[As] the former head of the federal emergency management agency, Craig Fugate, has said: A house that gets destroyed is not an affordable home. Its not a sustainable one either. The city needs greater urban density, not more firebelt bungalows. Ironically, it might be the inability of the insurance industry to pay up that finally forces LA to change.Oliver Wainwright takes the adage "Build up, not out" as his clarion call for rebuilding Los Angeles County in the wake of the (still ongoing) urban wildfires that have also sidelined many other critics of its present urban stasis, which was not addressed at all in the directive Mayor Karen Bass proffered yesterday only a week after the crisis began.The recent "exclusionary" decisionto restrictmost new developments to already high-density zoned neighborhoods, which account for just 28% of the city, hangs in the background here.

Developer The Farm 51 has kicked off the Kickstarter campaign to help crowdfund the development of the follow up to its survival horror RPG Chernobylite. Dubbed Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone, the game will have a host of new features, including the addition of a first-person view.In a statement about why the studio went with Kickstarter to fund the games development, the studio explained that player feedback was valuable, and a major reason for bringing the ability to switch between first-person and third-person cameras.The studio had originally planned to design Chernobylite 2 as more of an RPG than its predecessor, and less like other first-person shooters.The reason why its not here already is simple, wrote the studio. In the beginning, we decided to focus on RPG-like gameplay and avoid being constantly confused with first-person shooters, which Chernobylite is not at all.Wed like to ask you to join our new Kickstarter campaign in the one but very important goal: to give us the ability to implement the FPP combat system that many of you would love to play, the studio continued. First, by confirming that its something you really want, then by helping us to fund the extra costs of additional work, and finally, by giving us feedback on how do you feel the new feature works before the game is fully completed and shipped to the masses.Since the studio wants players to provide more active feedback, those who contribute to the games Kickstarter campaign will also get access to the games closed beta and Early Access releases before its full release on Steam.Among the features coming to Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone is the addition of planewalking, which essentially allows players to change their characters skill set and equipment on the fly. This will allow players to take on a wider range of challenges, and be prepared for more situations than a single build would allow.The game will also feature base-building, along with allowing the denizens of this base to be assigned to specific tasks, as well as various factions that players can interact with, and depending on their actions and reactions, potentially fight against.Interestingly, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone will also feature a form of co-operative multiplayer. While details on this havent yet been revealed, the games single-player campaign will also include co-operative missions.With the Kickstarter campaign, The Farm 51 has set a crowdfunding goal of $97,741. At the time of writing, the campaign has almost met this goal, and is sitting at $73,728 with 872 backers. There is still plenty of time left for the Kickstarter, with 28 more days left to go.Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone doesnt yet have a release date aside from a 2025 window. The game is being developed for PC and consoles.

Archaeologists unearthedroughly 1,500 decorated stone blocks that once made up part of Hatshepsut's valley temple. Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty ImagesAncient Egypt was primarily ruled by men, with only a handful of women successfully coming to power. One of them was Hatshepsut, the sixth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, who reigned during the 15th century B.C.E.Hatshepsut was by far the most successful woman to rule Egypt as pharaoh, as Smithsonian magazines Elizabeth B. Wilson wrote in 2006. She insisted on being portrayed with male features, including the broad, bare chest of a man and the pharaonic false beard, though scholars dont know exactly why. Another mystery: After Hatshepsuts death around 1458 B.C.E., many of her monuments and statues were destroyed or defaced.Now, archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed roughly 1,500 stone blocks that once made up part of Hatshepsut's valley temple, which is located near her funerary temple in the city of Luxor. The blocks are decorated with colorful scenes and likely made up the temples foundation wall, reports Reuters Sayed Sheasha.These remarkable blocks retain their vivid colors and offer a glimpse into the artistry of the period, says Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities, in a statement.Archaeologists also found a variety of tools, including chisels, a wooden hammer, an adz and a wooden cast for making mud bricks, according to Live Sciences Owen Jarus. They think these items were buried as the temple was being built. Over the past three years, archaeologists have made several discoveries while excavating the area around Hatshepsut's valley temple in Luxor. Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty ImagesExcavations also revealed a limestone tablet featuring the name Senmut, who was Hatshepsut's architect and managed the temples construction, per Reuters.Experts are still in the process of studying the artifacts, which they hope will offer new insights into the life and legacy of Hatshepsut.For me, the most important is the discovery of the blocks from the valley temple of Hatshepsut, Aidan Dodson, an Egyptologist at the University of Bristol who was not involved with the research, tells Live Science. Her main temple has been extensively excavated and studied since the mid-19th century, [but] the valley temple was only briefly examined by Howard Carter some 120 years ago.During their three-year excavation on the western bank of the Nile River, archaeologists also found burial shafts and pits that held wooden coffins dating back to between 1580 and 1550 B.C.E., reports theAssociated Press. One of the coffins contained the remains of a young child, who was likely buried roughly 3,600 years ago. Additionally, they found weapons that may have been used to battle the Hyksos, a group that invaded parts of ancient Egypt.Researchers also unearthed the tomb of Djehuty Mes, who was an overseer of the palace of Queen Tetisheri. Queen Tetisheris grandson, Ahmose I, expelled the Hyksos in the 16th century B.C.E. Live Science reports that archaeologists found several artifacts inside the tomb, including a limestone offering table, a commemorative stone slab and a cosmetics vessel.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Artifacts, Cool Finds, Egypt, History, New Research, Queens, Women's History

A brief snippet of today's Nintendo Switch 2 reveal may have hinted toward additional uses of the hardware.Read More

Report: 77% of devs expect games industry to grow in 202590% of studios plan to release at least one new game this year, according to game backend provider Metaplay News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 16, 2025 77% of game developers expect industry growth in 2025, with 90% of studios planning to release at least one new title.This is according to Metaplay's Game Development Renaissance report, which surveyed 150 senior Unity developers in the UK and US conducted by independent market research firm Atomik Research.According to the report, most respondents were optimistic about industry growth this year. Over two-thirds of developers expected fewer layoffs and studio closures, and around three-quarters predicted more acquisitions and exits.Looking at funding, 77% anticipate more availability for funding new studios due to an increase in crowdfunding, angel investors, and community-backed investments. According to Metaplay, this allows "for more creative control, flexibility, and early community support."63% of those surveyed also expect game development costs to be lower this year due to the use of technology rooted in artificial intelligence.Elsewhere in the report, more than one in three developers view cross-platform capability as an important factor in shipping live service games, with 71% expecting demand for cross-play to increase.Speaking of live service games, 76% of respondents expect this segment to boost revenue, with 38% suggesting that "regular content and updates" are significant factors when shipping a successful live ops title."Our findings have shown that live ops, cross-platform development, and external technology are at the heart of the game development renaissance," said Metaplay co-founder and CPO Teemu Haila."It represents an era where studios no longer have to rely on raw headcount to achieve growth. Instead, growth is achieved through smarter tooling, leaner teams, and sharper strategy."

You can always count on Nintendo for a surprise. This is the company that followed the Game Boy with a strange dual-screened handheld and broke out of its GameCube slump with a console focused on motion controls. Its the company that lost its lead with the Wii U and then gambled on another innovation the portable hybrid known as the Switch to ultimately get back on top. All of those were big, risky swings that seemingly exemplified the companys playful, experimental ethos.The Switch 2, on the other hand, is a bigger, better Switch. Its kind of boring. But its also exactly the right move from Nintendo. At a time when people expect their games and experiences to carry over between devices, the old console paradigm of starting over with a new generation doesnt make a whole lot of sense. And since Nintendo hit a home run with the original Switch, it has the runway to be a little bit boring this time.Todays reveal video didnt detail a whole lot about the Switch 2 in terms of specs, but there are still some clear improvements over the original, like the bigger display (though we dont know the exact screen size) and redesigned Joy-Con controllers. More details are coming at an event in April.RelatedIt seems like a series of notable upgrades, potentially worthy of being a long-awaited follow-up to one of the bestselling consoles of all time. At the same time, these changes dont fundamentally alter the Switch experience. The Switch 2 is still a tablet with detachable controllers, one you can either play as a portable or connect to your TV for a more console-like experience. It still plays (most of) your old Switch games, and your Switch Online subscription will carry over between devices.The original Switch. Photo by James Bareham / The VergeReally, the form factor of the Switch didnt need changing. Its clear consumers loved it; Nintendo has sold more than 146 million of them, as the Switch inches closer to toppling the DS as the companys bestselling piece of hardware. Its flexible in a way that made sense for a large group of people, and it helped spearhead a renewed interest in portable gaming, one that is now taking the PC world by storm. Even Microsoft and Sony are tentatively getting into the space. And by merging its portable and console development teams, Nintendo was able to focus on a single device and greatly improve the cadence of new releases. Over its eight years of existence, the Switch had surprisingly few lulls between major new games.Instead of being surprising, Nintendo decided to be sensibleSo instead of being surprising, Nintendo decided to be sensible. The Switch is what many people have been asking for for years: the same form factor, but more adept technically. No weird gimmicks, no sense of starting over with a new system. Its a continuation of a thing thats already working well.Its important to note that this doesnt mean Nintendo is done being weird. Just because its main device is a straightforward follow-up to the Switch doesnt eliminate the possibility of experimentation. You only need to look at initiatives like Labo and Alarmo to see that Nintendos playful streak is still going strong. Whats crucial about those projects is that Nintendos business doesnt hinge on them. A weird collection of cardboard accessories has the potential to be a hit, but if it isnt, its not a huge loss. The same cant be said for a major twist on a home console Nintendo hopes to sell for the next decade.Nintendo Labo. Photo by James Bareham / The VergeThe safeness of the Switch 2 points to where Nintendo is at as a company right now. As it attempts to grow into an entertainment empire that extends beyond just gaming, it has had to find a balance between reaching that wider audience and maintaining its inventive side. The original Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 was a live-action fever dream, whereas the billion-dollar animated film was a safe bet made with the proven team at Minions studio Illumination. Its still Nintendo, but nowhere near as risky.On paper, its the right moveThe name itself is another sign of the overall maturing of Nintendo. Unlike the confusion of the Wii U, or the ongoing debate over what an Xbox is, the Switch 2 is immediately easy to understand. Its that thing you like, only better. Nintendo may have given up competing with the other console makers on a technical level, but it has taken a page from Sonys playbook. Its not always a smooth transition between PlayStations, but at least you always know what youre in for. Now the same is true for Nintendo.Maintaining that balance between risk and safety will be the key for Nintendo in this next generation. We already know that the Switch is a good device, and soon well have a better version. On paper, its the right move. The trick is keeping that sense of continuity without losing what makes Nintendo so special in the first place. If it doesnt keep being weird and surprising and idiosyncratic, all youre left with is just another tablet.

Nintendo fans eager to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 and likely Mario Kart 9 can sign up for a chance to do so very soon.A short trailer confirmed the new hardware alongside a brand new Mario Kart game, and Nintendo soon after revealed that registration for a handful of hands on events across the U.S. begins tomorrow, January 17 on Nintendo's website."Get hands on with the Nintendo Switch 2, the successor to the Nintendo Switch system, at events in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas," Nintendo said. "Tickets will be made available through a free-to-enter, randomly selected drawing."Nintendo Switch 2 - First LookIGN'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".000/250Registration begins at 12noon Pacific / 2pm Central / 3pm Eastern on January 17 and runs until 11:59pm local time on January 26. Results of the drawing will be revealed "soon after." Those eager to participate will need a Nintendo Account to do so and must be over 18 years old.Nintendo has not announced what games will be playable at the event, though it's likely to include Mario Kart 9 as it's the only one confirmed so far. This new entry only received a few seconds of gameplay during the trailer, but this alone was enough to suggest 24 person races are coming to Mario Kart for the first time.The New York event takes place from April 4 to 6, the Los Angeles event from April 11 to 13, and the Dallas event from April 25 to 27. Only U.S. residents are permitted to apply for a ticket, though various other events are taking place outside of the country for non-American fans.This includes Toronto, Canada from April 25, to 27, plus European locations including Paris from April 4 to 6, London from April 11 to 13, Milan from April 25 to 27, Berlin from April 25 to 27, Madrid from May 9 to May 11, and Amsterdam from May 9 to 11. Nintendo is also visiting Melbourne from May 10 to 11, Tokyo from April 26 to 27, Seoul from May 31 to June 1, and Hong Kong and Taipei at later dates.Though these latter two are yet to be announced, confirmation that one of these events which typically take place before a console is released will still be taking place on June 1, it's therefore likely the actual Switch 2 release will come after.The events will also take place after the Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, which arrives in April. The brief trailer has already confirmed a few things about the new hardware, of course, such as backwards compatibility features and the addition of a second USB-C port.Most details, such as its other games and what the heck the mysterious new Joy-Con button does, were left out, though the Joy-Con mouse theory did gain a little traction.Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Warning: contains a banishment spoiler for The Traitors series 3, episode 7Not looking in the ugly mirror is a basic rule for maintaining self esteem. Wherever yours hangs (mines in my in-laws downstairs bathroom), that harshly lit, unnaturally magnifying surface that only ever reflects back sagging jowls, baggy pores and surprise eyelid hairs is one to avoid. Slip past it and keep up the illusion that your face is still the same one from your graduation photos instead of the melted-wax, double-chinned imposter who gurns up at you from your Facetime screen like Gollum in a toilet.Itd be straightforward if ugly mirrors only hung in caf loos and bookshop stairwells. They dont. Theres at least one in your home right now, and if its anything like mine, its playingThe Traitorson BBC One and reflecting the ugliest truth of all: man, we are clueless.The Traitorsshows that not only are we clueless, but, more unflattering than that, wethinkthat were clever. Wise is the man who knows that he knows nothing? Well, delusional is the Faithful who knows 100% that one of their fellow players is a Traitor.To recap for the holdouts who refuse Reality TV like a hunger striker refuses a sandwich (piously and without prospect of joy):The Traitorswelcomes 25 contestants to a castle in Scotland where Claudia Winkleman toys with them in fingerless gloves. Three are secretly selected as Traitors and convene each night to choose which of the remaining Faithful to murder/leave a note for saying theyve been murdered. The Faithful have to sniff out the Traitors in the nightly roundtables after which everybody votes on who to banish from the castle. The Traitors have to do whatever they can form alliances, misdirect, and sow suspicion about Faithfuls not to get caught.In the most recent episode, a Traitor was successfully banished, and the Faithful reacted like chimps in a blood frenzy. The chap whod petitioned for the Traitors removal leapt up, slapped his hands on the table and jumped around shouting I did it! I did it! Day one! Day one! Come on! Comeon! From the train! On that train!Here, its useful to know that the contestants arrive on the show via train. Crucially though, in light of the man celebrating having pinpointed a Traitor as far back as the train, is that there are no Faithfuls or Traitors on that train. The roles arent assigned until after they reach the castle. What hes celebrating is having had a random hunch early doors, and that hunch, just as randomly, turning out to have been right. Its stupid, and its also how the entire thing works.The Traitorsmay as well be named Confirmation Bias Castle because every 100%, dead-on conviction the Faithful have about whos a Traitor is a guess shored up by nonsense. Somebody blinks at the wrong time theyre a Traitor. Somebody looks down at the wrong time Traitor. Somebody is too nice, or too rude, or too loud, or too quiet, or too anything Traitor, Traitor, Traitor.Have your name mentioned at all, in fact, and youre a Traitor. The same cynical engine that keeps pumping existing-IP franchises into cinemas because we all flock to stuff weve seen and heard before, drives the Faithfuls accusations.Once a name takes hold in a group, reasons are found to stand in for evidence in a post-rationalisation free-for-all. Faithfuls suspicions go from 0 to 60 in seconds until theyre willing to stake their survival in the game on what can only ever be a stab in the dark. Bonded groups convince themselves of how right they are, and how Faithful they are. Nobody talks about guesses, only what theyknow. Theyre convinced that their groundless theories, based on nothing but social bonds and post hoc fallacy, are fact.Its striking how attached players get to their hunches. Even when new evidence presents itself, theyll ignore or deny it to suit the version of events theyve already decided on. Even after being proven wrong when a banished player reveals themselves to have been Faithful, they still nurse suspicions and try to justify their wrongness.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Its not a pretty reflection, but like that waxy-faced jowly one in the ugly mirror, its also the unfortunate truth.The Traitors pantomime of conviction based on affiliation, and guesses dressed as fact, is exactly how we all do it too. Ever read a headline and filed it mentally away, but not bothered to investigate further? Thats Livi seizing on Freddies name and choosing him as her hill to die on. Ever formed a trust attachment to somebody based solely on proximity? Thats the Faithful crossing their fingers that OG player Leon had survived the episode six game instead of latecomers Fozia and Alexander. Ever been absolutely sure of something but subsequently proved wrong, and then done it again and again and again? Thats the players almost every episode.The Traitorshas developed into ingenious television thats precision-engineered to captivate its audience. Its both a brilliant TV distraction and a high-camp laugh. In these post-expert, alternative-fact, disinformation-rife days though, its also getting harder to squint away from the unflattering reality it reflects.The Traitors series three airs at 9pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One and iPlayer.

Gear up for a weekend of non-stop thrills and epic showdowns! Whether youre scoring goals, hitting the gridiron, racing to the finish line, or landing knockout punches, this weekend has it all with Free Play Days! FC 25, College Football 25, Madden NFL 25, F1 24, NHL 25, UFC 5, WRC 24 and PGA Tour are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday January 16 at 12:01am Pacific until Sunday, January 19 at 11:59 Pacific.How To Start PlayingFind and install the games on each of the individual game details page onXbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.Keep The Fun GoingPurchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.Free Play Days (Membership Required)EA SPORTS FC 25 Standard Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|SElectronic Arts612$69.99$27.99Get it nowEA Sports FC 25Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEA Sports FC 25 gives you more ways to win for the club. Team up with friends in your favorite modes with the new 5v5 Rush, and manage your club to victory as FC IQ delivers more tactical control than ever before.EA SPORTS College Football 25Electronic Arts1303$69.99$27.99Get it nowFree TrialEA Sports College Football 25Optimized for Xbox Series X|SIn EA Sports College Football 25, experience explosive gameplay variety across 134 FBS schools and immerse yourself in the iconic atmospheres of college football as you chase college greatness.EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25Electronic Arts668$69.99$20.99Get it nowEA Sports Madden NFL 25Optimized for Xbox Series X|SHit like you mean it with FieldSense powered by Boom Tech on Xbox Series X|S. Experience how the new physics-informed dynamic tackling system unlocks realistic collisions & new gameplay animations on both sides of the ball.F1 24Electronic Arts203$69.99$13.99Get it nowFree TrialF1 24Optimized for Xbox Series X|SBe One of the 20 and drive like the greatest in EA Sports F1 24, the official videogame of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship.NHL 25 Xbox Series X|SElectronic Arts241Get it nowFree TrialNHL 25 (Xbox Series X|S)Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEA Sports NHL 25 is powered by ICE-Q, a new gameplay intelligence system that gives you the time and space to control every inch of the ice. Experience true hockey intelligence.UFC 5Electronic Arts515$69.99$34.99Get it nowUFC 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SPowered by Frostbite, EA Sports UFC 5 is the next evolution of the fight game. From unrivalled graphics upgrades to all-new damage systems and doctor stoppages that affect gameplay in truly authentic fashion this is as real as it gets.EA SPORTS WRC 24Electronic Arts125$49.99$14.99Get it nowEA Sports WRC 24Optimized for Xbox Series X|SExperience the thrill of the 2024 rally season with new locations, moments, stages, high-performance vehicles, and licensed crews. Drive the latest models in new liveries. Brace yourself to embark on your rally journey.EA SPORTS PGA TOURElectronic Arts309$69.99$6.99Get it nowEA Sports PGA TourOptimized for Xbox Series X|SThe exclusive home of the Majors, EA SportsPGA Tour features Pure Strike for superior golf gameplay powered by ShotLink,and unrivaled access to the worlds most exclusive golf courses.

CARROT Weather has long been one of the best weather apps across Apples platforms, and today it got a big update with two main features: a CarPlay app and upgraded Live Activities support.CarPlay app provides weather along your routeHere are the details on todays CARROT Weather 6.2 update, which is now live in the App Store.Per the release notes:CarPlay App: View weather along your driving route, right from your cars dashboard! The CarPlay app functions as a GPS app, so you can input your destination and get directions from CARROT in her typically snarky style plus, youll get to see all the weather along the way, including live radar, severe weather alerts, and more. (Premium Ultra required.)Live Activities: Now you can opt to have Live Activities start automatically when precipitation is in the area! Theyll be started via a notification about 15 minutes before rain or snow begins, then youll continue to receive updates until precipitation stops, at which point the activity will be automatically removed. (Premium Ultra required.)9to5Macs TakeCarPlay support is an interesting direction for CARROT Weather to take, and one Im eager to try out since the average navigation app isnt always best at taking weather into account for your drives.The new Live Activities upgrade is just as exciting though, since it will be able to proactivelyyet subtlykeep you informed about upcoming precipitation.As the release notes say, both features require Premium Ultra subscriptions, but thats understandable considering the significant resources being employed in these additions.Are you interested in these CARROT Weather updates? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel