Publisher CI Games has revealed that developer HexWorks will continue to release new updates for Lords of the Fallen this year, and will ultimately take the game up to version 2.0. For context, Lords of the Fallen is currently on version 1.7.In a conversation with investors, CI Games senior vice president of development Tom OConnor stated that the plan is to maximise the sales of Lords of the Fallen, which means giving the game more meaningful updates and responding to player feedback.To continue maximising sales of Lords of the Fallen 2023 in line with strategic markdowns and the continued release of meaningful updates up to v2.0 in response to player feedback and external user testing, responded OConnor to a question about CI Games business plans for 2025.OConnor also spoke about other projects that CI Games is working on, including an unannounced game dubbed Project 3 which will be a follow-up to Lords of the Fallen. There is also a title dubbed Project H, which is currently in pre-production.With regards to our titles in development we have Project 3 in full production, the next instalment in the Lords of the Fallen franchise and during this year will have extensive player testing to ensure we achieve high-quality and maximise the games potential, he said. Both SGW Evolved and Project H are in pre-production, and we are closing in on the vision for these titles, with more details to follow at a later date.When the company asked about the potential for more free content being added to Lords of the Fallen to help build positive sentiments from the games players, marketing director Ryan Hill responded by stating that the company has seen positivity about the game on the rise thanks to the release of free updates and DLC over the last couple of years. This also means that the company plans on continuing this strategy.To date, we have released a considerable number of post-launch updates and content drops for Lords of the Fallen, and have observed the direct results by doing so; the recent Steam User Score has been gradually increasing throughout 2024, reaching an all-time high of 80 (very positive) in December, said Hill.We also track online sentiment using the Player XP audience sentiment tool; this clearly illustrates a strong ongoing increase in audience sentiment around the LOTF franchise across the online gaming landscape throughout 2024, Hill continued. As a result, we will continue with this strategy in 2025 with a robust content roadmap planned for Q1 with the releases of v1.8, v1.9 and v2.0, all of which will bring meaningful improvements to LOTF based on community feedback and external player testing. It is integral that we continue to increase the franchise sentiment ahead of the release of Project 3.Lords of the Fallen, not to be confused by the 2014 title of the same name, was released back in October 2023, and was met with a positive response both critically and commercially. The game crossed the 1 million copies sold milestone within its first month, and has since seen quite a few updates.These updates have been a mix of bringing new content to the game, as well as bug fixes and performance enhancements. More recently, Lords of the Fallen got support for the PS5 Pro to make use of its enhanced hardware, as well as adjustments to mob density and improvements to PC performance.For more details on Lords of the Fallen, check out our review.

It is no secret that the commercial reception of action adventure title Star Wars Outlaws was found disappointing by Ubisoft. According to VGC, the game only managed to be the 47th best-selling game in Europe. For context, this means that the much older Star Wars Jedi: Survivor sold more than Outlaws in 2024.This is contrast to expectations for Star Wars Outlaws, which got quite a bit of positive attention thanks to its trailers, as well as the fact that it was being developed by Massive. Critical reception, however, was lukewarm. Even our own review gave the game a score of 6, citing the games rough stealth mechanics and instant-fail gameplay sections as its biggest sticking points.This poor reception has had quite a few consequences, and might be one of the big reasons for Ubisoft founders, the Guillemot family, looking for a buyout in order to stem its falling stock prices. Ubisofts stock prices fell shortly after the release of Star Wars Outlaws, with physical sales in the UK reportedly being 55 percent lower than Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.Analysts have also not been kind to the company, with JP Morgan analyst Daniel Kerven stating that Star Wars Outlaws had failed to meet sales expectations, and ultimately lowering its own sales expectations for the title by 2 million copies.Since the games release, several updates have been released that attempt to fix some of its bigger issues. An update from back in November is notable for sweeping changes to how the stealth mechanics in Star Wars Outlaws work. Similar updates have been released to bring changes to combat and cover system as well.Star Wars Outlaws has also gotten a DLC release in the form of Wild Card, which also ended up being a disappointment thanks to lacklustre writing and dialogue, short length, and a bad final boss fight. The game has since also made its way on to Steam, rather than staying exclusive to the Ubisoft Connect store on PC.In the mean time, Ubisoft has revealed that it is working with advisors to best understand how to extract maximum value from its IPs and other assets. CEO Yves Guillemot has reportedly also been in talks with Tencent for a potential buyout for Ubisoft, with Tencent wanting more control over the decisions made by the board of directors.Other titles by Ubisoft are also facing issues, with the company having recently announced that XDefiant would be shutting down. The upcoming Assassins Creed Shadows has also been delayed to March 20.

Grinding Gear Games has announced it will reveal details for Path of Exile 2s next major update, Patch 0.1.1, on January 12th, 12:30 PM PST. Players can watch it on the games Twitch channel and tune into the Tavern Talk podcast, where game directors Jonathan and Mark Roberts will answer questions.The last major update dropped in December, lowering the cost of respeccing Passive Skill Points at higher levels and fast travel between checkpoints in an area. It also nerfed monster critical strike bonus damage in the endgame, removed the Volatile Crystals Modifier and optimized Trial of the Sekhemas to be less punishing. Rolling Slam, Ice Shot Shards, Shockchain Arrows, and other skills also saw improvements.Though the upcoming reveal will discuss known issues and how the team addresses them, there may be details about future content. Stay tuned for updates in the coming days.Path of Exile 2 is available via early access for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. Check out our review here.

From left to right, Timea Jakab (studio director and senior associate, Gensler), Sonia Matheson (managing director and principal, Gensler), Julia Evangelista (director of business development, Govan Brown), Heela Omarkhail (vice-president of social impact, The Daniels Corporation), and Kate LaBrash (director of office leasing, QuadReal Property Group) were part of a panel on women in architecture, design and construction in late 2024. The panel was organized by Gensler in collaboration with the Toronto Construction Association. Photo credit: Shiraz AliLast year, I had the privilege of moderating a panel on women in leadership, specifically, in architecture, design, and constructionnotoriously male-dominated industries. With the goal of shedding light on the barriers facing women in these environments, the panel, organized by Gensler in collaboration with the Toronto Construction Association, also provided an opportunity for those in the audience to ask questions and network. The resulting conversation was a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go to achieve true equity in our industry.As an architect, I know firsthand the challenges of working in this industry. To be frank, working in architecture and design is a demanding job for both men and women at any stage of their career, but women are still disproportionately impacted by unequal pay, slower rates of promotion, and poor return-to-work training post-parental leave.As a mother, I also understand the pressures of working parents, and know that no amount of TikTok advice is a match for a toddler mid-tantrum. Juggling these two worlds can be difficult, but I truly love being both an architect and a mother. Its a profoundly rewarding career, and while I do spend most evenings logging on to work those invisible hours, I love knowing my children look up to me as a woman in leadership. Not only that, but I believe I became a better leader once I had children. Be it a greater capacity for empathy, time management, or more open communication, mothers add value to the role.As seen in the dismal drop off in women architecture graduates and those who actually become licensed to practiceonly 37.9 per cent of architects in Canada are womenthe visibility of women in leadership positions is key to attracting more women to the profession. Proving that women can be both architects, and parents, is especially important, as many women report feeling pressured to make the choice between having a career in architecture or having children. While these barriers are certainly not unique to architecture and design, our industrys reputation only continues this ongoing cycle of inequity.Since joining the industry in 2005, Ive witnessed real change, and am heartened by the recent influx of events advocating for women in the field, especially for equal pay and diversity of thought. As Ive witnessed, the continued dialogue of these events is crucial, as silence only begets the status quo. But while were moving away from the old boys club, we still need more women in architecture and design.Not only are diverse organizations more successful, making the inclusion of women an economic imperative, but diverse talent also leads to greater levels of innovation. By not addressing the current barriers facing women in our industry, and striving for gender parity, the industry is hindering its ability to access the best talent and design solutions.But gender parity isnt about window-dressing. To ensure women stay in the industry, leaders must provide them with agency. Every closed-door meeting is either an opportunity, or just another barrier, and the entire architecture and design communitymen and womenis responsible for clearing the way to better access for women.We also cannot underestimate the importance of fostering and participating in support-based communities. While pockets of our industry still tend to view burnout as a badge of honour, creating space for women to have an open dialogue is crucial in holding the industry accountable. Its also key to maintaining good mental health.After taking two maternity leaves in five years, I can attest to the difficulty of returning to an office where it feels like time accelerated in your absence. Having a reliable network of colleagues and mentors, both within and outside of the industry, is critical. Its also why we hosted our recent women in leadership event, to prove to the next generation that we are not defined by our industrys history, and do not need to abide by the old rules.After more than 15-years working as an architect, I still believe it to be among the coolest careerstheres a reason why Seinfelds George Costanza selected it as his alter egos profession of choice. Every single day, Im surrounded by hardworking, talented, and supportive women and mothers, both as a mentor, and as a mentee. But Im also keenly aware that the network Ive built over the entirety of my career was forged over shared difficulties, or experiences of prejudice. For the next generation, its time we do better as an industry.Photo credit: GenslerTimea Jakab is a Studio Director in Genslers Toronto office, who brings more than 15 years of experience in professional practice. She oversees a studio of 40+ architects and designers with responsibility for projects that span large-scale master planning, complex adaptive reuse, and ground-up buildings, as well as multiple practice areas including Retail, Repositioning, and Brand Design. A registered architect in Ontario, Timea believes in and promotes a holistic design approach that considers the many opportunities in shaping a strong customer-centric experience. Using her design background, Timea pairs an understanding of human behavior with the exploration of environmental, architectural, and graphic design solutions. Her diverse design education and experience allows her to be an effective collaborator, design synthesis, and an agile leader for Gensler.The post Op-ed: Career or kids? Paving the way for womenand mothersin architecture appeared first on Canadian Architect.

LLMs are good at coding simple functions. But how good are they at calling their own functions to solve complex problems?Read More

The Yeedi Cube doesnt have the modularity and extremities of some of the cool new robot vacuums weve seen at CES 2025, but the self-emptying, self-cleaning mopping robovac is also much more reasonably priced. Its even cheaper today at Amazon, where you can buy it for $299.99 ($260 off) when you clip an on-page coupon. Thats the lowest price weve seen yet on the budget robovac.RelatedThe Yeedi Cube can capably map and remember several rooms, including designated no-clean zones that you can set within the mobile app. While it doesnt have AI-powered obstacle avoidance like some of the pricier robots we test, we found its laser-based navigation system works well enough to traverse floors that dont have laundry, clothes, or pet waste strewn about. And if it does get stuck, you can easily pick it up and reposition it thanks to an integrated carrying handle and a dedicated spot clean button.While we wish it had better brushes (it can get easily tangled with pet hairs), its 5,100Pa suction is good enough to lift loose dirt, cereal, and the like. It also has a one-liter fluid tank and vibrating microfiber pads that can mop hard flooring with great effectiveness. The do-it-all robovac can also empty its own dust bin and water tank, and clean and dry itself at the charging base.Yeedi Cube$300$56046% off$300$300$56046% offOne of the first robots that can vacuum, mop, self-empty, self-wash, and self-dry with hot air for under $1,000, the Yeedi Cube retails for $699.99 but is regularly on sale for far less. Its a good vacuum and mop for hands-free cleaning on a budget.$300 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)More Friday deals to shopThe 3.1-channel Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus from 2024 is cheaper right now than it was during Black Friday, with Amazon dropping it to a new all-time low of $189.99 ($60 off). You can also get it with a subwoofer for a record low $299.99 ($75 off), or get the whole kit with two surround speakers for $414.99 ($75 off). Unlike the original Fire TV Soundbar, the system supports true spatial audio formats both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. You can select between preset modes for movies, music, sports, and night listening, and theres also a setting that enhances dialogue. Its HDMI eARC port offers one-cable audio and control between the TV and soundbar, and you can use the remote of any Fire TV device to also control the soundbars power and volume.You can get a pair of AirPods Pro (second-gen) with a USB-C wireless charging case for $179.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, which is $70 off and only $26 more than the lowest price to date. While theyre no longer the only AirPods with noise cancellation in Apples lineup (you can get the AirPods 4 with that feature now), theyre still Apples best wireless earbuds, with effective noise cancellation, great sound quality, and voice isolation for clearer calls. They have spatial audio with head-tracking and adaptive audio with a very convincing transparency mode. You can even use the AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids. Read our review.You can get theAnker PowerCore 548 Power Bankfor $89.99 (about $50 off) atAmazonand Walmart, which is $10 more than the lowest price to date. The portable 192Wh (60,000mAh) power station charges at 87W speeds when using one of its two USB-C ports (it also has two USB-A ports), or you can split the power when using more than one port concurrently. You can charge the power bank using those ports, or harness the suns power with an optional solar panel. Its ideal for camping and day trips with its retractable LED lamp that has adjustable brightness and an SOS mode that automatically turns the light on during a blackout when plugged in.

Schools across the US and Canada are warning parents that a data breach may have leaked information for students and employees. The K-12 operations platform PowerSchool, which supports over 60 million students and has over 18,000 customers worldwide, suffered a breach that couldve exposed names and addresses of students and educators and, in some cases, more sensitive information like Social Security numbers, medical information, and grades.As initially reported by Bleeping Computer, threat actors got into PowerSchools support platform using compromised credentials. PowerSchool told Bleeping Computer that only a subset of schools are affected but has not provided a count of affected school districts or people. Additionally, the outlet says that in a note provided to its customers, PowerSchool claimed it paid a ransom request and ...has received reasonable assurances from the threat actor that the data has been deleted and that no additional copies exist.PowerSchools website and social media channels have no mention of the data breach or directions for people who may have been affected.In an email to The Verge, PowerSchool spokesperson Beth Keebler wrote that the company became aware of a potential cybersecurity incident on December 28th and has taken all appropriate steps to prevent the data involved from further unauthorized access or misuse. Keebler also wrote:The incident is contained and we do not anticipate the data being shared or made public. PowerSchool is not experiencing, nor expects to experience, any operational disruption and continues to provide services as normal to our customers.

Valerion announced a new feature for its VisionMaster Max projector at CES 2025 that will improve setup flexibility. The company will offer alternate lenses for the projector a feature typically only offered on professional-grade home theater hardware that can be swapped by users to change the size of the image it produces or how far it can project. That will accommodate a wider range of installations, from smaller living rooms to spacious dedicated home theaters, without sacrificing image resolution.The VisionMaster Max was originally announced at IFA 2024 by Valerion, which is a sister brand to AWOL Vision that focuses on ultrashort throw (UST) projectors. The brands VisionMaster line debuted through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign last October, including the Max model, which offered an optical zoom feature that allows it to project images from 40 to 300 inches in size.The VisionMaster Max may not look compact, but its relatively small given it incorporates a pair of 12-watt speakers. Image: ValerionThe swappable lenses are a new feature for the projector, which is now available for purchase for $3,999. Valerion hasnt announced which additional lens options will be available for the VisionMaster Max or how much theyll add to the price. The stock lens has a throw ratio of 0.9-1.5:1, while Valerion was showing off an alternative with a 1.3-2.1:1 throw ratio better for use in larger rooms at CES, according to New Atlas.The upgraded version of the VisionMaster Max offers the same features and functionality as the one announced at IFA. Its a 4K triple laser projector capable of producing 3,000 ISO lumens of brightness, according to Valerion, and has the ability to upscale lower-res content using AI. It supports theIMAX Enhanced, Dolby Vision, and HDR10 Plus standards and includes a low input lag mode for gamers with refresh rates up to 240Hz when stepping down to a 1080p resolution.The VisionMaster Max is an all-in-one projector, so it includes a pair of 12-watt speakers with support for DTS:X and Dolby Audio. Its got three HDMI ports, including one with eARC support. In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it can be connected to the internet using an ethernet cable if the wireless internet signal in your home theater is problematic. And the projector runs Google TV, so you can install apps for various streaming services, including Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video.

Registrations for Elden Ring Nightreigns hotly anticipated network test go live today, January 10. Heres everything you need to know to put your name down.The network test will be held on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S only, whereas the full game will also launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.To register, head to the Bandai Namco website and enter your details. It's worth noting that registration closes January 20, and only offers a chance to join the Elden Ring Nightreign network test. The test is open to those who do not subscribe to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Core.Elden Ring Nightreign network test registration times:6am PT, January 109am ET, January 102pm GMT, January 103pm CET, January 1011pm JST, January 10IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250The test itself begins February 14 and ends February 17, with various session times planned. This means you won't be able to play the network test throughout the entire four days, rather during five three-hour periods only.Elden Ring Nightreign network test session timings:February 14: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ETFebruary 14: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ETFebruary 15: 11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ETFebruary 16: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ETFebruary 16: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ETElden Ring Nightreign - First ScreenshotsThe network test is a preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch, Bandai Namco said."This large-scale Network Stress Test is designed to evaluate various aspects of the online system's functionality and performance."We are looking forward to your cooperation to make Elden Ring Nightreign even better."Bandai Namco has yet to say exactly what the Elden Ring Nightreign network test will offer, but did warn some text and game features may be different than in the final version.Elden Ring Nightreign is FromSoftwares standalone co-operative spin-off set in a world parallel to that of 2022s Elden Ring. It was announced at The Game Awards 2024 with a debut trailer, below, and a 2025 release window.PlayThe network test will allow three players to team up and take their chosen Nightfarers to battle "against new terrors, and explore an ever-changing map to defeat increasingly challenging bosses and ultimately take on the Nightlord," Bandai Namco added, before confirming the network test features a three day-and-night cycle squads must try to outlast.Here's the official blurb:The all-new adventure in Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold, set in a universe parallel to the events of Elden Ring. Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing environment, where they will have to make split-second decisions when it comes to combat and exploration in the face of a night cycle that shrinks the map with the coming Nights Tide.At the end of each night, players will face a powerful boss and, if victorious, awaken to bigger challenges. Each session will culminate in the third night when they must face off against the chosen Nightlord. Individuals can fight the night alone, but strength will come in numbers. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles.Elden Ring Nightreign is unlike any experience created before by FromSoftware, Inc. In this condensed action RPG, players will never experience the same journey twice as enemies, rewards, and Limveld itself are ever-shifting and evolving with each new session. Defeating greater enemies and venturing into the more dangerous parts of the map will uncover more powerful weapons and greater Rune rewards. Finding Sites of Grace gives each hero a chance to level up and gain crucial power. With each session-based adventure being akin to playing through an open-air dungeon, every journey provides an opportunity to grow lasting stat bonuses. Successful runs against the night bring players ever closer to defeating the Nightlord and unraveling the story behind each Nightfarer in this parallel world.Last year IGN had the opportunity to visit FromSoftware and go hands-on with an early build of Elden Ring Nightreign. We came away impressed, stating that Elden Ring Nightreign takes the cautious dungeon crawls of Elden Ring and turbocharges them into propulsive, slash n dash speedruns.Check out IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki for even more on Elden Ring Nightreign.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The Marvel Rivals Season 1 update appears to have done more than add the Fantastic Four players say it's also cracked down on mods.Ever since Marvel Rivals hugely successful December launch players have used mods to create custom skins despite concern over account bans. Popular mods include turning Iron Man into Vegeta from Dragon Ball and Mantis into a goth. Theres even a mod that turns Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from Chainsaw Man.The Vegeta as Iron Man mod for Marvel Rivals has been downloaded over 60,000 times. Image credit: Nexus Mods.Using mods violates Marvel Rivals terms of use, and developer NetEase itself has warned players against modifying game files. Despite the risk of getting banned, Marvel Rivals mods remain hugely popular.Until now. Players are reporting the Season 1 update has added asset hash checking, which in turn has disabled mods. The official Marvel Rivals Discord is starting to fill up with questions from bemused players who are asking why their mods arent working, and social media is now bubbling up the explanation.NetEase told IGN: "It is not recommended to modify any game files, as doing so carries the risk of getting banned."Some have suggested mod makers may be able to issue workarounds for their creations, but as it stands Marvel Rivals is a mod-free game. And the crackdown perhaps comes as little surprise. NetEase generates revenue from the free-to-play hero shooter through the sale of premium skins. If modding threatens that revenue in any way, NetEase will have taken a dim view.Weve seen a similar crackdown from other developers who sell premium skins for their games. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive and publisher Focus Entertainment at one point disabled mods for the game, although later reversed its decision. Will NetEase for Marvel Rivals?In the meantime, check out the Marvel Rivals Season 1 patch notes, and official stats that reveal Marvel Rivals' pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes for Season 0. And keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.Image credit: Vegeta as Iron Man mod on Nexus Mods.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.