Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii getting New Game Plus in free post-launch updateFollowing Infinite Wealth controversy.Image credit: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 9, 2025 Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - the swashbuckling new instalment in Sega's long-running crime saga - is getting a New Game Plus as part of a free post-launch update.Sega shared the news during a 15-minute Like a Dragon Direct showcase focusing on the imminent Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. It marks a notable shift in strategy for the publisher, after last year's Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth caused controversy among fans by making New Game Plus exclusive to its pricier Deluxe and Ultimate Editions.Sega hasn't said much else about Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's newly announced New Game Plus mode just yet, only that it'll arrives as part of a "post release patch" at some unspecified point following the game's launch on 21st February.Here's January's Like a Dragon Direct, focusing on Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.Watch on YouTubeElsewhere in today's Like a Dragon stream, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio dove a little deeper into some of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's systems, offering a closer look at the likes of land and sea combat, ship customisation, crew building, side activities, and more.Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - which charts the swashbuckling adventures of fan-favourite series regular Goro Majima after he wakes up with amnesia on the remote Rich Island - will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC on 21st February.Alongside the 54.99 standard edition, Sega's releasing a 64.99 Deluxe Edition featuring the Legendary Pirate Crew Pack, Legendary Outfit Pack, Ship Customisation Pack, and Extra Karaoke & CD Pack. There's also a physical Collector's Edition containing a selection of real-world gubbins, and all pre-orders receive the Ichiban Pirate Crew Set and Ichiban Special Outfit Set.

Per The Washington Post, wind surgeswhich are fueling the spread of the fireare currently forecasted for late Thursday into Friday, with gusts up to 60 mph.Photo: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesMandy MooreThis Is Us star Mandy Moore shared on Wednesday that she and her family safely evacuated, but didnt know the status of her Altadena residence. My childrens school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too, she wrote on an Instagram post. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.On Thursday, Moore updated her Instagram followers: Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. Its not livable but mostly intact, she wrote. We lost [the] studio [my husband] Taylor [shared with his brother] Griffin with every instrument and piece of equipment theyve ever owned. We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone.Ricki LakeHairspray star Ricki Lake shared an Instagram post on Wednesday that she and her husband Ross Burningham lost their beloved Malibu home to the fires. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together, she wrote. This loss is immeasurable. Its the spot where we got married 3 years ago.Cameron MathisonSoap opera star Cameron Mathison also took to Instagram on Wednesday to grieve the loss of his Altadena home. We are safe, he wrote alongside a video of the burning remains of his property. But this is whats left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday.On Thursday morning, Mathison revealed on Good Morning America that the clothes he was wearing and one extra pair of shoes are his only remaining belongings. Our neighbors are coming together in every way that we can, supporting each other and also trying to help people that still have their homes, he said.Billy CrystalActor Billy Crystal confirmed to People that his longtime home in the Pacific Palisades was also lost. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cant be taken away, he told the outlet. We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.Jennifer GreyStella Gregg, the daughter of Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, revealed on an Instagram Story that her mothers house burned in the fire. Luckily, she and [her dog] Winnie are safe, she wrote. Give your loved ones an extra squeeze today.Melissa RiversMelissa Rivers, the daughter of late comedian Joan Rivers, revealed on CNN that her mothers Emmy, a photo of her father, and a portrait of herself and her son that her mother drew were among the few possessions that she took when she evacuated her Pacific Palisades house before it burned down. Its amazing what you grab, she said. I went for a drawing of my mothers rather than a photo because I know I can find the photos.Miles TellerActor Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Teller lost their Pacific Palisades dwelling in the fire, according to photos obtained by Page Six. The pair had bought the Cape Codstyle abode in April 2023 for $7.5 million.Eugene LevySchitts Creek actor Eugene Levy and his wife Deborah Devine were caught in the gridlock of fleeing residents on Tuesday, per the Los Angeles Times. While stuck in traffic, Levy told the outlet that he couldnt see any flames but the smoke was very dark. Later, photos published by Page Six revealed that Levys Pacific Palisades property was destroyed.Anthony HopkinsAccording to Page Six, Silence of the Lambs star Anthony Hopkins also lost a home in the Pacific Palisades. The Welsh actor bought the home in 2021 for $6 million.John GoodmanThe Big Lebowski actor John Goodman primarily lives in New Orleans, but he maintained a Pacific Palisades dwelling that was lost in the flames, The Daily Mail reports. Goodman spent $4.6 million on the residence in 2008. Photos taken on Wednesday revealed that the five-bedroom home was completely leveled by the flames.Cobie Smulders and Taran KillamHow I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders and SNL alum Taran Killam also lost their Pacific Palisades home, according to Page Six. The couple had purchased the abode in 2017 for $5.6 million and spent a year customizing it. In a 2018 interview, Smulders told AD that they had added solar panels and a built-in photo booth to the home as part of their extensive renovations.Diane WarrenSongwriter Diane Warren shared on Instagram that her beach house was destroyed in the fires. Ive had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite, she wrote.Cary ElwesThe Princess Bride star Cary Elwes posted an update on Instagram on Wednesday sharing the news that his home had burned down. Firstly, myself and my family are all safe, thank God. Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire, he wrote. Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it.Tina KnowlesOn Thursday, designer and philanthropist Tina Knowles announced that her Malibu house had burned down. It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone, Knowles, who is the mother of musicians Beyonc and Solange, wrote on Instagram. This could have been so much worse without the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders. Im so sad for the people who lost the five family members [....] I am praying diligently for our beautiful City of Los Angeles !! We are resilient though and we will recover!Jhen AikoMusician Jhen Aiko shared on Thursday that she had lost her family home, which she shares with her 16-year-old daughter Namiko and the son she welcomed with rapper Big Sean in 2022. The LA house burned to the ground with all of our things inside. Lord have mercy, the Bed Peace singer wrote. Starting from scratch. My heart is so heavy.Bozoma Saint JohnReal Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John mourned the loss of her Malibu home on Instagram. This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for, she wrote. This is the house where I finally felt like I could choose to spend time when I wanted to and how I wanted to. It is gone.Jeff BridgesAccording to TMZ, the four-bedroom Malibu dwelling that Bridges and his siblings had inherited, which had been in the actors family for generations, burned down.Candy SpellingAuthor and theater producer Candy Spelling confirmed to TMZ that her Malibu residence, which she shared with late TV and film producer Aaron Spelling, was also lost. Im in shock and processing this massive loss for our family. I am beyond grateful for the memories. It was truly a wonderful gift to have, she told the outlet. Spelling, who is the mother of actor Tori Spelling, had owned the property for 50 years. She had tried to sell the beach house in recent years before eventually taking it off the market.Denise CrosbyYesterday morning I had a beautiful Spanish cottage that gave me endless joy, where I met my husband and raised my son, the only house Ive ever owned, with fruit trees I grew, with a garden of native plants, the Star Trek: The Next Generation actor said of her LA home via X. Now, ashes. I am heartbroken.Jen AtkinCelebrity hairstylist and Ouai Haircare founder Jen Atkin posted an Instagram story sharing that her house had been destroyed in the fires. Our neighbors are all taking care of one another and checking in and thats the theme for 2025, she wrote. Were going to be ok. We always push thru. Im just so sad I left my Grandma Atkins church blazer with her tissues and tictacs in the pockets.

Understatement just isnt Hollywoods style; it shouts its name from a good 15 miles away via the famous Hollywood sign. The conspicuously huge lettering is propped up in the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains and greets all who approach Hollywood. Now, as wildfires continue to rage throughout Los Angeles, could this iconic, 100-year-old landmark be at risk?So far, multiple wildfires have destroyed roughly 29,000 acres in the city, according to the New York Times. At the time of publication, there have been five confirmed deaths. At least 2,000 buildings, including homes and businesses, have been burned to the ground, as well as notable landmarks like Will Rogerss Historic Home and the Theatre Palisades. Major damage occurred in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, situated between Santa Monica and Malibu (where many waterfront homes were destroyed), and that wildfire is still not under control.The Sunset fire broke out on Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, triggering an evacuation order and putting the Hollywood sign at risk. However, by Thursday morning, a Los Angeles fire department spokesperson called the Sunset fire under control.Is the Hollywood sign on fire?The Hollywood sign has not caught fire at the time of this publication, despite AI-generated images showing otherwise circulating on social media. Jeff Zarrinnam, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, confirmed to Forbes that the sign is still intact.How do you get to the Hollywood sign?With each letter of the sign standing at 45 feet tall and more than 30 feet wide, you can hardly miss it. A closeup visit is not going to happen, however: No access to the Hollywood sign, youll read on smaller signs posted in the 4,300-acre Griffith Park on Mount Lee. If you do want to get a little closer to the giant letters, and avoid threat of arrest or a fine, take a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. You can get a great view of the sign from Brush Canyon Trail, for one.How did the Hollywood sign get there?In 1923, workers used mules to haul wood and sheet metal up the slope. There were originally four more letters than there are todaythe sign used to read Hollywoodland. It originated largely as a publicity stunt, dreamed up by real estate agents promoting property in the Hollywood Hills. Many wish today that it were lit up at night, as the original version of the sign was. Throughout the signs decade of illumination, a German immigrant named Albert Kothe famously maintained its nearly 4,000 bulbs.The legendary sign used to spell Hollywoodland.MPI/Getty ImagesTragic times for the Hollywood signThe Hollywood sign has never stopped making headlines. In 1932, Peg Entwistle, an actress who was struggling to find work in Depression-era Hollywood, climbed up the H and plunged to her death. The Great Depression also took its toll on the sign, which was neglected and weather-beaten. In the 1940s, the City of Los Angeles took pity and assumed ownership. When they refurbished the sign, they removed the last four letters that spelled -land.Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to the rescueIn 1978, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce decided to give the sign a makeover, replacing all the original letters with new ones made of steel girder beams and corrugated sheet metal. Holding a successful benefit gala in his mansion, Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner got celebrities to pay $27,700 for each new letter. Rock star Alice Cooper contributed toward a new O, while the Chamber itself donated the Y in Hefners honor.Real and fictitious disastersOver time, the sign has had to endure a lot. Its survived earthquakes and brushfires as well as vandalism. In 1987, pranksters briefly recast the sign to read Holywood for the visit of Pope John Paul II. Other times, versions like Hollyweed and Ollywood have suddenly appeared in the mountains. Its also a popular target of destruction in the movies, like in the 2004 film The Day After Tomorrow, where a tornado takes it out.New plans for the Hollywood signThe landmark is being preserved by the non-profit Hollywood Sign Trust, which is also currently planning a visitors center. And, just in time for its centennial, the sign has been given a new coat of 400 gallons of white paint.This story originally appeared on AD Germany.

Meta employees are furious with the companys newly announced content moderation changes that will allow users to say that LGBTQ+ people have mental illness, according to internal conversations obtained by 404 Media and interviews with five current employees. The changes were part of a larger shift Mark Zuckerberg announced Monday to do far less content moderation on Meta platforms.I am LGBT and Mentally Ill, one post by an employee on an internal Meta platform called Workplace reads. Just to let you know that Ill be taking time out to look after my mental health.On Monday, Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would be getting back to our roots around free expression to allow more speech and fewer mistakes. The company said were getting rid of a number of restrictions on topics like immigration, gender identity, and gender that are the subject of frequent political discourse and debate. A review of Metas official content moderation policies show, specifically, that some of the only substantive changes to the policy were made to specifically allow for allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation. It has long been known that being LGBTQ+ is not a sign of mental illness, and the false idea that sexuality or gender identification is a mental illness has long been used to stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.Earlier this week, we reported that Meta was deleting internal dissent about Zuckerberg's appointment of UFC President Dana White to the Meta board of directors.Do you work at Meta? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at +1 202 505 1702.

MoneyWatchTikTok says it plans to shut down site unless Supreme Court strikes down law forcing it to sellThe legal grounds for a TikTok ban delay TikTok says it plans to shut down the social media site in the U.S. by Jan. 19 unless the Supreme Court strikes down or otherwise delays the effective date of a law aimed at forcing TikTok's sale by its Chinese parent company.In one of the most important cases of the social media age, free speech and national security collide at the Supreme Court on Friday in arguments over the fate of TikTok, a wildly popular digital platform that roughly half the people in the United States use for entertainment and information.Working on a tight deadline, the justices also have before them a plea from President-elect Donald Trump, who has dropped his earlier support for a ban, to give him and his new administration time to reach a "political resolution" and avoid deciding the case. It's unclear if the court will take the Republican president-elect's views a highly unusual attempt to influence a case into account.TikTok and China-based ByteDance, as well as content creators and users, argue the law is a dramatic violation of the Constitution's free speech guarantee."Rarely if ever has the court confronted a free-speech case that matters to so many people," lawyers for the users and content creators wrote. Content creators are anxiously awaiting a decision that could upend their livelihoods and are eyeing other platforms. The case represents another example of the court being asked to rule about a medium with which the justices have acknowledged they have little familiarity or expertise, though they often weigh in on meaty issues involving restrictions on speech.The Biden administration, defending the law that President Joe Biden signed in April after it was approved by wide bipartisan majorities in Congress, contends that "no one can seriously dispute that (China's) control of TikTok through ByteDance represents a grave threat to national security."Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok's U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information.But the government "concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so," TikTok told the justices, adding that limits on speech should not be sustained when they stem from fears that are predicated on future risks.In December, a panel of three appellate judges, two appointed by Republicans and one by a Democrat, unanimously upheld the law and rejected the First Amendment speech claims.Adding to the tension, the court is hearing arguments just nine days before the law is supposed to take effect and 10 days before a new administration takes office.In language typically seen in a campaign ad rather than a legal brief, lawyers for Trump have called on the court to temporarily prevent the TikTok ban from going into effect but refrain from a definitive resolution."President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged," D. John Sauer, Trump's choice to be his administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote in a legal brief filed with the court.Trump took no position on the underlying merits of the case, Sauer wrote. Trump's campaign team used TikTok to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, and Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in December. He has 14.7 million followers on TikTok.The justices have set aside two hours for arguments, and the session likely will extend well beyond that. Three highly experienced Supreme Court lawyers will be making arguments. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar will present the Biden administration's defense of the law, while Trump's solicitor general in his first administration, Noel Francisco, will argue on behalf of TikTok and ByteDance. Stanford Law professor Jeffrey Fisher, representing content creators and users, will be making his 50th high court argument.If the law takes effect, Trump's Justice Department will be charged with enforcing it. Lawyers for TikTok and ByteDance have argued that the new administration could seek to mitigate the law's most severe consequences. But they also said that a shutdown of just a month would cause TikTok to lose about one-third of its daily users in the U.S. and significant advertising revenue.As it weighs the case, the court will have to decide what level of review it applies to the law. Under the most searching review, strict scrutiny, laws almost always fail. But two judges on the appellate court that upheld the law said it would be the rare exception that could withstand strict scrutiny.TikTok, the app's users and many briefs supporting them urge the court to apply strict scrutiny to strike down the law.But the Democratic administration and some of its supporters cite restrictions on foreign ownership of radio stations and other sectors of the economy to justify the effort to counter Chinese influence in the TikTok ban.A decision could come within days.More from CBS News

Update: Some users report that the new options have disappeared. Its possible they went live prematurely.OpenAI is introducing a new way for users to customize their interactions with ChatGPT, the companys AI-powered chatbot. Some users on X on Thursday reported that ChatGPTs existing custom instructions menu on the web has been revamped with new fields. Now, users can specify a preferred name or nickname, their profession, other things theyd like ChatGPT to know about them, and traits theyd like the chatbot to have. OpenAI suggests traits like Chatty, Encouraging, and Gen Z.Introduce yourself to get better, more personalized responses, reads a message in the refreshed menu. Image Credits:Tibor Blaho (opens in a new window)The options arent showing up for this reporter yet. TechCrunch has reached out to OpenAI for comment and will update this article if we hear back. Its likely the new menu is more of an aesthetic makeover than a deep technical upgrade. The old custom instructions feature used whats known as prompt engineering to guide ChatGPTs style and tone. Essentially, it primed the AI powering ChatGPT with a paragraph of user-provided instructions so its answers adhered to those requirements and preferences.So far as we can tell, the new menu still relies on prompt engineering. It simply presents it in a user-friendlier way.OpenAI previously said that it applies moderation to custom instructions to check if they adhere to its terms of use. Presumably, that hasnt changed with the revamped personalization settings. OpenAI has looked to polish ChatGPT as its user base grows, adding capabilities like live web search and a Canvas interface tailored to writing and coding projects. The company said in December that over 300 million people use the chatbot each week.

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free just click TechCrunch Mobility!Hey hey, its a new year! Ive missed you these past two weeks. But Im back, and in Las Vegas for CES 2025. As always, announcements from the show came fast and furious some more material than others.My big takeaway: Autonomous vehicles are back, and the trough of disillusionment days are in the rearview. At least, that was the sentiment from most of the folks I spoke to while walking around the Las Vegas Convention Center. Meanwhile, U.S. automakers were absent this year with the exception of Scout Motors, the VW Group spinoff.Waymo had its largest exhibit yet on the CES convention floor, where it showed off the Zeekr RT. There were plenty of other autonomous vehicle startups (or AV adjacent companies) with exhibits, including Applied Intuition, May Mobility, Japanese company Tier IV, Polymath Robotics, and Zoox. John Deere even got in on the automated driving action. Numerous other AV startups, as well as companies related to automated driving, had executives milling about, including folks from Aurora, Serve Robotics, and Waabi.The mood was uplifted excited, even but without the same unchecked hypey-ness I experienced six or seven years ago.Still, extreme challenges remain on the capital and operational front. Even Waymo, which arguably is the dominant force, has struggles, including an incident where a customer got stuck in one of its robotaxis.A little birdImage Credits:Bryce DurbinWe love being at CES because it gives us a chance to talk to a lot of little birds in person for a change. This week, that included some of the top brass at Volkswagen Group, who had a lot of confidence in the companys new offshoot startup Scout Motors.Scout is still a few years away from production and is still early in the process of building its factory in Columbia, South Carolina. But Volkswagen Group expects big things from Scout. Executives said that could even include using Scouts factory to build other vehicles as the startup ramps up production potentially even from new VW joint venture partner Rivian, which is currently expanding its own factory in Illinois and has delayed plans for a new plant in Georgia.Volkswagen looks at it this way: Its factories are built around producing platforms versus specific vehicles. If there are enough commonalities between various cars or SUVs in the larger portfolio something that is bound to happen as Rivian-VW software and electrical architecture start to power more VW Group vehicles then, in the companys eyes, it makes sense to let them share manufacturing space and resources.Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com, Sean OKane at sean.okane@techcrunch.com, or Rebecca Bellan at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com. Or check out these instructions to learn how to contact us via encrypted messaging apps or SecureDrop.Deals!Image Credits:Bryce DurbinNXP, a Dutch semiconductor giant, plans to acquire TTTech Auto, an Austrian company that specializes in safety software for autonomous vehicles. The all-cash transaction is valued at $625 million.NXP specializes in semiconductors for automation across industries, and it provides chips for sensors and cameras that are critical to core automated driving functions. The acquisition comes as chip companies including Nvidia and Qualcomm double down on providing automotive-grade supercomputers and toolkits that can help automakers offer autonomous vehicle technology.Other deals that got my attentionAmazon AWS entered into a 10-year, $1 billion partnership with Here, which specializes in mapping and location tech. As part of the deal, Here can use AWSs cloud infrastructure to help auto manufacturers get the resources they need to develop and deploy automated driving features.Serve Robotics raised $80 million from unnamed institutional investors via a direct offering. This raise came the day after Serve announced that it had raised $87 million throughout the month of December through a combination of an ATM and exercise of warrants. Together, these funds will help Serve extend its runway past 2026 and build its fleet to 2,000 sidewalk robots by the end of 2025.Notable reads and other tidbitsImage Credits:Bryce DurbinCES roundupBefore we jump into the other news, here are some more CES highlights that you might have missed:BMW is revamping its in-car user interface, starting with the Neue Klasse sedan later this year, including a widget-based system that lets users customize the layout in a way that projects visuals onto the windshield.Delta Air Lines announced a slew of updates, including an AI-powered assistant in its app and upgraded in-flight entertainment system, complete with free onboard YouTube Premium and Music. The airline also announced an exclusive deal with Uber that will see SkyMiles members earn miles through Uber rides and deliveries.Honda unveiled the latest in its futuristic 0 Series, a midsized electric SUV prototype called the 0 SUV. Honda promises to debut a production version of the 0 SUV in the first half of 2026.Segway came to play this year with two sick new e-bikes. The first is Xyber, a dirt bike thats not even road-legal yet, and the second is Xafari, a more classic, customizable step-through bike. Both are packed with tech and come in under $3,000.Scout Motors, the VW spinoff, stood out at CES for having a more classic approach to its two vehicles, the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. Theyve got normal door handles, optional gas-powered range extenders, and, miraculously, buttons! Instead of all touchscreens! That doesnt mean the cars are light on tech, though; one cool feature theyll have is built-in satellite connection.Uber also teamed up with Nvidia this year, announcing it would use the chipmakers new generative world model simulation tool, Cosmos, and cloud-based AI supercomputing platform, DGX Cloud, to support the development of AVs.Vay, the Berlin-based startup that uses teleoperations technology to have humans pilot empty vehicles to rental customers, is expanding operations in Las Vegas, with plans to increase its fleet size to 100 vehicles.Xpeng Aero HT unveiled its modular flying car thats essentially a huge electric van with a small, foldable eVTOL that can roll out and launch into the skies. And, apparently, Xpeng is getting ready to mass-produce this year.ADASTeslas Actual Smart Summon feature, which lets Tesla owners use their app to summon their car to them autonomously, is under federal investigation following several crashes.Autonomous vehiclesAurora Innovation has lost Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi as one of its board members after he resigned last week, citing a desire to focus on his responsibilities at his ride-hail and delivery company.A Serve delivery robot and a Waymo robotaxi collided at a Los Angeles intersection. No robots were hurt, but its an interesting case study of what happens as our streets become filled with different types of AVs.Electric vehicles, charging, & batteriesLucid produced and delivered a record number of vehicles in 2024. The EV startup met its production target with 9,029 EVs and delivered 10,241 vehicles.Rivian delivered 51,579 electric SUVs, trucks, and vans in 2024, up 3x from 2023. The company also built 49,476 EVs last year, which is 8,000 fewer than Rivians July guidance.Tesla saw fewer deliveries last year compared to 2023, marking the automakers first ever year-to-year drop. Not even the Cybertruck, Teslas first true new model since 2020, boosted Teslas growth. (Bonus: Check out all the promises Elon Musk made for Tesla in 2024.)Turo was involved in some seriously messy business after two individuals rented EVs from the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform and used them to perform acts of violence. First there was the guy who drove a Ford F-150 Lightning into a crowd of people, then the guy who drove a Tesla Cybertruck to the Trump hotel in Las Vegas and allegedly blew it up. Both individuals had clean records, so what could Turo have done to prevent this?MiscellaneousTesla directors will now have to pay up to $919 million back to the company after a Delaware judge approved a settlement, resolving allegations that they overpaid themselves.This weeks wheelsImage Credits:Sean O'KaneWithin hours of landing in Las Vegas, I headed to Zooxs operations center, which is located off the Strip. My mission: take a ride in a Zoox robotaxi. Mission accomplished. And twice, for that matter. Stay tuned for my full writeup and video in the next day. But until then, here are a few thoughts.During my two separate Zoox trips, both of which were at night, the robotaxi handled numerous complex situations, including construction zones, two car crashes (we were not involved), double-parked vehicles, and turning right on a red light. This experience felt normal, even though logically I understood this was not normal. At least not yet.Zoox still has a bit of work to do, though. While the robotaxi obeyed all traffic rules and operated safely, there were a few times when it hit the brakes a bit hard. The suspension could also use some work to make it a more comfortable ride.What is This weeks wheels? Its a chance to learn about the different transportation products were testing, whether its an electric or hybrid car, an e-bike, or even a ride in an autonomous vehicle.

The old chestnut passed around by industry watchers for the past decade was that CES one of the worlds largest consumer tech trade events had turned into an auto show. Maybe even the most important auto show of the year.And there was ample evidence of that. GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra used the CES stage in 2016 to introduce the world to the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. In 2022, Barra made another big splash at CES when she declared that General Motors would sell personal autonomous vehicles by the middle of the decade.Meanwhile, Ram and Chrysler two American brands owned by Stellantis have used CES to show off future EVs, including the Ram 1500 BEV in 2023.Ford has been perhaps the most visible CES exhibitor at least on the automotive front. The U.S. automaker has used CES for a bevy of tech-related announcements since at least 2011, including its Smart Mobility Plan in 2015, self-driving car ambitions in 2016, future EV lineup in 2017, and its City of Tomorrow vision in 2018 that included building a cloud platform with Autonomic for smart cities.This year, not one American automaker can be found, unless you count VW Groups U.S. spinoff Scout Motors. Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings. Wey, a premium brand under Great Wall Motor, and Xpeng also had booths.Their absence could be attributed to the normal product cycle, which in automotive is longer than other consumer electronics, Brian Moody, senior editor for Kelley Blue Book, told TechCrunch. Its cyclical, thats the boring answer, he said in a recent interview. Automaker product cycles are much longer than consumer product cycles. Building a car in the real world takes longer.He also said automakers are starting to rethink their presence at shows like CES. If youre not generating tens of millions of impressions to consumers, whats the ROI? he mused, adding that media fragmentation has contributed to this concern.Ford spokesperson Alan Hall told TechCrunch that while the company doesnt have an activation (display or news announcements) this year, CES remains an important show for scouting of new technologies and trends in consumer electronics so we will have a presence with a number of our engineering, design, supply chain, and product planning team members there.Some Ford employees, for instance, participated in panel discussions, such as at the Connect2Car conference.GM had a small presence through a few partners, but no speaking engagements or booth, a spokesperson confirmed, noting that with all tradeshows, the company evaluates year-over-year and adjusts based on various business factors and priorities.Regardless, walking the floor of West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center where virtually all vehicle tech can be found the lack of U.S. automakers was notable. The elaborate booths showcasing EVs or in-car software from U.S. companies were nowhere to be found.Several Chinese automakers filled that void, notably Zeekr, the EV brand owned by Chinas Geely Holdings.And it extended to other automakers like Mercedes-Benz that have traditionally had large exhibits at CES.Mercedes made the decision to skip CES after careful consideration and evaluation of our strategic direction for the upcoming year, spokesperson Patrick Kuom told TechCrunch, adding that the company has a presence at the booth of partner Xperi.There were a couple of automakers there such as Honda, which showcased its two vehicles in its upcoming 0 Series as well as its underlying Asimo operating system, and BMW, which revealed more about its new in-car user interface. Toyota also made a splash with its press conference announcing it had completed the first phase of its living laboratory Woven City and that it was exploring and investing in orbital rockets.But the main theme was automated driving and software and the legacy automakers didnt have much to show on that front. Instead, companies working on automated driving or the sensors that support it and software took up the bulk of the floor. AV giants Zoox and Waymo had exhibits (along with Zoox robotaxi rides for media) alongside others like May Mobility and Japanese company Tier IV.Software and sensor companies also abounded including Aeva, Applied Intuition, and Sonatus to name just a few.

As part of our ongoing coverage of films in the lead-up to the Oscar Bake-off on January 11, we highlight the VFX of Barry Jenkins Lion King prequel Mufasa: The Lion King. MPC, a Technicolor Group company, has a long history of bringing to life unforgettable characters and crafting classic worlds, balancing animation with VFX. From The Jungle Book to Maleficent and The Lion King, MPCs has helped contribute to many new chapters in VFX and cinematic expression. This year, MPCs team brought Disneys African savannah to life in Mufasa: The Lion King. The film was directed by Barry Jenkins, the Production VFX Supervisor was Adam Valdez, and Animation Supervisor was Daniel Fotheringham. MPCs VFX Supervisor was Audrey Ferrara, and VFX Producer was Georgie Duncan. A team of over 1,700 artists, production crew, and technologists at MPC crafted the VFX for Mufasa: The Lion King. To create a blueprint for our final animation our motion capture shoot involved multiple performers playing Mufasa, Sarabi, Taka, Rafiki and even Zazu says Production VFX Supervisor Adam Valdez. They wore motion capture suits, and through a process we call QuadCap, their movements were mapped onto digital lion characters. This technology aligned the performers head and spine movements to the lions head and neck, their legs to the lions front legs, and simulated the lions back legs and hips to follow. Barry could then watch a live feed of the lions on screen through Unreal Engine, allowing him to give real-time performance and camera notes to the actors and DP. Within Unreal Engine, a total of 12680 on-stage takes were shot using the VCam and Motion Capture systems, all of which produced both a recorded and rendered artifact. If you were to play all captured takes one after the other, it would take just under 200 hours, or just over 8 days, to watch them all. A total of 7399 live motion capture and Quad Cap performances were captured throughout the shoot.We added facial expressions and lip sync to enhance characters performances. says Animation Supervisor Dan Fotheringham, then Barry could walk through the recorded sequence in VR making notes before we could wrap it up to be shot virtually. Performances with complex animal mechanics, like fighting or leaping were then integrated into the Quadcap performances and into the virtual sets, creating a complete master scene that Barry and James could shoot from any angle. This innovative blending of live-action filmmaking techniques and visual effects became a defining feature of the entire production. Building Africas Wild MajestyTo authentically recreate the African savannah, MPCs Environment team embarked on scouting trips across the continent, gathering invaluable references for the films flora, fauna, and landscapes. Armed with photogrammetry scans and painstaking hand-sculpting techniques, the team meticulously built the world of Mufasa, crafting plains, canyons, and forests down to the finest detail, including individual rocks and blades of grass.A crucial step in the process was optimizing the rendering of the vast environments. To handle the scale of these huge environments, the team had to develop new tools to increase efficiency. The landscapes became integral to telling Mufasas journey, serving as much a geographic as a spiritual backdrop. The result is a sprawling digital recreation of Africa spanning 107 square milesthe size of Salt Lake City, Utah. Custom scattering tools were used to populate rivers, trees, and plants in ways that mimicked the complexity of natural ecosystems. These breathtaking environments serve as both a stage and a character, guiding Mufasa on his epic journey. Breathing Life Into the Animal KingdomMPCs acclaimed Character Lab took the lead in bringing over 118 unique animals to life, including beloved characters like Mufasa, Scar, Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki. Each character was constructed from the ground up, beginning with an anatomically accurate bone and muscle structure. From there, the team used their proprietary grooming system, Loma, to create lifelike fur with unparalleled detail and realism.The challenge with fur is not just making it look realistic, but ensuring it moves and reacts naturally, says MPCs Character Supervisor. This was achieved through a combination of advanced simulation techniques and meticulous fine-tuning. Each lion had over 30,000,000 hairs to achieve the realistic look of fur. Mufasas mane alone had 16,995,454 hair curves. Mufasa has 600,000 hairs on his ears, 6.2 million hairs on his legs, and 9 million hairs covering the middle portion of his body. Simulating realistic lion manes for the assembled loins required 40,000 80,000 dynamic curves per character, with custom presets for different weather and physical conditions. Long shots took up to a week per iteration, with final fur caches exceeding 800 GB.To capture the emotional subtleties of the characters, animators studied hours of real animal footage. Muscle movement, posture, and even subtle shifts in expression were analyzed and replicated to ensure authenticity. Animators often acted out expressions themselves, using their performances to infuse each character with genuine emotion. This hybrid of research and personal creativity resulted in characters that feel as lifelike and emotionally resonant as their real-world counterparts. This shot of Rafiki making a snow angel required simulating over 620 million snow particles. Dynamic Elements: Simulating Natures ForcesMPCs FX team brought the dynamic forces of nature into the mix, simulating wind, rain, snow, and fire to create a fully immersive world. The FX work was key to grounding the characters in their environment, says Ferrara. Whether it was the golden light filtering through the savannah or a storm rolling across the plains, every element was designed to integrate into the photoreal aesthetic. CG lighters and compositors worked meticulously to perfect the films lighting and mood, ensuring every shot radiated authenticity. Pushing Boundaries in Animation and VFXA team of up to 88 artists across London, Montreal, and Bengaluru brought to life 77 digital sets, including the iconic Pride Rock and new locations Mountains of the Moon and the Tree of Life. Artists built a library of 5,790 assets, including trees, plants, and grass species, which are all featured in the film. The storage requirements for the film reached 25 petabytes which is the equivalent storage of 5.6 million DVDs. Rendering the film in final quality took 150M hours. It would take a single computer 17,123 years to complete. The fully digital world brims with depth, vivid detail, and a cinematic scale that does justice to the legacy of the original film. From its sweeping landscapes to its intricately animated characters, MPCs work on Mufasa: The Lion King represents another achievement in visual 3D animated storytelling.

Researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen and City University of Hong Kong have unveiled a manufacturing strategy for thick-panel origami structures that promises unprecedented load-bearing capabilities and flexibility. Published in Nature Communications, their approach uses a single fused deposition modeling (FDM) multimaterial 3D printer to create rigid panels fully wrapped in soft, stretchable hinges. This design allows each origami unit to hold more than 11,000 times its own weight, withstand over 100 cycles of 40% compressive strain, and absorb substantial impact forces.Origame metamaterials. Image via Nature Communications.The research team employed the Ultimaker S5, produced by Netherlands-based Ultimaker, to print polylactic acid (PLA) cores entirely encased in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Conventional attempts at thick-panel origami often fail at the interface between stiff and flexible components, leading to delamination or limited foldability. By contrast, wrapping PLA panels in continuous layers of TPU produces robust hinges that handle large tension during folding without debonding. This wrapping approach eliminates complex assembly processeslike manually adhering thick panels or rolling hingesand ensures reliable performance under cyclic loading.The Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle complete with Air Manager and Material Station. Photo via UltimakerSelf-Locking Origami for Structural StrengthTwo 3D printed thick-panel Miura-origami sheets can be stacked to form a self-locking unit. A key innovation is the push-to-pull (P2P) deformation mode, which channels vertical compression into the horizontal stretch of soft hinges. During tests, four self-locking units collectively supported more than 260 kilograms and exhibited full recovery after repeated loading. This ability to sustain large compressive strains without permanent deformation results from transferring loads through flexible hinges rather than risking panel buckling.Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations and a custom theoretical model helped pinpoint the geometric parameters required to avoid buckling and maintain the P2P mode. Adjusting factors such as hinge length, wall thickness, and the angles between panels enables programmable mechanical responses. When configured properly, the origami supports static loads and resists cyclic stresses. In addition, stacking multiple origami layers significantly lowers impact forces. One three-layer setup reduced peak impact by 72.1% under a 72J drop test, underscoring its potential in protective applications.Fabrication and design of thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.From Prototypes to Real-World ApplicationsBecause the fabrication process directly prints rigid and soft parts in one piece, origami designs can be customized to suit specific engineering needs. Potential applications include energy-absorbing panels for helmets, deployment mechanisms in aerospace, and flexible supports for robotics. The research team also envisions experimenting with other materials, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers, to increase stiffness or tune energy absorption.Origami Structure Stress Test. Image via Nature Communications.The thick-panel origami method addresses longstanding obstaclesparticularly in managing thickness while preserving flexible foldingto bring origami-inspired metamaterials closer to mainstream use. By combining simple 3D printing workflows with a well-defined geometric model, researchers have demonstrated how these foldable structures can exceed typical load-bearing expectations.This work was supported by Chinas National Key Research and Development Program (2020YFB1312900), the National Natural Science Foundation (11922215), and additional grants from the Science Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, and City University of Hong Kong. Design and mechanical performance of self-locking thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Feature image shows Fabrication and design of thick-panel origami. Image via Nature Communications.