Smoke rises during a fire at Vistra Energys Moss Landing battery storage facility in California on 17 JanuaryBloomberg / Getty ImagesA fire at the worlds largest battery storage plant in California destroyed 300 megawatts of energy storage, forced 1200 area residents to evacuate and released smoke plumes that could pose a health threat to humans and wildlife. The incident knocked out 2 per cent of Californias energy storage capacity, which the state relies on as part of its transition to use more renewable power and less fossil fuels.The fire started the afternoon of 16 January, burning through a concrete building full of lithium batteries at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Monterey county, California. Other buildings on the site, including more battery storage facilities and a natural gas plant, were not affected. By the morning of 17 January, local officials reported minimal flames and smoke. AdvertisementThis is really a lot more than a fire, its a wake-up call for this industry, said Glenn Church, a member of Monterey countys board of supervisors, during a press conference. If were going to be moving forward with sustainable energy, we need a safe battery system in place. After the press conference on the morning of 17 January, the blaze flared up again that afternoon, leading to an extension of the evacuation order.Because lithium fires burn at high temperatures and emit toxic substances such as hydrogen fluoride, firefighters let this type of blaze burn itself out rather than engaging with it directly. There have been no reports of injuries associated with the fire, and air monitor systems did not detect any signs of hydrogen fluoride. But the smoke plumes from the fire are likely to have contained heavy metals and PFAS, better known as forever chemicals, says Dustin Mulvaney at San Jose State University in California.Local officials are currently advising residents of Monterey county to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed. Inhaled heavy metals and PFAS could pose a health risk to area residents and farm workers. These substances could also impact wildlife such as the sea otters that live in the wetlands of the nearby Elkhorn Slough salt marsh, says Mulvaney. Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox.Sign up to newsletterThe destroyed building was one of two Moss Landing battery facilities owned by the Texas-based company Vistra Energy. Its facilities previously experienced less serious incidents that involved overheating batteries and malfunctions in the fire suppression system. But the facility that went up in flames this week has a water-based suppression system and it is unclear why it failed, said Vistra Energy officials during the press conference. They are still investigating the root cause of the fire.Despite this incident, utility-scale battery systems for electricity grids have experienced a 97 per cent drop in failures worldwide which are often fire-related between 2018 and 2023, according to a report by the Electric Power Research Institute, a non-profit organisation based in Washington DC.This massivedecrease has been observed in spite of the fact that deployments of utility-scale storage continue to increase at high rates, says Maria Chavez at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Battery storage systems are designed with multiple levels of safety features that aim to prevent and mitigate issues like fire risk unfortunately, accidents like the one at Moss Landing facility can still occur.California is also better prepared than most US states to respond to such incidents: it has a state law requiring local governments to develop emergency response plans with battery developers, says Mulvaney. He described the need to learn from events like this in designing future battery storage systems.But the loss of most or all of the 300-megawatt facility at Moss Landing will put a serious dent in Vistra Energys overall 750-megawatt on-site energy storage capacity, and Californias total 13,300-megawatt energy storage capacity.Moss Landing has been serving the states electricity grid by storing renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels such as natural gas plants, says Mulvaney. Reconstruction and building back battery capacity could take several years a big ask, considering California is already facing the need for extensive rebuilding elsewhere due to the Los Angeles wildfires.We cant have battery fires like this, says Mulvaney. We cant lose 300 megawatts of batteries overnight like this.Topics:

TikTok may go dark Sunday unless Biden ensures the ban won't be enforced.The Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok's US operations to be sold by Jan. 19 or face a ban.Biden's administration doesn't plan to enforce the ban before Trump takes office.TikTok said Friday it will be forced to go dark on Sunday, the day the ban of the platform is set to take effect, unless the Biden administration takes further action to ensure it will not be enforced."The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans," TikTok said in a statement posted on X."Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19," the statement continued.The statementcame after the Supreme Court earlier on Friday upheld the law banningTikTok.The law, which was passed by Congress and signed by Biden last spring, required TikTok to be banned unless ByteDance, its China-based parent company, sells the app's US operations by January 19.The law specifically bans US app stores, like Apple's and Google's, from carrying or updating the app. Companies that violate the law could face fines of up to $5,000 per user who accesses TikTok.The Biden administration said this week it does not plan to enforce the ban given that it is set to set effect one day before President Joe Biden leaves office and President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in."President Biden's position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President's desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.The Justice Department issued a statement on Friday in support of the Supreme Court's decision, adding:"The next phase of this effort implementing and ensuring compliance with the law after it goes into effect on January 19 will be a process that plays out over time."Trump has said he does not support banning TikTok and will work on finding a solution.TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in a video earlier on Friday thanked Trump for his commitment to working on saving the app.

I think I know the secret behind Mario Kart 9 on Nintendo Switch 2 Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished January 18, 2025 1:00am Mario Kart 9 is going to be something very different (YouTube)A reader examines the footage so far for Mario Kart 9 and thinks hes worked out several new features not yet announced by Nintendo.We might have only got one game reveal in the Nintendo Switch 2 unveiling but, as has been already pointed out, the few seconds of Mario Kart 9 that we did get is a lot more than it first seems. Not only does it seem to confirm 24-player online action, which is going to be insane, but theres clearly some kind of open world element going on.You dont notice at first but theres no actual track. The race starts off with a dead end to the road they start on, then they all immediately go off-road and then down what looks like a long highway that disappears off into the distance. At no point is there a track and definitely nothing that looks like its going to loop round in laps.That is a pretty major change for Mario Kart. I dont know whether thats the main mode or only online or something, but it looks to me that youre making the course up yourself as you go along, kind of like the Dakar Rally. First of all, I think thats a genius idea, but I also dont think thats the only innovation at play.Who knows how big the actual map is youre racing around in, but you can see lots of dirt paths in the footage and a very big and obvious roadside convenience. I think that not only are you going to be making your own path through the game but youre going to be picking up fuel as you go as well.I dont know what happens when you run out, maybe Lakitu lends you a petrol can or something, but I do believe that everything that you can see in the footage is very purposefully chosen as a clue as to what the new game is about.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5videoUp NextHowever, I believe theres more secrets theyre purposefully not revealing. One obvious one is non-Mario characters. Mario Kart 8 had quite a lot already, so I see no way that the new game wont as well, considering it supports much more human players at once. And Im all for turning it into a full-on Smash Bros. racing game.We can go deeper though, because if Mario Kart 9 is a launch game, then Nintendo is going to want it to show off as many of its features as possible. The Joy-Cons working as mice is a big one, but no one wants to control a car with a mouse, so what else could that feature be used for?I think its obvious: a map creator. Its never really been practical for Mario Kart before but now, with PC style controls, itd be super easy to scribble your own course and turn it into something you can drive on. The mouse would make it easy to add smaller details and Im sure Nintendo could just adapt the software they already use and put it in the game.Ill go further though and imagine that creating your own course is probably part of the main gameplay, so youd have a big map of the area and draw on that the route you want to take and then it could appear in-game as a path to follow. Doesnt that sound great?More TrendingIm going to be really disappointed if thats not what happens, but Im convinced that at least some version of what Im talking about is going to happen and I cannot wait to get my hands on the game. Roll on April 2!By reader Pinky 24-player online is a big change for a start (YouTube)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Lets take a quick international trip to see the latest at Tokyo Disneyland, which gets an adorable Marvel overlay at its Its a Small World attraction. Stateside, its festival season at Walt Disney World with the opening of pop culture fan favorite Festival of the Arts at Epcot; over at Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain celebrates 50 years. At Universal Studios Orlando, the Wicked craze continues with a new look at its official shop, and the Stella Nova hotel prepares to host its first guests as the countdown to Epic Universe begins in earnest. On the West Coast, things are quieter as Southern California rises to overcome the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires. Due to its location, Disneyland was able to remain open as people evacuated to Anaheim. Universal Studios Hollywood closed briefly but opened its doors once the fires moved away from the Studio City area, although caution should still be taken if youre planning a visit (definitely keep an eye on various air quality index readings). To help Los Angeles heal, the movie town is inviting Angelenos to the theater for a series of free screenings in support of evacuees. Disney Studios, Paramount, the Academy Museum, and revival theaters are providing cinematic escapes at no charge for family films, and some theaters are donating a percentage of proceeds from other film screenings held in addition to ongoing donation drives. For a full list on how to help out those in Los Angeles check out this post from the Blacklist. Tokyo Disneyland Its a Small World with Groot Take a break from the state of well everything with this POV ride-through of Tokyo Disneylands Groot takeover featuring some of his Marvel friends.Turning Red returns for Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort Mulan, Mushu, and the characters of Turning Red return to Disney California Adventure for the Lunar New Year festivities beginning this weekend and going until February 16.Epcots International Festival of the Arts Incredible Disney fandom art will be making its debut at the International Festival of the Arts beginning this week and going until February 24. Disney Wonderground Artists including Yesenia Moises (IG: @YeseniaDraws), Dylan Bonner (IG: @DylanBonner90), Ryan Riller (IG: @RyanRiller_), Ashley Taylor (IG: @Ashley24Taylor), Steph Laberis (IG: @steph_laberis), and more will be debuting art that will be available first at the fest and later on at all Disney Parks art shoppes.Magic Kingdom Happy 50th Birthday Space Mountain The iconic attraction turned 50 this week. Road to Epic Universe Stella Nova Hotel Universal Studios Florida New looks at the sleek science-fiction future-inspired hotel have been revealed; the accommodations fit in the celestial theme of Epic Universe. This room gives spaceship cruise vibes. Book here.Wicked immersive shopping experience at Universal Studios Florida See props from the film and get the latest merch inspired by Wicked. Alas, Glinda and Elphaba meet and greets are no more. We need them back! LA Fires Relief The Academy Museum Heres a link to tickets for the Academy Museums slate of free family films.LA Fires Relief Vidiots x Neon For more information visit here.LA Fires Relief The American Cinematheque For the remainder of 2025, the American Cinematheque will donate $0.50 per each online ticket purchased for screenings at the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres to the Motion Picture Television Fund and the California Fire Foundation.Free movie listings here. LA Fire Relief Disney Screenings at the historic El Capitan theater More info here. LA Fire Relief Paramount Pictures x AMC Theaters Sonic 3 screenings More info here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Seoul Robot & AI Museum / Melike Altnk ArchitectsSave this picture! Namsun Lee, MAAMuseumSeoul, South KoreaArchitects: Melike Altnk ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:7400 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Namsun Lee, MAAManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: ELEVATE Architect of Record: MAA-MELIKE ALTINISIK ARCHITECTS + WITHWORKS Architects & Engineers More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!MAA-MELIKE ALTINISIK ARCHITECTS's international competition-winning project 'Seoul Robot & AI Museum' (RAIM) has officially opened to the public in Seoul, South Korea. World's first pioneer Robot & AI Museum, RAIM emerges as a pioneering cultural landmark that will serve as a base for the 4th industrial revolution in the northeastern part of Seoul. The project realized in collaboration between MAA and Withworks from 2019 to 2024, exemplifies cutting-edge architectural and construction methodologies.Save this picture!Save this picture!Architectural Vision and Design Manifesto -MAA's architectural manifesto for RAIM articulates a distinctive design language that leverages smart design and construction methodologies to create an immersive universe for robots, AI technologies, and visitors. The museum's spherical, non-directional form is characterized by fluid, organic shapes that resonate with the advanced technologies housed within. This dialogue between contemporary architectural expression and technological innovation forms the foundation of RAIM's design philosophy.The architectural form of RAIM is not merely an envelope but an integral part of the museum's narrative, reflecting the fluidity and dynamism of the AI and robotics fields. The building's design fosters an ongoing interaction between its innovative form and the groundbreaking technologies it showcases.Save this picture!RAIM as a Catalyst for Innovation -RAIM is envisioned as a catalyst for the advancement and dissemination of science, technology, and innovation. It aims to contribute significantly to the development of Seoul's AI industry ecosystem by inspiring and engaging the community. The museum is strategically positioned to connect researchers from nearby universities, research institutes, and corporations with the public, offering a space for exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and educational programs focused on robotics and AI. This integration of academia, industry, and public engagement positions RAIM as a pivotal node in the regional science and culture network.Planned exhibitions and collaborations with adjacent cultural and entrepreneurial facilitiessuch as 'Chang-dong Aurene,' the 'Seoul Museum of Photography,' and the 'Startup and Cultural Industrial Complex'will further embed RAIM within the local cultural fabric. These initiatives are expected to invigorate the local economy and contribute to the cultural renaissance of the Chang-dong Sanggye area.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!RAIM as a Dynamic Architectural Medium - Melike Altnk , the design principal of MAA, describes RAIM as a living exhibition, where the architecture embodies the very smart technologies it exhibits. The museum is not merely a space for displaying robots; it integrates smart technologies from design and construction through to operation, making it a seamless part of the technological narrative it presents.Save this picture!Visitor Experience and Spatial Dynamics -The visitor experience at RAIM begins at the entrance, where welcoming robots introduce the journey. The ground floor, with its reception, ticket halls, caf, and shop, establishes a fluid interaction between the exterior public realm and the interior spaces. At the heart of the museum, the vertical exhibition tunnel dissolves the boundary between the tangible world and the realm of robotics and AI, leading visitors to permanent and temporary exhibitions on the upper floors. Educational and administrative facilities are located on the 2nd floor. There are also 2 Basement levels with car parks and technical service facilities. This spatial design is intended to evoke a sense of exploration and discovery, guiding visitors through a narrative of scientific and technological progress.Save this picture!Innovative Construction and Architectural Technologies - RAIM's construction reflects the integration of advanced architectural technologies aligned with the 4th Industrial Revolution. The museum was constructed using smart building techniques, with Building Information Modeling (BIM) ensuring precision in both design and construction. The process employed Off-Site Construction (OSC) methods, which allowed for the efficient and high-quality realization of the museum's complex, non-linear forms.The process of implementing the non-directional spherical exterior, the fluid-like gate, the escalator tunnel that seems to guide you into an unknown world, and the numerous non-linear RAIM shapes applied here and there onto the ground through innovative 4th industrial revolution technologies has become the beginning of RAIM's symbolic exhibition.Save this picture!Save this picture!The exterior's fluid, spherical design was achieved using a combination of digital fabrication and reverse engineering. The construction process involved laser CNC machining and robot welding, ensuring minimal errors and high precision in the execution of the intricate faade. The museum's central vertical exhibition tunnel, a key architectural feature, was constructed using advanced technologies typically reserved for aerospace and marine industries, further emphasizing the innovative approach taken throughout the project.Save this picture!RAIM: A Landmark of the Future -RAIM is more than a museum; it is a symbol of the future of architecture, science, and technology in Korea. It embodies the potential of robotics and AI to redefine our built environment, serving as a landmark for Korea's 4th Industrial Revolution.It stands as a testament to the fusion of advanced architectural practices and cutting-edge technology, marking a new era in museum design and cultural engagement. Through its smart design and construction, RAIM not only showcases the future but actively participates in its creation, making it a pivotal institution in the ongoing evolution of architecture, science, and technology.As an architectural and cultural icon, RAIM will play a critical role in shaping the discourse around the integration of smart technologies into our daily lives, offering a space for reflection on the ethical and humanistic implications of these advancements.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Seoul, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on January 18, 2025Cite: "Seoul Robot & AI Museum / Melike Altnk Architects" 17 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1022554/seoul-robot-and-ai-museum-melike-altinisik-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / Melike Altnk ArchitectsYou've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

links:Easy Parallax: https://blendermarket.com/products/easy-parallax?ref=311 Liquid Splash: https://blendermarket.com/products/liquid-splash-water?ref=311 Librx: https://blendermarket.com/products/librx?ref=311 Easy Gobo Lights: https://blendermarket.com/products/easy-gobo-lights?ref=311 Pattern Collection 400+: https://blendermarket.com/products/pattern-collection?ref=311 Stylized Cloud Generator: https://blendermarket.com/products/stylized-cloud-generator?ref=311 Stylized Tree Asset Generator: https://blendermarket.com/products/stylized-tree-generator?ref=311 Detail Fx Roughness Imperfection Textures Library: https://blendermarket.com/products/detail-fx?ref=311 Humanpro: https://blendermarket.com/products/humanpro?ref=311 Trash It!: https://blendermarket.com/products/trash-it?ref=311

Nature, Published online: 15 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08418-5Ancient genome-wide data of 722 individuals and interdisciplinary analysis of large seventh- to eighth-century ce neighbouring cemeteries near Vienna are used to address the impact of the encounter between Eastern Asian Avars and Europeans.

2025 promises to be a big year for role-playing games. Some of the most popular and beloved RPG series are slated to receive new entries, alongside remakes of all-time classics, and promising new ideas that could blossom into franchises of their own. RPGs have become an especially flexible genre in recent years, encompassing a wide range of stories and mechanics. That means that whether you're looking for a swords-and-sorcery epic, a far-flung future in space, or even just the ability to set up shop and live in a fantasy world, there's something for you to enjoy this year.This year's slate of RPGs comes at an interesting time for the industry, as well. Nintendo is preparing to launch the Switch 2, which will provide a new portable-hybrid home for games that may not have run well on the older Switch. The Steam Deck and other portable PCs are looking to directly compete with the Switch functionality and form. And Microsoft and Sony, on their own console platforms, are increasingly making their games more available--Sony is frequently porting its games to PC while Microsoft is allowing its own to arrive on both PC and PlayStation. That could impact some of our most anticipated RPGs by giving us a huge variety of options when it comes to where and how we play our games.For even more of this year's anticipated releases, check out our 2025 release dates list and mark your calendars for the year ahead. It's going to be a big one. And be sure to check out our picks for the best RPGs to play right now for even more recommendations. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2Developer: Warhorse StudiosPlatforms: PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: February 4, 2025As a direct sequel to the cult hit Kingdom Come: Deliverance, KCD2 takes place just after the first game and puts you in the shoes of Henry, the son of a blacksmith living in the 1400s. You'll need to learn the tools of war while also carefully navigating your character's standing in the community. See at Amazon AvowedDeveloper: Obsidian EntertainmentPlatforms: PC, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: February 18, 2025Obsidian just keeps producing interesting projects, from the traditional first-person RPG The Outer Worlds to the survival-crafting game Grounded and the narrative adventure Pentiment. Avowed is its take on a high-fantasy world, mixing spellcasting and firearms in the Pillars of Eternity setting, Eora. The studio has a knack for crafting detailed settings, so this is one to watch. See at Amazon Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiDeveloper: Ryu Ga Gotoku StudioPlatforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: February 21, 2025After Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth moved its central location to Hawaii, along comes Goro Majima to loot and plunder. Majima will lead a pirate crew across tropical islands searching for his own treasure, with a concept so wild that Sega has had to confirm that it takes place in Yakuza canon. See at Amazon Monster Hunter WildsDeveloper: CapcomPlatforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: February 28, 2025The next game in the wildly popular Monster Hunter series promises a whole new batch of magnificent and deadly beasts to hunt in a deadly new world. This time you'll be assisted by a new mount called a Seikret, which can also be ridden while in combat. See at Amazon Suikoden I and II RemasterDeveloper: KonamiPlatforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: March 6, 2025The influential Suikoden games are finally getting their own modern re-releases, with a remastered package that includes the first two games together. These games are known for their massive party-building and replay value, and the remastered versions include upgraded visuals and sound effects, a battle fast-forward, and auto-save features. See at Amazon Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive EditionDeveloper: Monolith SoftPlatforms: Nintendo SwitchRelease Date: March 20, 2025Ten years after its original release, Xenoblade Chronicles X is getting an expanded remaster on Nintendo Switch. The massive open-world RPG in the land of Mira is getting visual enhancements and new story elements. See on Nintendo Store AtomfallDeveloper: Rebellion DevelopmentsPlatforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XRelease Date: March 27, 2025This survival RPG from the studio behind the Sniper Elite series asks the question, "What if England were an irradiated wasteland?" Or perhaps, "What if the Sniper Elite team made a Fallout game?" The first-person wasteland invites easy comparison, but we're very curious to see the talented team at Rebellion tackle a post-apocalyptic setting. See at Amazon Lunar Remastered CollectionDeveloper: Game ArtsPlatforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox OneRelease Date: April 18, 2025A remaster of the renowned Sega CD RPGs Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete are coming this year, making it easier than ever to play these classics. The remastered collection will let you choose between a classic and remastered presentation, features upscaled anime cutscenes, and will pack some quality-of-life features to help speed along the gameplay for modern audiences. See at Steam Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals TimeDeveloper: Level 5 ComceptPlatforms: Nintendo SwitchRelease Date: April 2025While all eyes are on the impending Switch 2, Nintendo is still getting a little more juice out of the original. This sequel to Fantasy Life doubles down on the life-sim aspect, letting you play a wide variety of jobs as you uncover the mystery of an island trapped in a time paradox. Dragon Quest I and II HD RemakeDeveloper: Square EnixPlatforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: 2025A set of remasters of the classic Dragon Quest series went slightly out of order--Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake was released last year--but this collection of two games would complete the original three games. The classics are being given the same HD-2D treatment, making them look nicer than ever, and we can probably expect similar quality-of-life updates. See at Steam Elden Ring NightreignDeveloper: FromSoftwarePlatforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: 2025One of the biggest surprises at The Game Awards, Elden Ring Nightreign isn't quite a full-fledged sequel to the excellent first game, but it should scratch the itch of fans regardless. This one is co-op focused, having you form teams of three to take on the encroaching threats of creeping night. See at Fanatical FableDeveloper: Playground GamesPlatforms: PC, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: 2025A new entry in the Fable series from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games has been teased since 2023, but the release seems to be getting closer. We've seen some trailers that set a whimsical, comical mood alongside some snippets of gameplay, but this may be the year we finally take the wraps off of the long-awaited return to Albion. See at Steam The Outer Worlds 2Developer: Obsidian EntertainmentPlatforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: 2025Obsidian's debut game under Microsoft was a throwback to its famous work on the Fallout series, but with a cheeky "unchecked capitalism in space" tone. The Outer Worlds 2 promises a new story and new crew, with the same comedic tone. This time you're an Earth Directorate agent looking to uncover the source of deadly rifts. Hijinks ensue. See at Steam Pokemon Legends Z-ADeveloper: Game FreakPlatforms: Nintendo SwitchRelease Date: 2025The first Pokemon Legends took us all the way back to the Sinnoh region, before it was even called Sinnoh, and introduced some creative open-world mechanics unique to the series. The follow-up, Pokemon Legends Z-A, appears to take place in Lumiose City of the Kalos region, but we know almost nothing about how it will iterate on its predecessor's open-world mechanics. Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2Developer: The Chinese RoomPlatforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: 2025The long-awaited Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is just around the corner, finally letting players explore modern-day Seattle as a bloodsucker, choosing from several unique clans to represent which type of vampire you want to be. You'll need to feed while also building your influence over the city. See at Amazon Borderlands 4Developer: Gearbox SoftwarePlatforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: TBAThe massively popular looter-shooter returns with a fresh batch of Vault Hunters ready to crack open chests full of guns and probably save the universe in the process. Gearbox hasn't given us much detail on the next numbered entry in the franchise, but we wouldn't be surprised if it's ready to hit this year. See at Steam Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of FateDeveloper: Square EnixPlatforms: TBARelease Date: TBAFollowing the DQ I and II HD remakes, the next big game in the Dragon Quest series has been announced. Not much is known yet about Dragon Quest XII, but it's long been in development, so Square Enix could be preparing to show more this year. Moonlighter 2: The Endless VaultDeveloper: Digital SunPlatforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|SRelease Date: TBAMoonlighter was a surprise hit, combining roguelike dungeon crawling with managing a shop stocked with the wares you find while exploring. Moonlighter 2 appears to be an even more expansive world to explore, this time rendered in 3D with an isometric perspective. See at Steam Rune Factory: Guardians of AzumaDeveloper: MarvelousPlatforms: PC, Nintendo SwitchRelease Date: TBAThe next game in the Rune Factory series will once again let you farm the land to produce crops while exploring a deep dungeon-crawling experience. This time you're an Earth Dancer who uses magical treasures as well as your own innate magic dancing ability to purify the land and tend to your farms. See at Amazon

While the center position saw a fall out of popularity for a long time in the NBA, this has reversed course in recent years as players like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have come to dominate the game. For players creating their ideal center in the MyCareer mode of NBA 2K25, it isn't going to be realistic to assume they can make up the last three MVP awards as soon as they start out, but it's not impossible for them to achieve that after a little bit of time.