must be jokingIt's only natural to reach out to your friendly neighbourhood Mario-stic at this point.Image credit: Deconstructeam/Nintendo News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 6, 2025 You know the Nintendo Switch 2? That small thing absoltely no one's been speculating about and hungry for news on for a good while now? Well, some fans are now seemigly so desperate for any clues that might help them work out when a reveal is coming that they're resorting to tarot readings.Yep, forget giving tarot readings on your current Switch while playing the likes of The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, a game which has its own sex toy, we're having a go at using it to work out when the suits at Nintendo will go 'Right, time to show them all the thing'.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "Tarot Reader predict Switch 2 reveal is imminent" reads the title of a recent post on r/NintendoSwitch2 that has a fair few upvotes. The poster, user Future31, claims that a moderator on Famiboards with the handle Tangerine_Cookie has recently done a reading using their deck - one which this user says has previously correctly predicted the Metroid Prime 4 trailer would be in last June's direct - and the conclusion you can draw is that the Switch reveal is coming soon.Obviously that's not something you could infer to be a possibility from all of the news stories about alleged Switch 2 leaks coming out at the moment. Tarot Reader predict Switch 2 reveal is imminent byu/Future31 inNintendoSwitch2To see this content please enable targeting cookies.According to Future31, the three cards pulled when the deck was asked about the Switch 2 reveal were The Five of Swords (Reversed), the Nine of Pentacles (Reversed), and the Four of Wands. The poster says these cards can represent the likes of "compromise, moving on, open to Change, end of conflict", "setbacks, poor investment, burning out, undeserved rewards", and "celebration, prosperity, surprise, earned success and joy" respectively.That combo, this poster reckons, points to an imminent reveal. "The themes of compromise and end of conflict signal that the big wait for the reveal is over," they reason, "It's time to move on from Switch 2 speculation to Switch 2 enjoyment, and go through the period of 'what do we speculate about next?'."There have been setbacks during this, though! We know the Switch Pro was internally canceled, and this generation has been super long. Launch Switches are definitely burning out, and the theme of undeserved rewards clearly speaks of Nintendo still getting pretty good sales numbers with no new hardware. I'm assuming the poor investment might have something to do with Samsung somehow, that kind of fits."Soon, we will get to celebrate the reveal and launch of the Switch 2, with all the joy and surprises that come from the launch lineup - something that will definitely earn Nintendo a lot of money, and an earned success."Sure, Jan. That, as you can imagine has been the response of a lot of even the most hardened Switch truthers. "This is solid evidence," writes one, "That we have gone nuts."Will the Switch 2 be revealed soon? Either way, unless your fancy cards are willing to provide a concrete date and time, odds are they're not gonna be believed by anyone who's not spent a bit too much time staring at pictures of joy-cons.

That's StellarStellar Blade might not be everyone's cup of tea, but when all the staff get a PS5 Pro and $3.4k as an end of year bonus after a year full of layoffs, you can't help but cut it a bit of slackOnly a little bit of slack, though.Image credit: Shift Up, Sony Interactive Entertainment News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 6, 2025 Sure, Stellar Blade isn't to everyone's tastes, but the entire staff got a cash bonus alongside a PS5 Pro, which is pretty nice really.Depending on who you ask, Stellar Blade is either a game not even worth acknowledging, the most important game ever made, or just quite good, honestly. The conversation around it has mostly just been annoying, especially in a year that's been so rough on the games industry, so, how about some nice news out of developer Shift Up! As spotted by VGC, a Shift Up representative recently spoke with South Korean outlet Naver, where it was shared that all of the roughly 300 employees at the studio had been gifted a PS5 Pro - that bloody expensive console people have already stopped talking about - and that they'll also be getting a bonus of 5 million won (which is about $3400).To see this content please enable targeting cookies. According to the representative, the intention behind the bonuses was to encourage existing talent at the company. Considering how many layoffs took place last year (it's estimated to be more than 14,000), to hear that a company actually wants to retain and even reward its staff is encouraging - let's just hope that the staff's salaries are healthy enough without the bonuses too. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Initial sales of Stellar Blade were humble compared to other big Sony titles, estimated to be around one million, but for a new IP it's a healthy start, and with a PC release coming this year and an expectation from Shift Up that it'll sell even better there, I'm sure the developer isn't all that worried. The only concern it might have is a lawsuit that was filed against it and Sony last September over the user of the game's name, Stellar Blade, as a film company, Stellarblade, has alleged that the use of the name is damaging business and infringing on the trademark.

Flexing on 'emValorant is adding a whole new type of cosmetic designed entirely so that you can flex on other playersWho doesn't want a new way to show your stuff.Image credit: Riot Games News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 6, 2025 Valorant is starting 2025 with a bang, and is bringing an entirely new cosmetic type that'll let you flex on players like never before as part of its new season. These cosmetics are called... Flex. Keeping it simple!A flex is a new type of item you can pull out in-game, but serve no actual combat purpose. Instead, Flex items will be highly varied little gadgets and gizmos you can mess around with. While out, you run slower than you would with a knife. So it's really clear that Flex cosmetics are purely for showing off - to your team or enemy players.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. This was all revealed in a short trailer released on official Valorant platforms. In it, Valorant product lead Jack Flannery gave the run down on what the intentions for Flex cosmetics are. In addition, we get a look at the first two Flexes: a smartphone and a giant snowflake. The phone will be available to all players for free, while the snowflake will be earnable in the paid track of the next battle pass. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.This is just one part of the 2025 era for Valorant, but it's one that'll certainly snatch people's attention. Flexing on players is a age-old tradition in the FPS genre, and there's nothing like pulling out a slick knife after a clutch play. Now, players will be able to whip out something special. We'll have to sit back and see just how many we get this year, and how much players should expect to pay for them.What do you think of these new Flex cosmetics? Will you grab one? Let us know below!

The finest traditional-style Switch RPGs available to humanity.2024 was an excellent year for RPGs, so to prepare you for the year ahead, we're republishing this list and added a few of the best of the genre in 2024 Beyond Galaxyland, Bloomtown: A Different Story, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Enjoy!Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge number of quality titles across almost every category since launching back in 2017, but that may be more true with RPGs than any other genre.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kThe tech experts over at Digital Foundry have weighed in on the recent 'Switch 2' motherboard leak, presenting their views on what the apparent compenents included mean for the power and performance of the upcoming console.If you've been following along with the Switch 2 rumours for some time now, then much of what DF says probably won't actually come as much of a shock. In a nutshell, the team believes that the console will probably be capable of playing any PS4 game, albeit at a slightly lower native resolution. They're also quick to clarify, however, that this likely won't matter with the additional upscaling from Nvidia's DLSS.It's also hypothesised that the Nvidia SoC is indeed a Samsung 8nm fabrication which, according to DF, isn't a particularly power efficient chip. Given that the battery compartment for the Switch 2 is surprisingly small, this might actually put the Switch 2 at a slight disadvantage against the likes of the Steam Deck from an efficiency standpoint. However, another point to consider is that the Switch 2 is essentially a fixed platform, much like its predecessor, which could alleviate concerns with the SoC.It's also important to consider that the T239 processor, which DF previously investigated in depth, has been purposefully built for the Switch 2 by Nvidia and Nintendo. This matters significantly since Nintendo had absolutely no input on the processor for the current Switch, and just look how that turned out. Considering the technical miracles that have been performed on the console since its launch in 2017, we can probably expect the Switch 2 to be capable of some incredible feats.It's a lot to dive into, and if you're not particularly into the technical nitty gritty, then a lot of it won't mean all that much. Heck, until we see exactly how Nintendo is going to utilise the Switch 2's power with its upcoming first-party line-up, we simply can't put much stock in words and numbers alone. Seeing a new 3D Mario or Mario Kart in motion will be the true test of the Switch Successor's potential.Come on, Nintendo. Any day, now. Black and blue, not white and goldImagine the possibilitiesDo you have any concerns regarding the potential power of the Switch 2, or does all of this line up with your expectations? Let us know with a comment.[source youtube.com]Share:111 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Highlights Multiple Switch Games Launching In 2025It's going to be an action-packed yearRumour: New 'Switch 2' Photos Show Off A Very Legit-Looking Joy-ConBlack and blue, not white and gold126 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherNintendo's Punch-Out!! Series May Be Dead And Buried For GoodAll punch'd outTech Fans Have Gone Full 'Layton' In Analysing The 'Switch 2' MotherboardCritical thinking is the key to success.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWe are mere days away from the arrival of the former PlayStation Vita exclusive, Freedom Wars, on Switch. Ahead of its 10th January release date, Bandai Namco has shared a new trailer, setting up the story and showcasing all the fresh features we can expect to find in Freedom Wars Remastered.The trailer serves as a good starting point for those unfamiliar with the 2014 Monster Hunter-esque action title. Narrated by your AI assistant, Percy Propa (complete with a nasty AI voice, we might add), the trailer explains that Freedom Wars sees you thrown into a dystopian future, where everyone is forced into a life of servitude under a one-million-year prison sentence. Those who want to make it out will have to prove they are worthy on the battlefield, teaming up with other trendy teens to take down massive foes.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube In terms of what the remaster brings to the table, the trailer showcases the enhanced graphics (1080p but limited to 30FPS on Switch), new and improved battle system, customisable controls, an all-new weapon and upgrade system, revamped online matches and more. Sounds like a pretty solid upgrade, no?Here's the full rundown of what you can expect:The HD Remaster features new and improved features from the original PS Vita version:- Improved visuals- Adjusted game balance and increased difficulty Deadly Sinner Mode option- Control customization features- Updates to weapon crafting and more flexible upgradingEvery beloved feature of Freedom Wars returns:- Master three-dimensional combat using the Thorn to quickly traverse the battlefield and latch onto towering Abductors- Dismantle Abductors to harvest parts to craft and upgrade your equipment- Deep character customization with dystopic chic clothing designs- Create your own Accessory a customizable android companion who will join you on your missions and aid in battle- Take it online to hunt Abductors with friends in co-op gameplay- Engage in casual PVP matches with custom battle rulesWe're excited to see how it all holds up when Freedom Wars Remastered lands on Switch later this week. Returning next weekOn the Vita's 13th anniversary, no less"We have tons of ideas we'd want to implement"Will you be picking up this one on 10th Jan? Let us know in the comments.[source youtube.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Highlights Multiple Switch Games Launching In 2025It's going to be an action-packed year126 Games You Should Pick Up In The Nintendo Switch eShop Holiday Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher35 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games To Look Forward To In 2025The best new Nintendo Switch games coming soon161 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Hits For The Holidays' eShop Sale (North America)Reminder: It wraps up on SundayHamster Releases Its First Arcade Archives Switch Game Of 2025, Teases A Year Full Of "Surprises""We will be taking on many new challenges"

Pawport, a pet tech startup based in Phoenix, is back at CES 2025 to unveil its upgraded Smart Pet Door, which now features an additional exterior door for added security.If youre tired of bugs or, worse, raccoons and other critters sneaking into your home through traditional pet doors, Pawport may have the solution. The smart pet door system, first announced at last years CES, is constructed from thick, powder-coated steel and aluminum and features two solid deadbolts to withstand inclement weather and prevent unwanted animals from entering.Thanks to a tracker tag and motion-sensing technology, the door automatically opens as your pet approaches. Additionally, there is a companion app that allows you to control the door remotely, schedule when the door can open or close, and even issue voice commands through Alexa, Siri, or Google.Image Credits:PawportThe new model features both an interior and exterior door connected by a small tunnel for enhanced security. Compared to other pet doors on the market, Pawport is designed to be one of the most secure options, especially in areas like California, where coyote attacks have increased. This past summer, a man and his chihuahua were reportedly injured when a coyote entered their home through a dog door.For added safety, the smart pet door has sensitivity gauges that prevent the doors from closing on a pet as they enter or exit the home. Theres also an option to disable the top panel controls, which helps prevent children from pressing the buttons to open Pawport and crawl through. In case of a power outage, Pawports rechargeable battery pack ensures the door remains operational, so pets wont be left stuck inside or outside.Pawport starts at $500 and will be available in early 2025.

Will.i.ams history with consumer tech has been lets just say spotty. The musician/entrepreneur loves gadgets, this much we can say for certain. For his latest trick, the Black Eyed Pea is returning at LGs Experiential Architect in conjunction with CES 2025.What does such a role entail? Suggesting ideas for Bluetooth speakers and headphones, apparently. LG on Monday unveiled its first collaboration with the entertainer, Xboom by Will.i.am. Products in the line will be professionally tuned by Will.i.am, per LG.At launch, the Xboom by Will.i.am line includes four products: three speakers; the Xboom Bounce, Grab, and Stage 301; along with a pair of Xboom Buds.LG notes, The product design is playfully compact and embodies Will.i.ams creative artistry that stems from his life-long experience in pop culture. Leveraging both his extensive experience in understanding what people love and developing technology for creatives, Will.i.am fundamentally inspires Xbooms product development, design and brand marketing.The products are on display at CES in Las Vegas this week and scheduled to hit to market later in 2025.