The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal: clinical, cautious, and successfulGameCentralPublished January 17, 2025 1:00am An unexciting but successful reveal (YouTube)GameCentral muses over the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 teaser trailer and tries to decide whether it was a disappointment or a finely judged annoucement event.So now the Nintendo Switch 2 has been officially unveiled, and we know that all the rumours were true. For those that have been following the news they will have learnt nothing new from the reveal trailer on Thursday, apart from the existence of Mario Kart 9. But for more casual customers who are always Nintendos primary concern it was an effective, if clinical illustration of what the Switch 2 is and some of the new things it can do.There are clearly many secrets left to reveal, not just the mysterious new button but how exactly transforming the Joy-Cons into computer mice will be used. Likewise, while you would assume the Switch 2 is more powerful than its predecessor, the reveal trailer made no such claim and Mario Kart 9 did not make it obvious either.Those few seconds of footage did hide more clues than it first appeared though, with hints at 24-player online action and possibly open world, or at the very least off-road, gameplay. Both would be major deviations for the series, which is great, because Mario Kart seemingly having hit an evolutionary dead end was one of the major concerns for Nintendos next generation console.Despite all the positives, theres no denying the trailer was rather impersonal and unexciting. In terms of footage of previously unannounced games it was no different than the reveal trailer for the original Switch but it was shorter, with no live action framing or third party games even though there are clearly many waiting to be unveiled.The failure of the Wii U will have been foremost in Nintendos mind while planning the reveal of the Switch 2 and you can interpret the trailer as an attempt to get across one single, but vital point: that this is a new console. The uncharacteristically sensible name gets that point across, but you would have thought footage of a game that is clearly impossible on the Switch 1 would have helped hammer the point home.Super-fans picking through every frame of the trailer for hints may have realised the implications of Mario Kart 9, but the first question from casual and non-gamers, when talking to more invested friends and family, is almost certainly going to be: Is it a new game?Thats not really the first question you want someone asking about the only game you showed for your new console. Even something as uninspired as a comparison video with a remastered version of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild wouldve got the point across more clearly.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5videoUp NextIts already a popular fan theory that the teaser trailer is a knee jerk reaction to the leaks but that would be a very un-Nintendo kind of thing to do and, before the reveal, ex-staff were suggesting that Nintendo was studiously ignoring the leaks and continuing with their original reveal plan.A reveal in January certainly seems the optimum time to make an annoucement, now theres no concern about adversely affecting Christmas sales, and a Nintendo Direct in April is exactly the same span of time between the original Switchs reveal and its first major Direct (which led to a launch two months later which would put the Switch 2 on course for a June release).Given their longevity, and the extraordinary highs of their most successful products, a more casual observer would assume that its best not to speculate and that clearly Nintendo knows what its doing. Longer term fans will know thats not necessarily the case.The teaser trailer isnt necessarily a mistake though, its just a surprisingly reserved way to announce a follow-up to a massive cultural and sales success like the Switch. However, it has certainly got people talking. As we write this the Nintendo of America YouTube trailer is just about to hit 10 million views and despite what the vocal minority would lead you to believe, the feedback is 97% positive. Pretty much what everyone expected (YouTube)That alone is a significant achievement and helps to put in context the reveals seemingly modest ambitions. But while Nintendo is worried people wont realise its a brand new format others will be concerned that its not just the annoucement video that seems too cautious.Its often said that its impossible to predict Nintendo but even without any leaks everyone assumed the new console would just be called the Nintendo Switch 2. At the same time, many fans have written in to us over the years speaking of their hopes that the new console would just be a refined version of the current Switch and nothing crazy more powerful but with the same basic form factor.More TrendingIt seems as if those people have got their wish. And yet is it not, on at least some level, disappointing that the console proved to be so predictable? Even Mario Kart 9 which was never leaked was guessed at by many, as an obvious launch title. In our feature about what Nintendo might do for the next entry we even suggested a focus on larger scale online play.Fans seem to be getting exactly what they want except for that impossible-to-predict sense of innovation which drives Nintendos best hardware and games. What everyone wants most from Nintendo is something they can never ask for, because it is the one thing they never even imagined. There is still every reason to assume that the Switch 2 will provide such experiences, in terms of both hardware software, but the teaser trailer did not show it.Everyones been hoping for a Switch 2 reveal for at least the last five months but if that seemed a slog to get through the wait until the new Nintendo Direct, on April 2, is going to feel like forever. Thats when the Switch 2s full games line-up is expected to be unveiled, but therell no doubt be a steady stream of third party leaks leading up to it. Or perhaps officially sanctioned reveals, now that the Switch 2 is something that can be spoken about in public.The prospect of a superpowered Switch 2, with unique new features and the games to take advantage of them, is hugely exciting but even after the teaser trailer all that still lies almost solely in the imagination. We know that the Switch 2, and Mario Kart 9, exists but we dont know much else and that cant help but be frustrating. What arent they tell us about Mario Kart 9? (YouTube)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: Like A Dragon boss rules out Akiyama spin-offGameCentralSign 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

By George Dvorsky Published January 16, 2025 | Comments (10) | Starship's Super Heavy booster moments before its landing at the Boca Chica launch tower, nicknamed "Mechazilla." SpaceX It was a one-step-forward, one-step-back kind of day for SpaceX. The Mechazilla tower once again caught the incoming Starship booster in dramatic fashion, but the upper stage was lost due to an anomaly during ascent. Starship lifted off from the Boca Chica launch mount at 5:37 p.m. ET, soaring into a clear blue Texas sky. The 403-foot-tall (123-meter) rocket initiated hot staging and booster engine cutoff shortly before the three-minute mark. The booster then began its descent back to Earth, while the upper stage continued its journey into space. Starship launching on its seventh test flight. SpaceX Flight controllers quickly gave the go-ahead for a booster catch, with the Super Heavy returning to the launch mount roughly seven minutes into the mission. The Mechazilla launch tower, equipped with its chopstick-like arms, successfully caught the incoming booster. This marks the second time that SpaceX has caught the booster (it did so for the first time on October 13, 2024 during Starships fifth test flight), further validating the catch tower concept and providing a major vote of confidence that Starship will eventually become a fully reusable launch system. While the booster succeeded in its mission, the same couldnt be said for the upper stage. An unspecified anomaly resulted in the loss of the vehicle during ascent, preventing SpaceX from achieving several key objectives for the mission, including the deployment of mock Starlink satellites. Starship failed prior to the 12-minute mark, with its final telemetry showing a speed of 13,246 miles per hour (21,317 kilometers per hour) and an altitude of 91 miles (146 kilometers).The upper stage used for this missionthe seventh Starship flight testfeatured an upgraded design. Its the first upper stage failure since the programs early days of fully integrated Starship tests. The upper stage, with its design tweaks, meant SpaceX was essentially dealing with a new kind of vehicle, with systems interacting with each other for the first time. According to the SpaceX broadcast, a couple of engines dropped out before communications were lost with the vehicle, which appears to have exploded. SpaceX will likely disclose a reason for the failure in the coming days or weeks, but needless to say, the company will learn from this setback. Its what SpaceX doestreating failures as incremental stepping stones toward eventual success. Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from todays flight test to better understand root cause, the company explained in a tweet. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and todays flight will help us improve Starships reliability.Unconfirmed photos showed the upper stage falling back to Earth in pieces, leaving bright, colorful streaks in its wake. SpaceX is steadily making progress toward turning Starship into a fully operational launch system, inching closer with each test flight. Once operational, the rocket is expected to revolutionize space access, launching large batches of Starlink satellites alongside payloads for paying customers. Its gigantic payload fairing and lifting power could even enable the design and deployment of spacecraft that were previously unlaunchable due to size and weight constraints; powered by 33 Raptor engines, Starship should be capable of delivering 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit. NASA, which has invested in Starship as part of its Artemis program, plans to use the rockets upper stage as a human landing system for future Moon missions. And, of course, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has far grander ambitionshe sees Starship as the key to colonizing Mars and transforming humanity into a multi-planetary species.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Isaac Schultz Published January 16, 2025 By Todd Feathers Published January 16, 2025 Passant Rabie and George Dvorsky Published January 16, 2025 Passant Rabie and George Dvorsky Published January 16, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published January 13, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published January 10, 2025

Sforza Castle was rebuilt beginning in 1497 after its destruction during political unrest. Credit: Wikipedia ShareItalys famed Sforza Castle is a focal point for historians, architects, and art loversas well as a source of many legends. One of the most prominent rumors surrounding the over 575-year-old fortress has long been the existence of secret passageways beneath the grounds originally hinted at by Leonardo da Vinci. But according to recent, ground-penetrating radar and laser scans, da Vincis references to underground tunnels arent mythstheyre real, and some of them may have been used to secretly ferry a Duke of Milan to his late wifes crypt.The version of Sforza Castle that exists today is actually its second iteration, and was built in 1450 on the ruins of a previous fortress destroyed during political instability three years earlier. After Ludovico Sforza (also known as Ludovico il Moro) took over from his father in 1494, the newly installed Duke of Milan commissioned multiple artists to travel there and contribute to decorating its rooms with frescoes. One of these visitors, Leonardo da Vinci, would end up in the Dukes service for years, during which time he famously began work on an uncompleted equestrian monument to il Moros father, Francesco.Da Vincis tenure at Sforza Castle also resulted in sketches and notes referencing hidden underground tunnels. One of these served a very specific purposestretching underneath the castles Ghirlanda, or outer wall, and nearly two-thirds of a mile to the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie. There, il Moro would privately grieve near the tomb of his late wife, Beatrice dEste, who died during childbirth in 1497.As Arkeonews reported on January 16th,researchers from the Polytechnic Institute of Milan visited the site with ground-penetrating radar equipment to map Sforza Castles subsurface to conclusively determine if the corridor existed. These tools emit electromagnetic waves that travel into the soil and bounce back signals that experts use to interpret ground density, soil composition, and even empty spaces. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The goal is to create a digital twin of the Sforza Castle, a digital model that not only represents the current appearance of the Castle but also allows you to explore the past, recovering historical elements that are no longer visible, Franco Guzzetti, a geomatics professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Milan, said in an accompanying university announcement.After combing the area, Guzzetti and collaborators detected the existence of multiple underground cavities and passageways roughly 1-2 feet underground. In addition to il Moros route to his late wife, researchers believe the many other structures could have served defensive and military purposes.The castle is not just a monument; it is a repository of stories waiting to be told, each layer of stone representing the lives and legacies of those who came before, the researchers wrote in a separate statement for The Independent. By exploring these hidden depths, researchers are ensuring that the castle remains alive in the collective consciousness of both locals and visitors.

Nature, Published online: 17 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00042-1Vegetation clearing to extract nickel, which is used in renewable technologies, leads to greater carbon emissions than realized.

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Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been announced, players and industry professionals have been weighing in on social media. Overall, the reactions to Switch 2 have been largely positive, but some are skeptical that it's going to be able to handle at least one of this year's AAA games.GameSpot's Tamoor Hussain had an apt analogy for the Switch and its successor.pic.twitter.com/eiXnsJ7O8F Tamoor Hussain (@tamoorh) January 16, 2025 Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski wasn't exactly impressed by the increased size.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Kadokawa is aiming to expand its operations after Sony acquired approximately 10% of its shares (this number includes the shares Sony previously owned). The total investment amounts to 50 billion yen (around $322 million) and was completed on January 7, 2025.

Hi, to anyone who actually cares, I am making a game, and I need an animator for my team. I can't pay anything, but since I cannot animate, I need someone who can. Send me a message if you are interested in joining my team and helping make fun games.

PlayStation Stores extending the new year celebrations with the January Deals promotion, starting January 15 for a limited time*. You can enjoy steep discounts on a variety of titles, including Gran Turismo 7 25th Anniversary Digital Deluxe Edition, EA SPORTS FC 25 Ultimate Edition, The Last of Us Part I Digital Deluxe Edition and many more.Head to PlayStation Store to see the full list and find out your regional discount.*January Deals promotion available on PlayStation Store from 00.00am JST, Wednesday January 15 until 23:59pm JST Wednesday January 29. Game selection may differ by region. Check PlayStation Store for more details. Not applicable for Indonesia.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been unveiled. But, in a minimal announcement video, Nintendo chose to mostly show off the new hardware, plus a small glimpse of what appears to be a new Mario Kart game. Its a deflating moment, and a curious decision. For Nintendo above all game console manufacturers, the link between hardware and software is an intense and symbiotic one and Nintendos exclusive games are the primary reason to buy its consoles.The Switch 2 will be no exception. In fact, this might be more true for the Switch 2 than many past Nintendo consoles, because the Switch 2 has no major new gimmick of its own, give or take what seems to be a mouse mode for its controllers. Its a straightforward hardware upgrade: a bigger, better Switch, with largely similar features. Why would players who arent fussed about upgrading to the latest tech bother getting one? To play the latest Mario Kart, Super Mario, or Animal Crossing, of course which makes the absence of more than one of these games from this initial sales pitch rather baffling.Well have to wait and see what Nintendos plans are for revealing Switch 2 games. Its notable that, while there have been leaks about the console itself for months (if not years) ahead of its announcement, there have been next to no leaks about its first-party games, Mario Kart aside and no substantive details about that game, either. The announcement video certainly doesnt give much away about it.Otherwise, the chatter is all about ports of existing or already announced third-party titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Red Dead Redemption 2, Metal Gear Solid Delta, and even Halo: The Master Chief Collection. These games are known quantities, and publishers interest in bringing their recent hits to a more powerful successor to the 146-million-selling Switch is surely a given.Nintendo itself has successfully kept its own Switch 2 titles locked down, and seems happy to wait a little longer probably until the Nintendo Direct on April 2 to reveal them. Perhaps Nintendo has some true surprises in store. Perhaps it wants to give each game its own time to shine. Or perhaps Nintendos marketers feel its better to wait to show the games until theres an opportunity for people to play them on the host hardware, to fully appreciate how the experience is different from playing on a Switch.Theres a very relevant comparison here, and thats the Switchs own announcement video. Like the Switch 2 teaser, this featured just one all-new reveal, and a similarly teasing one: a glimpse of the then-unannounced Super Mario Odyssey. But Nintendo showed quite a few other games playing on Switch, from both its own studios and other publishers. There was a port of Skyrim, an NBA game, and several ports of known or released Wii U titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon 2. These games were used to illustrate some of the Switchs unique features, like its ability to switch between home TV and portable play, and its detachable controllers for portable local multiplayer.The Switch 2 is backward-compatible with Switch games, so since Nintendo is reluctant to reveal many of its new games why would it not use this same playbook again, and simply show some existing titles running on the new machine? The answer lies in the crucial difference in context between the launches of the Switch and the Switch 2.Firstly, the Wii U had been a sales flop. Games like Mario Kart 8 were consequently underplayed back in 2016, and a wider audience would have been excited at the prospect of getting its hands on these games on a new console, and thrilled at the prospect of the (already well publicized) new Zelda title coming to the new hardware. The same can hardly be said of Switch games; I assume most everyone watching the Switch 2 announcement video already has the means to play them. Even showing, say, a Switch 2 version of the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond risks sending the wrong message: Why do we need a new console again?Secondly, the Switch was a new concept that needed explaining when the original console was announced, and this would have been next to impossible to do without showing games being played in the new contexts afforded by Nintendos innovative design. The same is not true of Switch 2, which offers more of the same. It is very easy to understand what this console is from a simple reveal like this weeks video. Arguably, the addition of Mario Kart footage didnt add much to the video at all, beyond hinting at the future game reveals Nintendo has in store.Maybe Nintendo didnt focus on games in the Switch 2 reveal video simply because it didnt have to. With a massively successful console on the market, and with the confidence of fans and investors at an all-time high, theres no real reason for Nintendo to go straight for the hard sell on Switch 2 other than to satisfy our curiosity. It can afford to pace itself, not rush its marketing beats, and make us wait. But still. A little more would have been nice!