Ubisoft appoints advisors to oversee "strategic options"Assassin's Creed Shadows delayed by a month as part of ongoing reviewsImage credit: Ubisoft News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 10, 2025 Ubisoft has appointed advisors to review various "strategic and capitalistic options" following previously initiated strategic and execution reviews."We have taken decisive steps to reshape Ubisoft to deliver best-in-class player experiences, enhance operational efficiency and maximise value creation," said Ubisoft CEO and co-founder Yves Guillemot."We recently appointed advisors and are actively exploring various strategic and capitalistic options to unlock the full value potential of our assets. We are convinced that there are several potential paths to generate value from Ubisoft's assets and franchises."As part of the ongoing reviews, Ubisoft has decided to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows by a month.The game was initially scheduled for release on November 15, 2024, but was delayed to February 14, 2025. The launch date has now been moved to March 20, 2025."[Ubisoft] is behind our teams' efforts to create the most ambitious Assassin's Creed opus of the franchise," added Guillemot."[We] have made the decision to provide an extra month of development to Shadows in order to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months that will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note."During a call with investors following the announcement (via GamesRadar), Ubisoft responded to reports of buyout discussions with Tencent."We won't comment on specific rumours that we've seen in the market," said CFO Frederick Duguet. "We will inform the market if and when a transaction materialises."Ubisoft said it will continue to undertake cost reductions and be "highly selective" regarding investments. It is expecting a "200 million reduction of its fixed cost base."The firm also shared its estimated Q3 net bookings to be 300 million, which is lower than expected due to the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws and sunsetting XDefiant last month.As for the full year, Ubisoft has predicted net bookings of 1.9 billion and is expecting "new partnership opportunities for Ubisoft's games and franchises as well as for the monetisation of the streaming rights acquired last fiscal year."

Hitman World of Assassination reaches over 75m players | News-in-briefIO Interactive's 2021 stealth game launched in January 2021Image credit: IO Interactive News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 10, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Hitman World of Assassination reaches over 75m players

Source: DLA ArchitectureDLA Architecture has submitted plans for a large-scale residential and community-focused regeneration scheme in the Burnt Oak area of Barnet.The project would deliver 359 homes, including 177 affordable units, alongside a new library, nursery, and employment services hub. It is part of a collaboration between Barnet Council and the development arm of Bouygues UK.The Riverside Approach scheme spans three sites in Burnt Oak, with proposals including four residential buildings of six to thirteen storeys, a new public park, and community spaces such as a caf and co-working facilities.Alejandro Carrajo Garcia, associate at DLA Architecture, said: We are incredibly proud to collaborate with Bouygues UK and Barnet Council on this community-led, mixed-use scheme in Barnet.This transformative development will serve as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area while supporting the Councils vision of fostering strong, inclusive communities and safeguarding the environment for future generations. This is exactly the kind of project we are passionate about - revitalising rundown urban centres and creating vibrant spaces where people want to live.The design is intended to replace aging infrastructure, including the current library, with new facilities aimed at better meeting the needs of the local population.Proposed new librarySource: DLA ArchitectureSource: DLA ArchitectureSource: DLA Architecture1/3show captionThe new Burnt Oak Library, planned as a three-storey building, will also house council services and the childrens nursery, with external play areas and landscaped public spaces.Oliver Campbell, managing director of development at Bouygues UK, added: We are thrilled to be part of this innovative and community-focused project in Barnet.Working alongside Barnet Council and our partners, we are committed to delivering a development that not only meets the highest standards of sustainability but also enhances the quality of life for residents.Project team:Client: Bouygues UK (Development) / Barnet CouncilMain Contractor: Bouygues UKLandscape Architect: ArkwoodPlanning Consultant: IceniEnergy Consultant: Darren EvansStructural Engineer: Parma Brook

Planning officers at Glasgow City Council gave consent last month to both projects via delegated powers.Sheppard Robsons 20 India Street scheme for Vita Group includes 21,000m of residential and mixed-used amenities in an 18-storey building holding 591 individual studio bedrooms and 20 affordable flats.The ground floor includes study areas, a gym and lounges for students at the India Street end of the development, while a commercial unit will front the non-student element, facing Elmbank Crescent, opposite Charing Cross station.AdvertisementWest of Scotland Housing Association is jointly delivering the affordable flats.Sheppard Robson said the scheme would sit well with the Glasgow context and repair the fragmented urban grain caused by post-war development and the M8 motorway which runs to the west of the site.Practice partner Stacey Phillips commented: Our design prioritises student and residential experience and wellbeing while ensuring the scheme sits well with the Glasgow context. Source:Ed WrightSheppard Robson's 20 India Street proposals (January 2025)The array of social spaces and amenities will help create an environment where students can easily study and socialise together The civic-minded architecture aims to deliver new public spaces that will enliven the streetscape while being a good neighbour to the surrounding area.The approval came as Sheppard Robson posted its trading figures for the year ending 31 March 2024. The company reported an operating profit of 4.8 million, up slightly on the 4.7 million of the previous year. However, its turnover dipped slightly from 32 million to 31 million.AdvertisementConsent was also given to Michael Lairds 250 million redevelopment masterplan for a 67,500m2 site immediately north of Sheppard Robson's development at the junction of Sauchiehall Street, Bath Street and the M8.With consent for the outline masterplan granted, the Edinburgh-based practice will now draw up detailed applications for northern and southern sections of the scheme, which will be delivered in two phases and eventually deliver 750 student beds and 600 residential units plus offices.Under the consented masterplan, the first phase will include flattening Elmbank Gardens, designed by Richard Seifert, and the neighbouring Venlaw building to make space for a 750-bed student accommodation block, a 1,000m2 healthcare facility and a 1,000m2 retail or commercial unit.Phase two would include demolition of the current 300 Bath Street building also known as Tay House to be replaced with a mixed-tenure development providing 600 homes, 14,000m2 of office space and a 350-bed hotel.The second phase also includes the removal of the Tay House bridge, often derided as one of Glasgows Bridges to Nowhere, which runs above the M8. LDA Design is delivering landscaping design for the public realm areas. Source:Michael Laird ArchitectsMichael Laird Architects' masterplan for Charing Cross Gateway, Glasgow (March 2024)While building heights and designs are indicative, the masterplan suggests the Charing Cross scheme will, at around 23 storeys, be shorter than Hawkins\Browns approved nearby 36-storey student tower at Portcullis House.The Portcullis House scheme is set to be the tallest building in Scotland.Tay House, which was completed in the 1990s, has only recently undergone a 3 million revamp, according to Scottish Construction Now. Michael Laird Architects worked on that redesign, which involved rebranding the structure as 300 Bath Street.Over its lifetime, the building has been home to the Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclay Stockbrokers, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board as well as the University of Glasgow.20 India Street was once home to the former Strathclyde Regional Councils 12-storey headquarters, designed by FS Boyer and Partners, which was bulldozed in 2015.The neighbouring Elmbank Gardens, which has housed offices and a hotel, was completed in 1973 to designs by Centre Point architect Seifert and was supposed to be part of a wider masterplan for the area between Anderston and Charing Cross. Source:Michael Laird ArchitectsMichael Laird Architects' masterplan for Charing Cross Gateway, Glasgow (March 2024)Planning documents say retrofitting all three buildings, although considered, is financially and environmentally unviable, given the scale of adaptation needed to the structures to deliver the Michael Laird scheme.The proposal to demolish the buildingswas slammed by environmental campaigners, including Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) Scotland and the Anthropocene Architecture School, when it was announced last August.In a press release last year, the schemes development team said the plans had the backing of Glasgow Chamber of Commerces chief executive, Stuart Patrick. He said: Its no secret that Sauchiehall Street has seen better days, and this application presents an opportunity to galvanise an iconic area of the city and re-establish it as a dynamic accommodation and business hub.Detailed plans of Michael Lairds scheme will be submitted in two phases of 27,500m2 and 40,000m2 respectively. If approved, demolition work is expected to begin later this year.There is no known timeline on the India Street scheme.Current site view

The nearly 30-year-old building has sat empty for nearly a decade and is due to be flattened as part of the redevelopment of the Adelphi Village area, a scheme backed by the University of Salford, Salford City Council and the English City Fund (ECF), as the AJ revealed late last year.The team made a prior approval application in November, effectively notifying the local authority of its intention to demolish the office scheme under permitted development rules.Despite efforts from environmental campaigners and a failed attempt by heritage group the Twentieth Century Society to get the landmark listed, the council signed off the university and ECFs request just before Christmas.AdvertisementThe Hodder block was completed in 1995 and was described as a dynamic, modern and sophisticated exercise in steel, glass and concrete when it won the first RIBA Stirling Prize the following year. It was originally designed to be the School of Electrical Engineering before a change of use, during construction, to the Faculty of Art and Design Technology.In 2018, plans were unveiled to convert the building into a primary school. This was under wider proposals by 5plus Architects for the universitys existing campus and surrounding area, which included the delivery of a significant amount of new housing.But the school scheme was ditched and the development team has been looking at explored multiple options for the long-vacant four-storey block. Demolition could start as early as March.The Twentieth Century Societys request to have the building listed was backed by a trio of campaign groups committed to highlighting the up-front carbon impact of demolition and rebuild: Architects Declare, Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN), and Dont Waste Buildings..In a statement Historic England said: While the Centenary Building has some design interest, winning the RIBA Stirling Prize in 1996, when considered against the criteria for listing buildings of a recent date, it lacks the special interest to merit listing in a national context.AdvertisementThe official report (see attached) adds: 'Although undoubtedly of some design interest, the Centenary Building was not technically innovative and has not been shown to be influential elsewhere, as was hoped when it was awarded the Stirling Prize.'A spokesperson for the project backers told the AJ in November that, while careful consideration had been given to the building history, it no longer met modern standards and requirements and had now been vacant for a third of its built life.They added: Future proposals will seek to incorporate sustainable building design practices and materials, ensuring support for Salfords sustainability goals.Speaking to the AJ when plans to demolish the block first emerged last November, Hodder Associates founder Stephen Hodder said he had received the news with great dismay.He told the AJ: This is not borne out of nostalgia, it being the inaugural RIBA Stirling Prize winner, or indeed the importance of the building to the development of our practice, but as an original signatory to Architects Declare and past chair of the Construction Industry Councils Climate Change Committee, I simply cannot support the demolition of a building that is only 30 years old.Hodder added: [Were] not aware that there has been an exhaustive effort to repurpose the building.For a university that promotes its sustainability credentials, the intention to demolish surely undermines the credibility of its policy.See the Centenary Building in the AJ Buildings Library

The store in central Athens uses the faade of the 1960s building while looking to subvert typical over-glazed storefronts by having an irregularly shaped window within this, offering only a glimpse of the interior and intended to create a sense intrigue for passers-by.Surrounding this window, aluminium panels are embossed with a pattern reminiscent of the intricate detailing found on 19th-century jewellery boxes.Where the aluminium meets the street, the material shifts to solid slabs of travertine and marble, while the stores extruded aluminium door handle is folded and inlaid with gold alluding to the jewellery within.Advertisement Inside, the design and materials play with light and dark, smooth and textural, with silk wall coverings contrasting strongly with a dark oak floor.At the rear of the store, a new staircase, hidden behind a series of bevelled glass panels, takes clients up to a new mezzanine housing a jewellery salon and viewing room. Within the mezzanine, the palette is paler and brighter with white carpet and soft furnishings intended to encourage clients to relax.Display cases are formed from lacquered wooden boxes set on delicate legs, while at the rear of the store, a lacquered cabinet wraps a structural column. The largest piece of cabinetry, meanwhile, forms the window display, while other details include custom-designed fluted lighting sconces and a monolithic marble sink.Architects viewOur intention was to create a space that simultaneously feels like its brand new but also as if it has always existed on that street. The idea of a jewellery box that has been inserted on the ground floor of a 1970s block was what kickstarted the design-process. Then we wanted to use Greeces long-standing craft/making tradition by using local craftsmen and local materials to make sure the store is embedded in the Athenian urban fabric in a more substantial way. The interior was inspired by Nikos jewelry which tends to have an immense amount of detailing. The more you look at it, the more you discover and that was something we wanted to be part of the customer experience.Billy Mavropoulos, co-founder and director, Bureau de ChangeClients viewThe store design encapsulates the ethos of artistic aesthetic and intricate craftsmanship that defines the brand. My creative idiosyncrasy and personal affinity for an assemblage of art, furniture and objects from different eras has been translated in what is a unique architectural intervention in the historical centre of Athens.Nikos KoulisProject dataStart on site March 2024Completion date July 2024Gross internal floor area 54m2Gross (internal + external) floor area 54m2Form of contract or procurement route TraditionalConstruction cost UndisclosedConstruction cost per m2 UndisclosedArchitect Bureau de ChangeExecutive architect Stage Design OfficeClient Nikos KoulisStructural engineer Building TrustLighting consultant LUUNMetal fabricator Georgios MitrasMain contractor Building TrustCAD software used Autocad

Refinance rates were mixed, but one key rate climbed higher.

Last year, the path tolower mortgage ratesseemed relatively straightforward: Official inflation would go down, theFederal Reservewould cut interest rates and the cost of borrowing would gradually ease in 2025.But now, housing market experts aren't so certain."Mortgage rates are not going to come down as much as we had expected, and affordability will still be a challenge," said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at real estate agency Bright MLS.High mortgage rates aren't the only reason why homeownership has become a challenge. As mortgage rates soared in 2022, home prices hit record highs and an inventory shortage persisted.Though mortgage rates have fallen from their 8% peaks, the decline has been slow and gradual. Over the past 12 months, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fluctuated between 6.5% and 7.5%. Most housing economists had expected mortgage rates to drop to 6% by the end of 2024, moving into the mid-5% range in 2025. But mortgage rates recently jumped back up toward 7%.Now, forecasts show average 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovering around the mid-6% range for a while. Logan Mohtahsami, lead analyst at HousingWire, expects rates to range between 5.75% and 7.25% throughout the coming year.Many economists say President-elect Donald Trump'sproposed policies, which include tax cuts and sweeping tariffs, could stimulate demand, increase deficits and cause inflation to reheat. That could prompt the Fed to delay future rate reductions, keepingfinancing rates higher for longer.Trump promised that mortgage rates would return to their pandemic-era lows of around 3% under his administration, but that's unlikely to happen. Mortgage rates typically only fall that low during severe economic downturns. In fact, given the ongoing strength of the economy, the Federal Reserve isprojecting fewer interest rate cutsnext year.Even so, the Fed doesn't set mortgage rates directly, and neither does the White House lenders do. Mortgage interest rates are closely tied to the 10-year Treasury bond yield, and bond market investors drive yields higher or lower based on what they believe will happen in the future, not what's happening now."While there is uncertainty on the extent of the inflation impact of Trump's policies, higher inflation expectations tend to lead to higher bond yields and mortgage rates," saidBeth Ann Bovino, chief economist at U.S. Bank.How much can mortgage rates change in one year?Mortgage rates fluctuate daily, usually by just a few basis points (one basis point is equivalent to 0.01%). The mortgage market is also prone to volatility. Over the course of a year, mortgage rates can change a lot or not very much at all.Historically speaking, the biggest swings in mortgage rates were accompanied by economic catastrophes (e.g., surging inflation, the start of a recession, etc.) that drove bond yields significantly higher or lower for a sustained period of time.In 2022, for example, mortgage rates increased from around 3% to above 7% within the span of 10 months due to surging inflation and the Fed's aggressive rate hikes. That's a 4% difference in less than a year. Compare that to 2024: The difference between this year's peak (7.33%) and bottom (6.1%) is just over 1%.Mortgage rates might move in a similarly narrow range in 2025, particularly if economic growth remains steady and future data doesn't give investors cause for concern.But a new presidential administration, shifts in the geopolitical outlook and the potential for inflation to reignite all have the power to move mortgage rates by more than 1% in either direction, said Colin Roberston, founder of the housing market site The Truth About Mortgage.For example, in the dire scenario where the US moves toward a recession and inflation falls well below target, mortgage rates could get to the 4% range, according to Matt Graham of Mortgage News Daily. "In the opposite scenario, where the economy is strong, inflation persists and national deficits increase, mortgage rates could move toward or above 8%," Graham said. What could cause mortgage rates to increase in 2025?The same reason mortgage rates surged in 2022 is also what could cause them to increase next year: inflation.Inflation is a key measure of the health of the economy and influences the Fed's decision to adjust interest rates. It also impacts the bond market, where mortgage rates are determined. High inflation curtails investor demand for longer-term bonds, causing their prices to fall and mortgage rates to increase.Trump's proposals include a universal 20% tariff on all imports with a possible 60% tariff on imports from China. If implemented, these tariffs would be inflationary, as businesses are likely to pass those costs onto consumers and raise prices. Tax cuts could also decrease fiscal revenue and raise national deficits, resulting in higher long-term bond yields.The Fed has a 2% target rate for annual inflation. If the official inflation rate moves much higher than that in 2025, the central bank is less likely to enact interest rate cuts, which could put upward pressure on mortgage rates."At the most basic level, rates are always going to be influenced by the state of the economy and inflation," said Graham.What could cause mortgage rates to decrease in 2025?Lower mortgage rates next year are still possible, but a few conditions must be met first.Assuming Trump's policies don't supercharge inflation in 2025, it would take significantly weaker economic conditions (including a declining labor market) and a drop in 10-year Treasury yields to open the door to lower rates."If the unemployment rate rises or hiring slows considerably, then borrowing costs, including mortgage rates, could fall," said Sturtevant. The Fed typically responds to economic downturns by cutting interest rates, and banks and lenders typically pass along rate cuts to consumers in less expensive longer-term loans, including mortgages.In that case, 30-year fixed mortgage rates could fall just below 6%, Mohtashami said. But it's unlikely mortgage rates can move much lower than that unless new economic policies result in a meaningfully lower government debt deficit. What else is affecting the housing market in 2025?Even if average mortgage rates were to fall by 1% in 2025, it won't make homebuying affordable for most Americans, particularly low- and middle-income households.Since 2020, home prices have increased more than 40%. And while home price growth has since slowed, it's still up 5.1% on an annual basis. Prices are expected to increase by just under 2% in 2025, said Selma Hepp, chief economist at Core Logic.Part of the reason home prices are so high is that the housing market is short roughly one to four million houses. Over the last several years, new home construction has lagged due to rising construction costs and strict zoning regulations. When homebuying demand outweighs supply, prices go up.That applies to existing home inventory, as well. As most current homeowners have interest rates below 5%, they're less inclined to sell since it would mean buying a new home at a higher rate. Both the "rate-lock effect" and the lack of new housing construction have effectively frozen the housing market.While experts expect housing inventory to improve in 2025, it will take years to make up for the ground lost.Should you wait or buy a home in 2025?If you're one of the millions of would-be homeowners waiting for rates to drop, know that the macroeconomic issues plaguing the housing market today are out of your control. Only you can determine if you're financially ready to purchase a home and handle all its expenses. "In 2025, I would not focus on mortgage rates," said Jeb Smith, licensed real estate agent and member of CNET Money's expert review board. Smith recommends prioritizing things that can lower your individual mortgage rate, like saving for a bigger down payment and boosting your credit score.Instead of trying to time the real estate market, Smith said to focus on the factors you can actually control.More on today's housing market

There has been a flurry of Switch 2-related news in recent days, but not from Nintendo itself. Now, the Mario maker has broken its silence on the week's reports.During this week's CES trades show in Las Vegas, reportedly-accurate models of Nintendo's under-wraps Switch 2 were shown off by accessories manufacturer Genki. Several images and videos of this model were subsequently shared across social media (as you can see below). It is worth noting that Genki has since said its model was built based on leaked information from the industry, and it has not seen a Switch 2 console. Nintendo has now issued a statement to Japanese newspaper The Sankei Shimbun, telling the world that those images and videos making the rounds are "not official".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. 9 Video Games That Tried (And Will Hopefully Fail) To Predict 2025. Watch on YouTubeHere's the very to the point, translated statement from the article: "The images and videos, they are not official."While this statement is fairly innocuous in a lot of ways, and not exactly surprising given we already knew it was not Nintendo itself showcasing the hardware, this marks the first acknowledgement by the company that these leaks are even happening at all.Meanwhile, Nintendo has not actually said anything about the accuracy of the third-party Switch 2 model which has been shown. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.In addition to that mock Switch 2 model, yesterday we had some further console leaks. Purported retail listings for Switch 2 MicroSD Express cards started showing up. Meanwhile, another report suggested Nintendo's upcoming console won't be compatible with the Switch 1 dock. There were also some new murmurings over the Switch 2's optical sensor.Nintendo will be sharing something official on its Switch successor soon enough, though. It previously confirmed we would receive a proper announcement before the close of the fiscal year, which ends 31st March. What we do know for sure is that the new console will be backwards compatible with Switch 1 games.

Bald headed assassin simulator Hitman: World of Assassination has amassed an impressive body count of 75 million players. Read more