Meta will soon lay off more low-performers across the company, according to an internal memo from CEO Mark Zuckerberg that was shared by a source at the company.Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster, Zuckerberg says in the memo, which you can read in full below. We typically manage out people who arent meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now were going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle with the intention of backfilling these roles in 2025.While the exact number of job cuts is unclear, managers at Meta have been told that about 5 percent of employees will be let go starting February 10th. Bloomberg first reported on Zuckerbergs memo and the planned layoffs. Meta last laid off employees in October after cutting 21,000 workers between 2022 and 2023.Heres Zuckerbergs full memo to employees:Meta is working on building some of the most important technologies in the world Al, glasses as the next computing platform, and the future of social media. This is going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams.Ive decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster. We typically manage out people who arent meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now were going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle with the intention of backfilling these roles in 2025. We wont manage out everyone who didnt meet expectations for the last period if were optimistic about their future performance, and for those we do let go well provide generous severance in line with what weve provided with previous cuts.Well follow up with more guidance for managers ahead of calibrations. People who are impacted will be notified on February 10 or later for those outside the US.Letting people go is never easy. But Im confident this will strengthen our teams and help us build leading technology to enable the future of human connection.

Vamp TimeThe Blood of Dawnwalker - a new action RPG from former Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs - just got a slick cinematic reveal trailerVampires doing vampire stuff. You love to see it.Image credit: Rebel Wolves News by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Jan. 14, 2025 If you've been curious as to what the crew of former CD Projekt Red staff who left to form Rebel Wolves has been up to, you don't need to wait any longer. The Blood of Dawnwalker has been officially shown off properly, with a cinematic trailer as well as a a brief deep dive into what the game will actually play like during an official Twitch stream.You can watch the new trailer for yourself below. But in short, it establishes a cast of various vampires, all with different vampiric powers (it seems) murking soldiers who're about to kill a sick child. Proper grim dark fantasy stuff here. It seems that these vampires, though not exactly the nicest of people, are taking a more protagonisty role than you might assume. Indeed, the main character himself appears to be an undead menace. Exciting stuff. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Further details revealed in the livestream include the fact that this game will include an interesting 30-day "narrative sandbox". What this means is that as you complete quests, time will pass in-game and as such you'll have to carefully choose which tasks to complete. It'll also in theory add to replayability, though past research on other titles has shown that a fraction of total players actually finish games once. Maybe the team at Rebel Wolves is cooking up a special way to encourage more completionistic behavior.Rebel Wolves was founded back in February 2022, and as mentioned above it was founded by several former CD Projekt Red staff who worked on games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3. Since then, they've of course hired a lot of other devs from other studios as well as fresh newcomers to bring the studio's ambitions to life.There's still no release date for Blood of the Dawnwalker, but are you excited with what you've seen so far? Let us know below!

Alongside Amnesia: Rebirth and Amnesia: The Bunker.Abylight Studios has announced that it's bringing three of Frictional Games' horror titles to the Switch in 2025.SOMA, Amnesia Rebirth, and Amnesia: The Bunker will all be getting digital and physical releases later this year. This means all Amnesia games will at last be on Switch, alongside the critically acclaimed Soma.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

With CES 2025 finally in the rearview, its time to move on to the next round of big hardware announcements. Rumors have emerged over the last few weeks, pointing to an imminent announcement for the next-generation of Nintendos wildly successful hybrid Switch console.In particular, word from industry stalwart Eurogamer (among others) pegs a January 16 announcement that is to say, Thursday. If indeed the big reveal is coming this week, it points to a more incremental announcement. The company will likely dole information out one Nintendo Direct at a time rather than one, big keynote with specs, availability, and launch titles.We do know for certain that the company had its sights set on a Q1 announcement for the Switch 2 specifically, before the end of March 2025. One other key bit confirmed by Nintendo is the devices backward compatibility with its predecessor. Thats good news for the 150 million or so who purchased the first Switch.The biggest question at the moment is how large of an upgrade were ultimately talking about here. Nintendos console names have largely pointed to big departures for every subsequent generation. With few exceptions like the ill-fated Wii U things have been far less straightforward than, say, Sonys PlayStation.Its reasonable to expect that the Switch 2 will be an evolution of the existing product, rather than a meaningful departure. After all, Nintendo spent some time in the wilderness prior to the Switchs March 2017 launch. The convertible form factor and some truly excellent titles were precisely what the company needed to reestablish itself in a dramatically different gaming landscape after the Wii Us stumbles.Theres no doubt the new console will best the original specs, but its also important to temper expectations, given Nintendos history. The days of going toe-to-toe with competitors on elements like GPU are decades in the companys past.Other rumors are just that: magnetic Joy-Cons and a jump in screen size to 8 inches up from 6 on the classic Switch and 7 on the Switch OLED, which arrived toward the end of 2021. Between that console upgrade and the portable-only, budget-minded model that Nintendo introduced with the Switch Lite in 2019, there have been upgrades along the way.[Nintendo Switch 2 not pictured]

BASF | Forward AM, a prominent provider of 3D printing materials and solutions, has ceased its U.S. operations after five and a half years in the region. The transition was initially brought to light through a LinkedIn post by Strategic Sales Leader Jeremy Vos, who reflected on his tenure and shared insights about the companys future directions. Recent developments now include an official announcement from Forward AM outlining a new partnership designed to maintain robust service offerings for North American customers.While BASF began to exit the North American market for 3D printing, Forward AM sought ways to uphold its customer commitments. Its newly released official statement reveals a partnership with RP America, a distributor and service provider known for extensive technical expertise in the field of additive manufacturing. According to Forward AM, this strategic move aims to ensure ongoing product availability and on-site support for customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexicoeffectively bridging any gaps left by BASFs market exit.As BASF winds down its North American 3D printing operations, we are committed to ensuring continuity and excellence for our customers. Our partnership with RP America reflects our dedication to delivering not just the products, but the technical expertise and customer care that drive success in additive manufacturing, said Martin Back, CEO at Forward AM.BASF Forward AM logo. Image via BASF Forward AM.RP America, based in New Sharon, Iowa, brings over two decades of experience in additive manufacturing services and distribution. Known for its customer-centric approach, the company aims to help clients achieve production and innovation goals in a rapidly evolving 3D printing ecosystem. Its partnership with Forward AM integrates the latters advanced materials portfolio with hands-on, on-site engineering assistance and traininga blend both organizations believe will strengthen local additive manufacturing capabilities.We are thrilled to work alongside Forward AM as their master partner for North America. This partnership enables us to bring Forward AMs cutting-edge materials and solutions to North American industries, combining their world-class portfolio with our commitment to on-the-ground service and support, said Paul Anfinson, Executive Vice President of RP America.RP America Logo. Image via RP America.Legacy and Innovations in 3D PrintingOriginally founded in 2017 as a subsidiary of BASF, Forward AM was launched to expand the chemical giants role in the additive manufacturing space. Over time, Forward AM integrated BASFs 3D printing materials with the services of Sculpteo, shaping a comprehensive suite of additive manufacturing offerings. Sculpteo and Daniel Roberts 3D printed Orthosis. Images via Sculpteo. In 2020, the company introduced Ultrafuse 17-4 PHa hybrid filament allowing cost-effective metal 3D printing on FDM systems, broadening the scope of metal additive manufacturing. A year later, it collaborated with BigRep, a large-format 3D printer manufacturer, to develop a PET filament for concrete formwork, reducing construction times and costs for complex precast structures.The hand stop 3D printed with BASF Ultrafuse PP GF30 was modified to provide stability while aiming the rifle with a fractured hand. Photo via Zortrax.At Formnext 2023, Forward AM worked with Farsoon Technologies and Hyperganic to advance integrated solutions for 3D printing lattice structures, aiming to guarantee successful prints on the first attempt. In mid-2024, the organization underwent a management buy-out led by CEO Martin Back, enabling the company to operate independently under the Forward AM Technologies banner. A variety of 3D lattice structures produced with Ultrasint TPU 88A on Farsoon Plastic PBF system. Photo via Farsoon Technologies.Despite an impressive growth ratereportedly reaching 30% annually since 2022Forward AM experienced financial pressures in late 2024. These challenges led to an insolvency filing in Germany, prompting a court-appointed administrator to oversee restructuring efforts. While Forward AMs U.S. operations have ceased, the partnership with RP America reflects the companys proactive approach to sustaining a strong market presence and maintaining service delivery for North American clients.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.Featured image shows BASF | Forward AM logo. Image via BASF | Forward AM.

Hi there ! So here is my problem, im trying to recreate an effect, or more so adapt it as a 3D effectfrom an old 2D game!My issue is that depending on the proximity of the camera, the sprite resize itself which change totally how the VFX should be looking likeI dont know at all what is causing that and if its a material issue or a Niagara setting issue ?

The facade often serves as a buildings primary civic presence within a city. When AEC professionals design, develop, and deliver buildings, they are serving a client, however, the design of the exterior also impacts the public at large. Thus, facade design is critical to larger conversations about creating the space we share. In addition, the building envelope is at the forefront of the technological push to reduce carbon emissions. It is through the exterior membrane that the light, air, and energy within a building are controlled. For these reasons, a buildings facade communicates the values of the people that build them. It is in this spirit that The Architects Newspaper announces the inaugural The Faces of Our City awards program. Winners will be honored on Thursday, April 3 at the Metropolitan Pavilion following the Facades+ New York City conference. The award celebrates facade design, architectural excellence, and innovation in New York City, honoring the visionaries that shape our citys skyline and urban fabric.These awards recognize the brilliance and artistry of those who design and develop the faces of our city through facades, said Diana Darling, ANs cofounder and CEO. Our goal is to recognize the best in the facades industry and inspire future professional and projects in our community. The awards are divided into four categories: Project of the Year, Emerging Professional, Impact Award (Lifetime Achievement), and Product Innovator.Our esteemed jury of NYC AEC leaders consists of Christoph Timm of SOM; Tali Mejicovsky of Arup; Christine Dunn of Columbia University; Katherine Chan of Walter P Moore; Arthi Krishnamoorthy of TenBerke; Sameer Kumar of Techne; as well as Diana Darling, Jack Murphy, and Marty Wood of The Architects Newspaper.Submission to the awards program is free and open to the public. Click here to submit.Nominations will be open until February 4. More information about the award and the celebration can be found here.

Gorodenkoff - stock.adobe.comNewsDatacentre M&A deals reach record highs in 2024 fuelled by GenAI demandFigures from Synergy Research Group reveal impact that generative AI is having on datacentre M&A deal valuesByCaroline Donnelly,Senior Editor, UKPublished: 14 Jan 2025 12:42 Generative AI (GenAI) is being cited as the reason why the value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the global datacentre market hit a record high in 2024, with private equity firms responsible for the majority of the deals done.Figures released by Synergy Research Group show that a record-breaking $57bn of M&A deals were closed during 2024, which is up $5bn from the previous high recorded in 2022.That year, incidentally, was when two of the biggest M&A deals in the datacentre industrys history took place, which were each valued at more than $11bn.The four largest deals ever were each valued at $10bn or more and closed in 2021 and 2022, said Synergy, in a research note.These were the acquisitions of CyrusOne, Switch, CoreSite and QTS who all feature in the worldwide top 15 ranking of colocation operators.Where 2024 is concerned, the two biggest deals that closed during this 12-month period involved two separate equity investments in colocation provider Vantage Data Centers, which were collectively valued at $9.2bn.The company also, across additional deals, received $3.1bn in equity investment to support its operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.At the time of writing, Synergy said there is another $29bn of M&A deals that have been agreed, but not formally closed, as well as an additional possible $15bn in deals that could also come to fruition over the coming year.Synergy said it has tracked a total of 1,498 datacentre M&A deals since 2015 with an aggregate value of $300bn, with the majority of them involving a company acquisition of some kind.However, it also includes minority equity investments, joint ventures, acquisitions of individual datacentres, share sales and land purchases for datacentre developments in its M&A tally.Apart from the rapid rise in overall datacentre M&A activity over the 10-year period, the most notable feature has been the extent to which private equity has flooded into the market, said Synergy.In 2020, private equity accounted for 54% of the value of closed deals, rising to 65% in 2021, and since then it has remained in the 80-90% range.John Dinsdale, chief analyst at Synergy Research Group, said that, in previous years, much of the M&A activity seen within the datacentre market had been driving by the demand for cloud services, social networking sites and digital services aimed at consumers and enterprises.There is no end in sight to this trend, with generative AI technology and services adding a further boost to already strong demand, added Dinsdales.Specialist datacentre operators have either not been able or were not prepared to fund those investments themselves, while private equity investors have been more than willing to step in and fund growth initiatives. Looking at pending deals and the future pipeline, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that 2025 will be another boom year for data center M&A.This is the third in a series of pieces of research Synergy has published recently that pinpoint GenAI as having a transformative impact on the datacentre market.For instance, the organisation published figures last week that showed the average size of a hyperscale datacentre is increasing due to the compute-heavy demands of GenAI workloads.Its research also revealed that sales of datacentre hardware and software had hit record highs in 2024 because of operators rushing to kit out their facilities and make them AI-ready. Read more about genAI and datacentresThe UK government has unveiled its 50-point AI action plan, which has seen it commit to building out the countrys sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities and accelerating the pace of AI datacentre developments. But questions remain about the viability of these plans.Synergy Research Group data shows impact that generative AI demand will have on the number and size of hyperscale datacentres in operation around the world.In The Current Issue:Interview: Wendy Redshaw, chief digital information officer, NatWest Retail BankPreparing for AI regulation: The EU AI ActDownload Current Issue

I've seen the top TVs of 2024, but last year's Sony X90L remains my pick for the best quality TV for the price. Amazon and Best Buy have discounted almost every screen size as we head into 2025.

Update, Tuesday Jan 14, 2025: This article has been updated with additional details on Samsungs registration and trade-in offers for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+ and S25.Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy Unpacked 2024, London, United Kingdom EWAN SPENCESamsung has confirmed that the next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place later this month. There will, no doubt, be an intense focus on the second generation of Galaxy AI and a wide range of connected peripherals. Still, the communitys eyes will be on the new Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra.For those looking to purchase any of the new handsets, including the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra, there are several dates to be aware of to get the handset as quickly as possible and at a competitive price.Registering Interest In The Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung has already started the process for those interested. The company has opened a program allowing consumers to register their interest in Galaxy AI and the Galaxy S25 Ultra and offers a $50 voucher for additional eligible products. It has also emailed Samsung registered users a questionnaire with a $50 offer attached to it.Forbes contributor Janhoi McGregor has more details on both offers, but for those registering their interest, it has to be completed on or before Jan 21, the day before Galaxy Unpacked.MORE FOR YOUSamsung Galaxy RingEwan SpenceUpdate, Monday Jan 13, 2025: Samsung has confirmed several elements of the reservation process currently open to US consumers. In addition to the $50 credit towards the Galaxy S25 handsets, the South Korean company has stated that the trade-in values will be enhanced over the usual values, and offers could be as high as $900.Not every phone traded in will receive this much; youll need to hand in last years flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra. Older handsets, or handsets from other manufacturers, will be accepted but will not have as high an offer when traded in.Theres also a further offer of $300 credit for qualifying products, although it's unclear what these products will be. Several peripherals will undoubtedly be launched or updated during the Galaxy Unpacked eventthese will be part of the qualifying products. Id expect at least one Galaxy Wear smartwatch and Galaxy Buds true wireless earbuds to be included. Theres a strong chance that another product may be Samsungs Galaxy Ring.And if youre feeling lucky, theres a $5,000 Samsung credit voucher for one person who makes a reservation.The Galaxy Z Flip3 at the exhibition area of Samsung during the Mobile World Congress MWC 2022 ... [+] (Photo by Zheng Huansong/Xinhua via Getty Images)Xinhua News Agency via Getty ImagesUpdate, Tuesday Jan 14, 2025: Both the Galaxy S24 family and the folding Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold families launched in 2024 all heavily prompted the trade-in options and values. After all, the various different values can be qualified in the small print while the maximum discount can be placed on the retail ticket.Samsung has an additional option for consumers in its home country of South Korea, the Galaxy Easy Compensation program. Starting today (Jan 14, 2025) you can check the value of your phone online before sending it to Samsung. Once assessed and you accept, the value will be sent back to youCurrently, the program runs on Galaxy S models as far back as the Galaxy S20, and Galaxy Z models going as far back as Z Flip3 and ZFold 3. While it is limited to South Korea, Samsung has indicated it may expand to other unnamed territories in the future. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G smartphone, April 8, 2020 (Photo by Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images)VCG via Getty ImagesWhen Will Pre-Orders For The Galaxy S25 Ultra Open?During previous Galaxy Unpacked events that featured phone launches, Samsung opened pre-orders at the end of the event. With the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled to start on Jan 22 at 1300 Eastern / 1000 Pacific, pre-orders could be expected to open an hour or two after the start.Unlike previous years, there has been discussion that Samsung would delay the opening of the pre-order system from the Wednesday event to the morning of Friday, Jan 24. Its likely that, no matter the starting date, pre-orders will come to a close on Tuesday, Feb 4.The pre-order period will be important for another reason. Samsung typically offers some of its best deals to those who purchase a new Galaxy in the pre-order period. Last year saw several exclusive colors only available through Samsung.com, a free upgrade to the next tier of storage (so those buying the Galaxy S25 Ultra priced for the 512 GB model would receive the 1 TB storage model), and generous trade=ins on a wide range of smartphones both from Samsung and other manufactures including Google and Apple.When Will The Galaxy S25 Ultra Go On Sale?After registering your interest, watching the Galaxy Unpacked launch, and putting in your pre-order, deliveries of the Galaxy S25 Ultra will line up with its retail availability. This is expected to start on Friday, Feb 7, when deliveries should arrive to those who have pre-ordered.Now read more about the features that will help sell the Galaxy S25 Ultra