Several important refinance rates moved higher this week, making it harder to find a lower rate on a home loan.

Mortgage rates were varied, but one benchmark rate saw an increase. Here's what experts want you to know.

Minecraft YouTuber to present new Classic FM video game music seriesBaroque-buster.Image credit: DanTDM / YouTube News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Classic FM is launching a new video game music radio series presented by Minecraft YouTuber DanTDM.Next Level with DanTDM launches on Saturday 11th January at 9pm for an hour, and will run each week until Easter.The first episode will focus on legendary soundtracks from games such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy 7, The Elder Scrolls, and of course Minecraft.A Minecraft Movie - Official Trailer - Warner Bros UK & IrelandWatch on YouTubeClassic FM has championed video game music for quite some time, with entries in its Hall of Fame from 2012. It then launched High Score in 2017, a radio series presented by BAFTA-award-winning composer Jessica Curry, who also co-founded Everybody's Gone to the Rapture studio The Chinese Room.It seems clear, though, the radio service is aiming for a younger audience with the hiring of Daniel Middleton, aka DanTDM.The YouTuber has 29 million subscribers on his channel, with more than 20bn views across his online content."Teenage me wouldn't be able to believe I have my own radio show!" he said. "Having studied music production at university and then worked in video games for the past 15 years, being given a show that celebrates the meeting of these two worlds feels totally surreal."Classic FM is such an iconic station and I'm really grateful and excited to have been given this opportunity." To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Across three months, he will not only showcase the greatest video game music to our loyal listeners, but with Dan at the controls, we're looking forward to welcoming VGM fans to Classic FM for the first time too," added Classic FM managing editor Philip Noyce. "We have always championed new forms of classical music, from film scores to gaming soundtracks, so I'm pleased to announce this next chapter in our support of video game music."DanTDM has recently been involved with charity work, donating gaming carts to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Additionally, he's admitted he was invited to see the set of the Minecraft film, with some fans speculating he has some form of cameo.The Minecraft film's second trailer released in November, with the full film launching on 4th April this year.

Microsoft says handheld gaming PC should bring "the best of Xbox and Windows together"For a natively "gaming-centric device".Image credit: Eurogamer News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Jan. 8, 2025 The future of Microsoft's handheld gaming plans includes a marriage between the best of Xbox and Windows.That's according to Microsoft's Xbox hardware veteran Jason Ronald, who also teased that the company would have "a lot more to share later this year" on what exactly its Windows-powered handheld vision might look like."We've been really innovating for a long time in the console space," Ronald told The Verge during an interview this week at CES 2025, "and as we partner across the industry it's really about how do we bring those innovations that we've incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space."Ronald is speaking specifically here about Microsoft's plans for handheld gaming on Windows devices, which sounds like something we'll see bear fruit sooner than Xbox's much-mooted gaming-specific handheld. Indeed, Xbox boss Phil Spencer - who has spoken repeatedly of his desire for Microsoft to launch an Xbox handheld - said in November that such a device was likely still a few years away."It's bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it's really locked to the console," Ronald continued, discussing the Xbox console interface. "What we're doing is we're really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem."We're focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience. Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today."Examples of this include removing the need for PC-centric inputs such as a keyboard and mouse, and moving away from Windows relying on the use of classic user interface features such as the taskbar and Start menu.While we wait for more on Microsoft's handheld plans, further Switch 2 leaks have continued to paint what looks to be a pretty accurate picture of Nintendo's next handheld console.

Until Dawn film won't feature the same characters, or even the same story, as the game it's based onJust slayin'.Image credit: PlayStation News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Sony's upcoming Until Dawn film adaptation will feature both a new cast of characters and a new story.This titbit was shared during a presentation at CES by Sony's president of film division Screen Gems Ashley Brucks, who stated that while the film would - clearly - be different in some ways to the original Until Dawn game, it would still respect the series' source material."The key to [successfully] adapting these games comes down to one thing: respecting the source material," Brucks said (transcribed by IGN). "Our close collaboration with PlayStation Productions gives us and our filmmakers the advantage of working directly with the creators of the game."The Sony exec said it was a "careful balance of trying to identify and incorporate what the fans love about the game and the experience as well as offering something fresh and exciting to entice newcomers"."In adapting Until Dawn, filmmaker David F. Sandberg, who is a big fan of the widely acclaimed game, took the essence of what makes the game great and selected elements we think are the most important to the fans and paid homage to it in the right way," Brucks continued. "We then built out Until Dawn's universe, using the core premise of a group of friends who encounter a variety of terrifying threats to tell a new story that is truly visceral and horrifying." Actor Peter Stromare as Dr Hill in Until Dawn. | Image credit: PlayStationActor Peter Stromare, who is said to be reprising his role as psychiatrist Dr Hill in Until Dawn's adaptation (so, perhaps there is at least one returning character after all), added the film will "honour the spirit of the game"."I have been lucky to be part of Until Dawn since the original, incredible, super terrifying game, and what's why I'm so excited to be part of this film, because the whole thing is a love letter to horror, and it completely honours the spirit of the game," Stormare said."The movie is going to be full of fresh characters and victims in a brand new story loaded with twists, so whether you're a longtime fan or discovering it for the first time, get ready for Until Dawn like you've never seen it before."The Until Dawn film is set to arrive later this year, on 25th April.As for the game itself, the recently released PS5 remake introduced a new ending for Until Dawn, which hints towards a sequel (please be aware of story spoilers for Until Dawn if you follow the link).

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 hereValorant is kicking off a brand new year in epic fashion. We are getting treated to the arrival of Agent 27, Tejo, very soon, and they will be accompanied by a brand new battle pass as well as the introduction of Flex. While it would usually be considered Episode 10 Act 1, it is technically not the case thanks to changes from Riot. Here you will find an explanation for these massive changes as part of the Valorant 2025 roadmap. The release time for Tejo and the new battle pass is set, and the new agent looks ridiculously cool as emphasised in the gameplay trailer from Riot. They are branded as the 27th agent amongst the roster gallery, and they are following in the footsteps of Clove and Vyse, who joined in 2024. Riot introducing a new playable character is the perfect way to start the new year, and the developer has also announced some massive changes that drastically alter Valorant and its 2025 roadmap. Valorant 2025 roadmap The Valorant 2025 roadmap is different than any other year as Riot is abandoning the format of Episodes. Instead of Episodes, Riot Games multiplayer shooter is now turning to yearly seasons, and this is Season 2025 a.k.a. V25. As part of the new seasonal format, Riot will still be releasing acts, and there will be six acts per year. Each of these acts will represent meaningful periods of gameplay like they do now such as ranked, battlepasses, map rotations and Premier stages. Theres no mention of how long each act will last, but they should be roughly two months considering Riot plans to release six each year. In addition to six acts per year, Riot has confirmed that they are moving Valorant Champions down the calendar to October to create much better overall pacing.For the first half of 2025, Riot has confirmed they plan to implement balance changes for agents. So far Riot has only announced power budget redistribution around Isos kit along with adjusting Deadlock to have more aggressive potential. Based on all of the above details, the Valorant 2025 roadmap so far looks as follows:Act 1 JanuaryAct 2 MarchAct 3 MayAct 4 JulyAct 5 SeptemberValorant Champions October Act 6 NovemberAgent changes Iso first half of 2025 Deadlock first half of 2025 Check out Riots Whats New For 2025 Dev Update for more details about the year ahead. For more Valorant, check out our18 tips on how to get betterat the game along with our guide forhow to appear offlineif you dont want certain friends knowing youre playing. We also have guides forhow to chat with the team, all, and private, along withhow to add friends.ValorantPlatform(s):PCGenre(s):Action, Shooter, StrategyRelated TopicsValorant Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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 Call of Duty Zombies has cemented itself as one of the most popular co-op experiences in the entire franchise. Black Ops 6 saw the return of the classic round-based formula and a wealth of secret Easter eggs to uncover while fending off various undead opposition.Since the Citadelle des Morts map arrived as part of the Season 1 Reloaded update, players loading into the medieval castle have started to grow tired of the battleground due to numerous bugs impacting the action. As part of the games January 3 update, Treyarch claimed to have fixed a bug allowing Vermin to attack twice in one attack. However, thats not the case.Black Ops 6 Vermin bug continues causing chaosDespite Activision claiming the Black Ops 6 Vermin bug had been fixed, developer Treyarch has since revealed it had failed to address the issue, much to the annoyance of fans.In the Black Ops 6 Zombies map, Vermin scuttle along the ground and can deal huge damage with a single attack. Instead of performing one attack as intended, players have noticed the beasts attack twice at the same time, increasing the difficulty even further.According to the developers Trello board which keeps track of all the known issues with Black Ops 6, the fix was intended to go live as part of the huge January 3 update. Due to unforeseen issues, the fix is now planned to go live as part of the Season 2 update scheduled to launch on January 28.The double Vermin attack on Citadelle des Morts is certainly frustrating, especially if youve managed to make it to a high round and are unable to react quickly enough to the critters scuttling around the castle. Even experienced players have struggled to play due to the doubled attack rate.One of many issuesThe Vermin isnt the only issue with the third Black Ops 6 Zombie map. Other problems include unexpected crashing when using an Elemental Sword in certain scenarios. On top of that, you may notice some visual effects arent working properly in some areas of the map resulting in the atmosphere being ruined.Considering there are several weeks before Season 2 begins, Citadelle des Morts has become unplayable. With quick reactions the only way for players to counter the overpowered Vermin, its worth revisiting Terminus or Liberty Falls if youre after a bug-free Zombies match.For more CoD intel, check out all of the active promos along with the best controller settings to maintain high accuracy at all times. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):ShooterRelated TopicsCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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 hereIs your New Years resolution to finally finish Act 3 in Baldurs Gate 3? Are you just excited for the games 12 new subclasses coming to the game? Whatever the case, Larians amazing RPG has started 2025 off stronger than most with its highest concurrent player count in months.Baldurs Gate 3 starts 2025 with a bangAs likely the final year of major Baldurs Gate 3 content as Larian Studios leaves Faerun behind for its exciting new project, fans are proving that the phenomenal RPG has enough content to keep them satiated for years to come.Via SteamCharts, gamers celebrated the New Year by flocking to Larians masterpiece en masse. On January 5, 2025, the game reached a peak concurrent player count of 122,720 players all exploring the Sword Coast at the same time. As soon as the calendar switched from 2024 to 2025, players immediately turned to the game.Since release, Baldurs Gate 3 has maintained a very solid player base with weekend player counts typically reaching between 80,000 to 100,000 players. With a low of 61,000 players on Halloween, the game has consistently maintained its dedicated player base.Of course, this is all without evidence towards the console versions of Baldurs Gate 3, or even the games releases on other PC platforms. For example, the game is available via GOG where many other gamers have played and still do.While multiplayer games player numbers continue to dominate the discussion about concurrent player counts and gaming successes, such as the rapidly declining state of Destiny 2, Larians single-player focused title is still pulling in numbers only typically seen by games like Skyrim. Its the new bar for a single-player game, and its downright incredible to see something succeed in the current industry.For more BG3 coverage, read about the cut content mod bringing back early access content to the game. Additionally, read about the mods that attempt, and fail, to make Astarion hotter.Baldurs Gate 3Platform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Adventure, RPG, Strategy10VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

XDMicrosoft's gaming handheld really does sound like the Xbox Deck that solves all our problemsIf Microsoft actually pulls this one off, the world of handheld gaming consoles could be forever changed, and its goals are certainly ambitious.Image credit: Microsoft/ Xbox News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on Jan. 8, 2025 The state of handheld gaming PCs is a lot different today than back when the Steam Deck was initially introduced. Aside from all the hardware and specs drama, your choices essentially come down to one of two segments.Your device is either power-efficient and performant enough to actually let you get a few hours of gameplay on the go, but it runs SteamOS or some Linux variant, making it only usable with a subset of games, and locking you out of some of the biggest titles. Or, you get whats essentially a mini Windows laptop that pretends to be made for gaming, but you miss out on the transformative features of SteamOS and Linux, and the battery life they enable.At CES 2025, we're starting to see the two realms merge, but Microsoft has its eye on what could be the next evolution of that marriage.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Microsoft has made several comments in the past about its intent to build a handheld console. But is that going to be a pocket-size Xbox, a handheld Windows device or something altogether different? Well, it sounds like the answer isnt clearcut.Microsofts VP of next generation, Jason Ronald, spoke to The Verge following an AMD and Lenovo event at this weeks CES 2025. Ronald revealed what many of the people who follow the handheld space have suspected for a while; that Microsoft wants to bring the seamless, console experience of Xbox to Windows, not bloat the former with programmes designed for desktop and office use.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, said Ronald.How that is going to manifest remains the real question, however, and Ronald certainly wasnt eager to share specifics, which is quite understandable considering the development timeline of the mysterious Xbox handheld.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. The Xbox dashboard beats the Windows dekstop anytime.Theres great significance to this particular event, too, thats worth keeping in mind. This is where the Lenovo Legion Go S was announced, which is the companys second-generation handheld that runs SteamOS, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Steam Deck, and the first third-party one of those to use Valves modified Linux operating system.Its not likely that the Xbox handheld will run SteamOS, or dualboot between Windows and Linux. Whats more likely to happen is that Microsoft will have, hopefully, fine-tuned the Windows experience enough for it to make sense on a handheld. Thats certainly what Ronald suggested.Were focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience, Ronald said of the Windows experience on handhelds. Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today.Ronald rightly pointed out that the Xbox OS is, at the end of the day, a variant of Windows, so the idea of making that console experience work on a different device isnt outlandish or even impractical. The good news is that were going to start seeing some of those efforts later this year, likely well before we get a look at Xboxs mysterious handheld.

Digging TimeRemember Holes? The 2000s classic is getting a TV reboot on Disney Plus, with the writer of, uh, Cloverfield and The Cabin in the Woods at the helmRemember when Shia LaBeouf was regular?Image credit: Disney News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 8, 2025 You might have forgotten about Holes, but Disney certainly hasn't, as it's just ordered a TV series adaptation for its streaming service.Once upon a time, Shia LaBeouf wasn't the mess of a human he is now, and was instead a boisterous young actor appearing in stuff like Even Stevens and, as not everyone might remember, Holes! The 2003 film based on the 1998 book of the same name is one generally looked fondly upon by those that do remember it, with Walt Disney Pictures producing it back in the day. Always one to exploit any IP it has under its belt, the house of mouse is once again adapting the novel (via Variety), this time as a TV show set to air on Disney Plus. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. There is one key difference with this adaptation though, the logline explaining, "In this reimagining of the beloved 1998 book from Louis Sachar, a teenage girl is sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose." The teenage girl in question is likely the character of Stanley Yelnats, played by LaBeouf in the film, so there's been a bit of a genderswap with the character seemingly.Alina Mankin is serving is writer on the project, executive producing the series is Drew Goddard through Goddard Textiles along with Sarah Esberg. You'll best know Goddard as the writer behind films like Cloverfield, The Cabin in the Woods, and World War Z, though in more recent years he also created the Netflix Daredevil series, and executive produced The Good Place, that last one making his involvement in Holes make a bit more sense.In an interview with Variety, Goddard said, "My moms been a schoolteacher for her whole life and, as such, shes served as a de facto book scout for Goddard Textiles. She always knows what the kids are into long before everyone else does. Holes was the first book she suggested to me - this was back in the late 90s - and she was positive it was going to be a phenomenon. It feels good to bring it full circle for Mrs. Goddard and her sixth grade class."Right now it's just a pilot in the works, and there's no word on a shoot date, so you'll probably have to wait a while until this one releases, if it gets picked up for a full series at all.