Submitted by WA ContentsLarge triple-arched windows enhance the iconic presence of the concrete Whisky Bar in Taiyuan, ChinaChina Architecture News - Jan 07, 2025 - 15:13 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Large triple-arched windows have enhanced the iconic presence of the concrete Whisky and cocktail bar in Taiyuan, China.Named The Whisky Bar, the 664-square-metre project, which was part of a typical real-estate housing complex in Taiyuan Xiaodian, the capital of Shanxi Province in North China, involved renovating two floors of a commercial podium.The Whisky Bar was designed by French design firm JSPA Design.Facade and entrance 4The intervention's scope included three existing stores and sought to combine them into a single whiskey and cocktail bar. The area featured a discrete back entrance to a pedestrian business strip and was primarily facing the main street.Facade and entrance 5Because of the apartment building on top, the area was severely limited by the structure. In addition to the load-bearing walls that divided the area into smaller sections, there were also several pipelines and shafts that ran across the area from side to side.First floor Public 1Concrete as the defining facade materialThe faade work was necessary to enable the new project to exist in the cityscape, given the heterogeneity of the current position and surrounds. In order to create a new facade that would contrast with the typical light cladding of commercial facades, JSPA decided to remove all of the current facade claddings.First floor Public 2They worked on a cast-in-place concrete facade that will use its materiality to make an impression on the surrounding area. By using concrete as a material, JSPA was able to construct a monolithic facade that not only gives the city a new texture but also serves as a durable covering for the old building.First floor Public 4Three concrete arches that extended across the building's two levels made up the primary front, highlighting the project's character and attracting attention within its surroundings.In order to create the figure that would serve as the project's identity, the Concrete Arch was then replicated and altered in a number of ways.First floor Public 5Open barA bar for the city and a gathering spot open to the neighborhood were the goals of the project development. The bar area was covered with a concrete arch ceiling, a curved suspended slab that was cast in place to emphasize the space's street-facing orientation. This allowed for the dissipation of the back service spaces as well as all of the pipes and machinery from the original structure.A long concrete bench that could be used on both sides and a set of folding windows that allowed for the removal of physical barriers with the street were features of the ground floor bar's design, which placed a significant emphasis on communication between the project and the city.First floor Public 3Intimacy gradationA sculptural helicoidal steel staircase leads from the busy first floor, which has an urban feel, to the second floor, where the project evolved into a more private setting. A system of steel shelves was designed to provide a showcase area for whiskey bottles, as well as to subtly divide areas and create private alcoves.The display shelf's intriguing pattern, which was formed by endlessly repeating a single identical part, served as the project's second strong identity aspect.Three separate areas were encased in a concrete arch to create the illusion of an alcove, enclosing the area from wall to ceiling and enabling the cast-in design of the fireplaces and benches.Lounge 1Original materialityThe idea of a durable material that would age gracefully led to the natural choice of concrete. It was coupled with gray brick flooring on the first floor, which matched the ceiling and walls' wooden cast concrete in terms of color and design.Lounge 2Additionally, the brick floor reduces the gap between the bar and the city and reminds us of a public area.On the other hand, in order to enhance the users' sensory experience, all of the components that required skin contact were constructed using warm materials, such as the oakwood bar surface and the leather bench seats.Helicoidal StairWhisky cabinet and fireplaceSecond floor Public-moonSecond floor private roomSecond floor Staircase accessYellow brass fire placeConcrete arch corridorBrick staircaseStair AFacade and entrance 2Facade and entrance 1JSPA Design, a French design company based in Beijing that was founded in 2009 by Johan Sarvan, is renowned for its daring and avant-garde approach to product development, architecture, interior design, and landscape design.Project factsProject name:The Whisky BarArchitects:JSPA DesignProject type:Architectural (Faade) Design / Interior DesignPrinciple Designer: Johan SarvanStructure: Jiang Jies TeamVideographer:WM StudioTotal area:664m21F Indoor area:295m22F Indoor area: 369m2Materials brand:SARVAN- Furniture, LightingAll images Liu Xinghao.> via JSPA Design

Onkyo has unveiled two new types of audio products at CES 2025, as part of its hi-fi reinvention, with powered speakers that can be paired with TVs and a series of streaming amplifiers.The new devices, which follow the Klipsch Flexus collaboration, include the Onkyo GX10DB and Onkyo GX30ARC powered monitors, plus the Icon P-80 network preamplifier, M-80 power amplifier and A-50 network integrated amplifier.The Creator Onkyo GX10DB ($199) and Onkyo GX30ARC ($299) active speakers are designed to be used on a desktop, and yet offer enough inputs to be used as a stereo system or even as a soundbar substitute (GX30ARC). These include Bluetooth, USB-C, Optical, RCA/iPhone, RCA Sub Pre-Out and Aux, while the GX30 adds HDMI.The GX10 comes with a 3-inch woofer and 17x2-watt power while the larger GX30ARC has 25x2W power pushing a 4-inch woofer. Both models sport 3/4-inch tweeters and wooden stands which help point the speakers at a users' ears. Both sets of speakers are due in the spring. The Onkyo Icon A-50 is a striking streaming amplifier. OnkyoMeanwhile, Onkyo's new hi-fi products go all-out for streaming with the P-80 network preamplifier ($1,999) and A-50 network integrated amplifier ($1,499) leading the pack. The Onkyo Icon A-50 (140 watts per channel) looks quite compelling as an all-in-one with its attractive styling. Both devices will stream Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, AirPlay 2 and Google Cast and are Roon Ready. The M-80 ($1,999), with its 150-watts-per-channel amplifier and analog meters, is designed to pair with the P-80. The hi-fi products are due in the fourth quarter of 2025. Onkyo Icon P-80 and M-80 preamp and power amp. OnkyoOnkyo has had streaming amps in the past, but like many recent Onkyo products, they were a reskin of the equivalent Pioneer ones. These new devices are designed to reestablish an identity for the company and hearken back to its hi-fi components of the 1970s and '80s in particular.

I like shiny things, but the new Ultrahuman gold bullion and platinum Rare smart rings take tech bling to a level I've never seen before.The collection of three smart rings inspired by sculpted desert dunes, the rings made their debut at CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The Dune and Desert Rose rings are crafted from 18-carat gold sourced from the London Bullion Market Association, whereas the Desert Snow ring is made from pt950 platinum.Ultrahuman has designed the Rare ring series to be a luxury alternative to the existing smart rings on the market. The sector is currently dominated by Samsung and Oura, but other companies are joining the race to take up valuable real estate on our fingers with their own products. Ultrahuman is one of these competitors and has already partnered with Verizon last year to bring its existing product, the Ring AIR to customers.Like their predecessors, the Rare rings come equipped with sensors to provide an array of health-tracking features including sleep, movement, heart rate, heart rate variability, stress and skin temperature.According to Ultrahuman founder and CEO Mohit Kumar, the decision to make smart rings out of precious metals was informed by the fact that people are already treating existing Ultrahuman rings like serious jewelry. "We've seen people using Ring Air in engagement proposals, gifts to their loved ones and many other social occasions," he says.But engineering these high-end rings isn't without its challenges. "Rare metals like gold and platinum are aesthetic, but it has historically been hard to machine them in a way that the structural integrity is maintained in the smart ring form factor along with a 'rougher' usage behavior," Kumar says, adding that It requires "advanced techniques" to shape them. The Rare ring has 6-axis motion sensors. UltrahumanAs you might expect, such high-end metal and labor-intensive manufacturing doesn't result in a cheap end product. When the rings go on sale in Selfridges in London and Printemps in Paris later this month, they'll cost between 1,500 and 1,800 ($1,878 to $2,253). That price also includes lifetime access to UltrahumanX, the company's coverage and benefits program, and free access to existing and future PowerPlugs, a series of specialist analytic tools.Ultrahuman doesn't currently have any fixed plans to sell the Rare rings beyond top European department stores, but is considering options in New York, Dubai and India.

Your big-screen TV is great for showing you the movies you're watching or the games you're playing, but the speakers usually leave a lot to be desired. That's why we recommend picking up a great soundbar and turning those TV speakers off for good. There are plenty to choose from, and you don't have to spend a fortune to get one either. Right now, the TCL S4BH S Class soundbar can be had for just $70, a price that saves you $80 off the original asking price of $150. It's a deal that ends tonight, though, so factor that in when planning your purchase.See at Best BuyThis soundbar offers both wired and wireless connectivity so you have the utmost flexibility when it comes to ways to hook this thing up. HDMI eARC support as well as USB connectivity are just a couple of the wired options, while Bluetooth is also available for those who want to go the wireless route from a phone or tablet.Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.Each soundbar comes with a free wall mount kit in the box so you can keep the installation nice and tidy, while support for Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual: X means that spatial sound kicks in when listening to movies, music and games.Soundbar deals like this are a great way to quickly and easily upgrade your audio setup without breaking the bank. Best Buy offers next-day shipping and you can even collect your new soundbar from your local store if you absolutely can't wait a minute longer. Top deals available today, according to CNET's shopping experts Curated discounts worth shopping while they last Apple AirTag, 4-pack: $70 (save $29)Costco 1-year Gold Star membership + $20 gift card: $65 (save $20)Anker 20-watt USB-C charger, 2-pack: $12 (save $7)Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: $160 (save $40)Peloton Bike: $1,145 (save $300) Why this deal mattersIt's easy to overlook the audio when kitting out your home cinema, especially if you're focusing on getting the biggest and best TV you can. But the days of having to run cables to a ton of speakers just to get a better audio experience are long gone and these kinds of soundbars are a great way to enjoy improved sound without making things too complicated -- or expensive.

Don't worry, cursed horror game Horses - in which you tend to a farm of naked humans in horse masks - hasn't been cancelledColt following.Image credit: Santa Ragione News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Horses - the cursed horror game from Saturnalia developer Santa Ragione and directed by Andrea Lucco Borlera - is still coming, it is just taking a little longer to get out of the gates than first anticipated.Horses sees players take on the role of a summer worker at a farm. This sounds safe enough, and after all, it's only for two weeks - but there is something much darker and downright unsettling lying beneath the surface."Will you survive the summer, or will the farm claim yet another victim? In any case, we're sure your summer working experience will be truly unforgettable..." reads the official blurb.Horses - Official Announcement Trailer. Watch on YouTubeHorses was initially announced back in 2023, with a suitably unsettling trailer which showed off the game's silent movie-like style and a host of naked humans with horse masks on their heads. At this time, it was slated for a release in 2024 which, obviously, has been missed.Thankfully though, Horses has not been silently cancelled. Santa Ragione has confirmed to Eurogamer the upcoming game will now be released this year, and a demo is also on the cards."Unfortunately we had to delay the game to 2025," studio director Pietro Righi Riva told me. "[We're] not ready to talk about the reasons for the delay yet, but will absolutely keep you posted. By end of Q2 2025 we'll have a date for both the demo and the full release of the game."So, stay tuned for more information on Horses soon. Image credit: Santa RagioneOur Chris had a go with Horses last year, calling it "magnetically sinister" following time with the game."It's a simpler thing in practise than some of Santa Ragione's previous games - effectively you are waking up and slowly carrying out simple, if escalating strange tasks each day, like watering plants, feeding the dog, or, erm, burying bodies, as a story takes shape around you - but the magic here is in the atmosphere and tone," he wrote."It's also a rare attempt at using actual, suspended meaning in a game. You'll need to bring something of your own to the farmhouse table here, and meet this thing halfway."

Last night, Nvidia finally unveiled the RTX 50-generation graphics cards - but over the holiday period, I had the opportunity to spend some time testing out the brand new DLSS 4 upscaling and frame generation technology on a PC kitted out with the new GeForce RTX 5080, running an updated build of Cyberpunk 2077 - and it's impressive. Nvidia has upgraded its super resolution upscaling and ray reconstruction technology with a new 'vision transformer' model, offering some dramatic quality upgrades, while frame generation is boosted from one interpolated frame to two - or even three. The end result is a better-looking Cyberpunk 2077 capable of running the full path-traced experience at frame-rates well, well north of 120fps.There's a lot to discuss here but to be clear, this is preview, first look coverage. The RTX 5080 I had access to is an engineering sample. The drivers are not final. I can offer a broad idea of how DLSS 4 works and ballpark frame-rate increases, but exact numbers will have to wait for review hardware and final drivers. Also, the limited time window I had with the hardware limits the extent of the testing I could carry out - but regardless, I saw enough and captured enough to have an initial response to the new technology.The fruits of my visit are helpfully embedded below, but speaking of capture, just like DLSS 3 frame-gen before it, showing off how DLSS 4 actually looks is somewhat difficult, owing to the frame-rate amplification factor of the new frame generation system. Multi-frame generation makes DLSS 4 a good fit for the latest wave of QD-OLED 4K 240Hz monitors - but there is no capture technology on the market capable of capturing ultra HD at 240 frames per second.Best viewed at full resolution on a 4K screen, this is DLSS 4 running on an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080.Watch on YouTubeIn the video b-roll, I tried to show the quality of frame generation by capping to 120fps, then slowing down by 50 percent to fit within the limits of YouTube's top-end 4K 60fps container. However, running unlocked, frame-rates are much higher than the 120fps limit I imposed. So while the video gives you an idea of how the new frame-gen presents, the real-world experience is something quite different: frame persistence will be significantly lower and therefore frame generation artefacts are far less noticeable. In effect, I needed to hold back DLSS 4 to give any kind of representative media on a video platform. DLSS 4 with full multi-frame-gen enabled is designed for the latest generation of high refresh rate displays and I experienced it on an Alienware AW3225QF QD-OLED 4K 240Hz monitor running fully unlocked - and it's quite the thing.Thankfully, improvements to DLSS super resolution and ray reconstruction can be shown with 4K 60fps capture - and there are key improvements here. The existing DLSS uses a convolutional neural network - Nvidia says this "generates new pixels by analysing localised context and tracking changes in those regions over successive frames". The model has improved over time, but it can only go so far and the latest releases have shown only iterative improvements.The new DLSS model uses a vision transformer, similar to the base technology behind the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini and Flux. Nvidia says this "enables self-attention operations to evaluate the relative importance of each pixel across the entire frame and over multiple frames." There are twice as many parameters as the prior CNN model and as a result, we're promised greater stability, reduced ghosting, higher detail and enhanced anti-aliasing. The transformer model is highly scalable, so Nvidia is predicting further improvements to quality with better training. It's also backwards compatible, meaning it can be retrofitted to prior DLSS titles running on the 2.0 version or higher. It'll also work on all prior RTX cards, going back to 2018's Turing-based RTX 20-series but the increased complexity of the model may have some kind of performance impact (possibly offset by the increase to quality - this really needs thorough testing). Click for higher resolution images. On top, you'll see how the vision transformer technology virtually eliminates the older DLSS ghosting we've often discussed. Bottom left, you'll see improved detail from the new tech, while bottom right shows the improvement to detail with DLSS ray reconstruction. | Image credit: Digital FoundryEven though the captured material we had was limited, the general impression that image quality specialist Alex Battaglia and I have from the b-roll is that despite running at the same 1080p internal resolution as the CNN performance mode, the vision transformer equivalent doesn't look like it - it's better. And there are some clear signs that some of the long-standing issues we've had with DLSS are much improved. This is best shown in the video above, but smearing and ghosting are drastically reduced. Shimmer in motion and unwanted 'stylisation' of content are mostly gone, Meanwhile, ray reconstruction - essentially upscaling for ray tracing - shows similar, highly welcome improvements.To compare the vision transformer model to the existing CNN version of DLSS is essentially to compare two very different AI upscalers - well outside of the scope of the hours I had with the RTX 5080 and something we'll be looking at once we've got hardware in-house. However, the implications of the super resolution and ray reconstruction improvements are significant. DLSS has enjoyed only iterative improvements since the arrival of the 2.0 version in 2020 - and yet it remains the highest quality upscaler around, while DLSS ray reconstruction has yet to be delivered by any of the competition. Assuming dramatic improvements with no downside are delivered on both counts, this takes Nvidia a further step ahead of its rivals.DLSS frame generation also gets new features - but these are tied exclusively to the new RTX 50-series cards. The single generated frame-gen tech used in 40-series is augmented with two and three frame generation in 50-series. This is tricky stuff, particularly when it comes to pacing those intermediate frames in a smooth, consistent manner - so Nvidia says that the new Blackwell architecture contains a hardware component for ensuring even pacing.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. I used the black market in the Petrochem stadium for testing - an area we've previously used for identifying a graphics bottleneck in the console version of Cyberpunk 2077. Running fully unlocked at 4K output resolution with the RT Overdrive path-tracing setting enabled, the existing single frame generation tech combined with the vision transformer model for super resolution and ray reconstruction saw a 535 percent frame-rate multiplier compared to the game running at native 4K resolution. The gains continue as we made more generated frames. Adding two frames sees that rise to 725 percent, while three frames predictably delivers the biggest increase of all - 913 percent vs native resolution rendering.Comparing the RTX 5080 with full frame generation and the transformer model enabled to the outgoing 4080 Super with single frame-gen and the existing CNN super resolution/ray reconstruction tech, I logged an improvement of 91 percent to frame-rate.Returning to frame-pacing, you'll see some visualisations of frame-times comparing single frame generation to full, three frame-gen output, both running on RTX 5080 - and it is reassuring to see that the latter not only means faster frame-rates, but also smoother frame-rates too. I took metrics here using a new version of Nvidia FrameView, but verified them with FCAT - where our software measures frame persistence based on the output of the GPU. Both results tallied. Top-left, frame-rate differentials between native 4K path-tracing and various levels of super resolution and frame-gen. Top-right, old DLSS on 4080 Super vs new DLSS multi frame-gen on 5080. On the bottom, a look at frame-pacing with multi frame-gen and latency comparisons. | Image credit: Digital FoundryMy concern with the new frame generation technique was latency. When DLSS 3 launched, frame generation was achieved by buffering an extra frame then calculating the intermediate one. Both of these factors add latency, which was offset to a degree by the mandatory inclusion of Nvidia Reflex to claw back precious milliseconds. In the video, you'll see that I've included PC latency results - again measured by FrameView. The averages across a circa two and a half minute run through the black market work out like this: a 50.97ms average latency with a single generated frame, rising to 55.5ms with two generated frames, and 57.3ms with the full, three-frame option.Based on this sample then, we're looking at a 6.4ms average addition to latency with maxed out frame generation in exchange for a 71 percent increase in frame-rate - it's an equitable trade overall. Looking at these results, it seems to me that the majority of the extra latency still comes from buffering that extra frame, but adding further intermediate frames comes with a relatively minimal increase in latency. That means that the gameplay is still responsive in Cyberpunk and unless you're super-attuned to input lag, you're unlikely to tell the difference with the existing DLSS frame generation solution.My time spent with the RTX 5080 was promising then. It's still quite remarkable to see a path-traced Cyberpunk 2077 running well in excess of 120 frames per second with the new frame generation option, so it's likely that less demanding games will run a whole lot faster. And then there's the fact that frame generation has proven quite useful in overcoming CPU limitations in many games - it'll be interesting to see the role multi frame-gen plays there. Meanwhile, the super resolution and ray reconstruction quality improvements look to address some of the key concerns we've had with DLSS, despite its status as the current highest quality upscaling solution.We'll be testing all components of DLSS 4 in much, much more depth as soon as we can, and - of course - we'll be reviewing all of the RTX 50-series GPUs in due course.

Citizen Sleeper 2 will be the last Citizen Sleeper video gameBut the series may live on elsewhere.Image credit: Fellow Traveller News by Robert Purchese Associate Editor Published on Jan. 7, 2025 Citizen Sleeper creator Gareth Damian Martin has said their warm-hearted series of sci-fi video games will end with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, which releases 31st January. However, Citizen Sleeper as a series of games won't necessarily end there.The intention, as Martin laid it out to me in a recent interview, is to create a full tabletop role-playing version of the game, and thereby handover future adventures in the series to the TTRPG space that has so inspired it.Citizen Sleeper 2. It's not far away now.Watch on YouTubeResponding to whether that would be it for Citizen Sleeper games after the sequel, Martin replied: "I think it is for video games. I'll leave myself a backdoor somewhere that I can climb through and dig it out the grave again... But no. I think especially the ending - and I hope people feel this when they reach the ending - I really felt like, okay, this is me saying the final word on it. I really like where I'm leaving it. I'm really happy with that."But Citizen Sleeper has meant a lot to a lot of people and so I'm not about to leave that behind," they added. "The next big project for me will be to work on a Citizen Sleeper tabletop game in full, but I need to find the right collaborator and I need to work that out, and I need to do that alongside other stuff. So that's something that will be a more long-term project."Martin has collaborated on tabletop projects before. Their game In Other Waters was adapted for tabletop via a collaboration by Lone Archivist, and Citizen Sleeper was adapted into a solo, tarot-based tabletop game with Alfred Valley's help, so there's a strong precedent there.The video game Martin will make next is actually the game they were pitching to their publisher Fellow Traveller before development on Citizen Sleeper 2 began. It was only the runaway success of Citizen Sleeper 1 - now at one million players and counting - that derailed those plans, turning Martin's head towards add-on content and, eventually, a sequel."I was actually already pitching my next game, which was not Citizen Sleeper 2, to my publisher," they said. "That's actually going to be the next game."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Citizen Sleeper 2 arrives to much anticipation on 31st January. Demos have already given us a glimpse of a game that's quite different from Citizen Sleeper 1, with a much stronger sense of tension in it and more developed, and distinct, role-playing systems. The changes work brilliantly; this could be special.The development cycle, however, hasn't been easy. Personal challenges, as well as the pressure of living up to expectations, have made life difficult, I discovered speaking with Martin. Success, as much as we court it, can be hard to deal with.Look out for my full Citizen Sleeper interview soon.

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 hereNetEases Marvel Rivals is just about to release its first post-launch season. Dubbed Eternal Night, Season 1 kicks off the games update cycle with a massive wealth of content including the entirety of the Fantastic Four.While the massive post-launch update is exciting, NetEase is keen to make sure players know that future seasons wont be this impressive. Sure, iconic characters and maps will be added alongside neat events, but the sheer wealth of Season 1 wont be matched in the Season 2.Later Marvel Rivals seasons will be smallerIn a recent video by the developers, which also revealed some massive nerfs for the new season, it was revealed that Marvel Rivals Season 1 Eternal Night has double the playable content of a regular season.With four playable characters, three maps, new modes and more, Marvel Rivals Season 1 is stacked with goodies. Alongside a new battle pass with additional skins to earn, this first season feels more like a celebration of the games successful launch.NetEase explains that the reason behind this massive season is mostly to service the release of the Fantastic Four. Instead of releasing the characters individually, the team wanted to make sure all four characters were able to play with each other.During our brainstorming sessions, we unanimously agreed that bringing them into Marvel Rivals in one Giant-Size season was the way to go, said creative director Guangguang. This two-in-one season features double the playable content of a regular season and will bring our total playable character count to 37.This means that future seasons will likely release with two playable heroes or villains instead of the four players are getting with Season 1 Eternal Night. Nevertheless, future seasons will hopefully still be as exciting as new characters make their debut in Marvel Rivals.Related TopicsMarvel Rivals 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 After introducing playable Operators with the launch of 2019s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Activisions shooter series is full of playable characters that range from Captain Price to the extremely pink Nicki Minaj. With new characters appearing with each update, there are instances where game-breaking bugs and glitches impact both multiplayer and battle royale action.Black Ops 6 and its subsequent integration into Warzone introduced a huge selection of new Operators and skins to unlock. Despite some of the most unique outfits on offer, the notorious invisibility glitch has returned once again resulting in Treyarch taking action to prevent it from ruining matches even more.Call of Duty Joyride skin removed On January 6, the CODUpdates X account announced Mayas Joyride Operator skin which features as part of the Steel Mountain Rider bundle has been disabled much to the annoyance of players who have parted ways with their CoD Points.The announcement never reveals the exact cause of why the Joyride skin is no longer available for the popular Maya Operator. Multiple players have revealed the skin is turning players invisible in Warzone, giving players a huge advantage on their quest to become the last one standing.Call of Dutys battle royale has a track record of introducing Operator skins that make players disappear. Shortly after Black Ops 6 was integrated, the Repairman Operator skin for Weaver made all body parts apart from the head disappear resulting in a better chance of making it to the final circle.A positive step forwardWarzones developers disabling the skin is a step in the right direction and shows theyve not let the problem go unnoticed. Although its just for an invisible skin, it appears the developers are listening after all.Addressing invisible skins is one of several flaws with both Black Ops 6 and Warzone that desperately need fixing. Cheaters continue to run rampant while other issues continue impacting players across both modes. With the start of Season 2 moving into view, everyone hopes Call of Duty can reverse its fortunes after a rocky start to 2025.For more CoD intel, take a look at the best Jackal PDW loadout along with all of the known error codes and how to fix them.Related TopicsSubscribe 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 hereArrowhead has a lot of plans for Helldivers 2 in 2025. The developer hasnt revealed their intentions for the new year as of yet, but thankfully leaks show what they are cooking behind-the-scenes. Something fans have clamored for since day one is the ability to customize weapons, so its good news that a Helldivers 2 gameplay leak shows that a weapon customization system is in active development. There are a lot of exciting leaks for HD2 that potentially reveal Arrowheads plans. A recent leak shows gameplay of a powerful toxin projectile weapon variant for the Jar-5, meanwhile, another leak shows supressed weapons for stealth. There is also a leak showing an early look at a newly discovered camo system. While the above are exciting, perhaps the best leak is gameplay footage showing a weapon customization system currently in-development for Helldivers 2. Helldivers 2 leak shows weapon customization system On X, prominent leaker, Iron_S1ghts, has shown gameplay of a weapon customization system in-development for Helldivers 2. According to the leaker, its still very buggy at the moment, and there is an attachment menu that is still broken. While buggy and definitely incomplete, Iron_S1ghts is duct-taping it back together to show off. The gameplay footage shows the R-63 Diligence marksman rifle attached with a Drum Mag. This improves its ammo capacity to 60 in the stats as illustrated by the upward arrow and green lights. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on XThe leaker also showed screenshots of a weapon attachment menu: Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on XAs with all leaks, this is by no means official, and it doesnt guarantee that weapon customization will be added. Plans can always change or be scrapped, but, as per Iron_S1ghts, things are looking very promising. Although theres no guarantee that the system will arrive, Iron_S1ghts speculates that it could be slowly introduced on a small scale at first, with limited functionality. The final product also might look different to the footage as the leaker had to do a lot of UI modification for [it] to properly work, but it uses the same assets.The ability to equip attachments would be amazing, and, although not guaranteed, it does seem likely thanks to this leak along with the words of the Arrowhead CCO. The Helldivers 2 creative director, Pilestedt, recently teased a weapon attachments system for the game, so, on paper, this seemingly increases the odds of it materializing. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to thebest warbonds ranked, along with thebest stratagemsandbest throwables. We have also a guide to thebest weapons, and, if youre coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch oftips and tricksto help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerRelated TopicsHelldivers 2 Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share