Squid ScrapperNo Man's Sky's Worlds Part 2 update brings "billions of new stars and planets" including huge gas giants, but I'm curious about the wrath of its trippy flying squid mumsLook, all those new worlds can wait, I'm off fishing and I may never return.Image credit: Hello Games News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 29, 2025 Hey, No Man's Sky developer Hello Games has just deployed the second part of the huge Worlds update it served up the first bit of last year. Just because it's only part 2 of an update, don't let that convince you it's missable, there are "billions of new stars and planets" packed into it, as well as trippy wrathful squid things that I find pretty interesting.Alongside Worlds part one, NMS got a whole bunch of other interesting updates over the course of 2024, bringing stuff like fishing, and the return of the Normandy from Mass Effect. It's certainly cool to see the game get closer and closer to properly fulfilling the promise that caused all that hype around its release back in, er, I'll not tell you so you don't feel old.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As outlined in the blog post about the Worlds update part 2, it brings "billions of new stars and planets" to the game, including new gas giants and purple-class stars, boasting more advanced and detailed features as Hello Games continues to push the technical envelope."Gas giants are truly epic, ten times bigger than our biggest planet," said Hello founder Sean Murray, "Its truly end-game stuff to explore them with huge storms that rage across the surface. New tech allows oceans that can be several kilometers deep.Watch on YouTube"A new lighting system makes them look so different. New caustics, light shafts and the deeper that you explore the darker it gets. Ive had these moments where youre exploring and suddenly some huge creature comes into view and its just incredible. Every element of our lighting has been rewritten."Murray adds that: "Theres this huge quest that ties together some strands that weve been building for years. Weve got an expedition that takes you on a tour of all the new worlds that were building and its got some incredible rewards."Here's the thing through, I'm more interested in this one new thing I've spotted in the blog post. They're called Deepwater Guardians, and as you can see below, they look to be trippy flying squid things that can now show up after you do some dredging in a sea, to beat you up in revenge for their "watery children". So, yup vengeful, trippy squid mums that glow blue and fly about. Help! Vengeful, trippy squid mum alert! | Image credit: Hello Games"In the depths of the ocean and on land theres these new creatures to discover. I think weve gone probably weirder than ever before," Murray said. Aye, quite.Are you weirdly curious about invoking the wrath of a Deepwater Guardian? Or will you be exploring the new planets like a normal person? Let us know below!

Get Your PassportYes, Shadow's love for telenovelas in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is because of that one meme, and no, I don't understand why the Sonic fandom is like this eitherNo judgement here, though.Image credit: Paramount/ Sega News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 29, 2025 Every Sonic fan knows that Shadow loves Latinas, and as it turns out, so does the director of the films.Where do I even start with this one? Shadow the Hedgehog loves Latinas. This is a character trait decided upon by fans, thanks in part to a TikTok edit, that later blew up even more on YouTube thanks to a meme dub based on a viral Twitter post. If this sounds particularly on brand for the Sonic fandom, you would be dead right, but even if I (a Sonic fan, to boot) might not understand it, I will not judge it. Why am I bringing all this up? Well, the tiniest of spoiler warnings I guess, but there's a small running gag in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 that starts with Eggman watching a dramatic Latin American soap opera, which later loops back around to Shadow watching a different episode of the show and getting super invested in it. It's funny!To see this content please enable targeting cookies. When I saw the film, I thought it was just a funny coincidence with the meme, but as it turns out, it's actually a subtle reference to the meme. Now that the film is out digitally, you can also watch it with a commentary track from director Jeff Fowler and voice of Sonic, Ben Schwartz. And in the clip, Fowler shared that Shadow's love of telenovelas does come from the meme everybody knows and loves. "Shadow loves Latinas, that's another meme we found a place for in the movie," Fowler said, with Schwartz immediately asking what he meant by that. To see this content please enable targeting cookies."Shadow loves Latinas, it's true, you can Google it after we finish," Fowler continued. "Half the time, we fire away at these things it's just magic, these opportunities to honor what fans know and love and the memes they know and love. It just falls in our lap - and we love it." I guess you can start placing your bets as to what memes get referenced in Sonic 4 (which just recently got a release date).

Image: Digital EclipseIf you have been holding off picking up last year's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind until a boxed edition punched its way into view, you're in luck! Today, Digital Eclipse has announced just that, with a Standard and Deluxe edition available to pre-order right now.According to the publisher's announcement on BlueSky, both boxed copies are set to release on 30th May and can currently be found on the Atari website.The Standard edition ($34.99) is the straightforward option for those who just want a box to put on the shelf, but the Deluxe option ($49.99) packs in some more merch for the mightiest fans out there. This beefier version includes a steelbook case, a 3D lenticular postcard, a poster showing the Rangers in action and a pack of six collectable pixel art trading cards, all bundled up in a larger collector's box. Nice.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube794kWatch on YouTube You wanted it, you got it! #RitasRewind physical copies are coming for Switch & PS5 on May 30, 2025. Preorders for the Standard & Deluxe editions start today -- secure yours at atari.com/collections/... or your retailer of choice!www.digitaleclipse.com/media/pre-or... Digital Eclipse (@digitaleclipse.bsky.social) 2025-01-29T14:07:26.938ZIf you're a beat 'em up fan who missed out on this one last year, we'd give Rita's Rewind a firm recommend. We described the latest adventure as "probably the best Power Rangers game weve ever played" in our review, praising the nostalgic charm, lengthy campaign and Digital Eclipse's eye for detail. Mighty, indeed. What is it with you hero types? Always the same lineWill you be picking up the Rita's Rewind physical later this year? Let us know in the comments.[source atari.com, via bsky.app]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Expands Switch Online's SNES Library With Three More TitlesIncluding a special Super Famicom release...Opinion: My Daughter Made Me Realise That Mario Wonder's Difficulty Options Need WorkYoshi or Nabbit, make your choiceRandom: Donkey Kong Country's Artist Reacts To Nintendo's Redesign"Everything changes!"Sega Launches Its Own Free Account Service With Unique Member RewardsSign up! Y'know, if you wantXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Metal Poster Pre-Order Bonus RevealedAvailable now in the US

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)A few years ago, developers Adglobe and Live Wire (which, fun fact, also developed Harvestella) released a Metroidvania called Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights to high praise. Combining a heavy atmosphere with tough, Soulslike combat in a dark fantasy world, it stood out as a notably quality addition to a genre that feels like it gets at least one new entry every week. The sequel, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the mist, is a strong iteration on its predecessor's formula. It's everything a Metroidvania should be and, even if its not exactly revolutionary, it executes its vision well.Ender Magnolia is set a number of years after Ender Lilies, placing you in the role of Lilac, a young girl who awakens from a long slumber in a strange and decaying world. Whats left of society is occupied by two different races: humans and the creepy machines called Homunculi. Some Homunculi could easily pass as human while others have much more monstrous or animalistic traits, and all are susceptible to corruption from a mysterious mist called fumes. Luckily, Lilac happens to be an Attunersomeone who can directly purify corrupted Homunculiso you set out on a journey to uncover her lost memories and do what you can to set the world straight.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Much akin to genre peers such as Hollow Knight, a lot of the story here is inferred and pieced together via environmental clues and item descriptions. Some may wish for a more straightforward narrative, but we felt that the developers did a great job of balancing the worldbuilding herethe world always feels mysterious, but not to the point of being completely unreliable.The only point against the story, and really this is more of a nitpick, is that it can feel a little too angsty at times. You can only encounter so many NPCs that are either cynical, self-loathing, or utterly depressed before the melancholic atmosphere starts to feel a little too heavy-handed. Still, its an enjoyable enough narrative that perfectly supports the excellent game design.Gameplay is nothing you havent seen before, but what it lacks in innovation it comfortably makes up for in polish. The standard Metroidvania structure is played straight here, tasking you with exploring a sprawling, nonlinear world stuffed with all kinds of collectibles and upgrades that grant boons to your combat or exploration abilities.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)While exploration always feels like the main focus, combat notably plays more of a role when compared to many genre peers, with a Soulslike tinge to the way youre encouraged to approach each conflict (more on that later). It all comes together impressively well, making for an addictive and rewarding gameplay experience that stands out in this crowded genre.Much of what makes exploration in Ender Magnolia so enjoyable is its focus on mobility and true nonlinearity. It's not a game where you can easily get lost, but youre usually given more than one route to follow, granting options if the enemies and bosses of a given area are above your current skill level. Wherever you choose to go, theres always something worthwhile to ferret out, whether a flat upgrade to your health or a new relic you can later equip when you find the next checkpoint.Naturally, you acquire more movement abilities as you progress, giving you new ways to traverse obstacles and granting you some additional combat utility. You unlock a double jump and air dash relatively early on, which can be used both to help you reach distant ledges that were once beyond your reach and give you more manoeuvrability in combat.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)That combat takes a rather measured approach that favours learning your opponents moves and waiting for openings to present themselves. Most enemies eyes will flash red to tip you off that an attack is coming, and you have a wealth of attacks to respond with that can be somewhat stacked to maximise damage. Alongside your typical melee combo, you can also trigger cooldown attacks, lay down some support fire with ranged attacks, and have a hovering satellite nearby that independently dishes out some pain.It all lands right in that sweet spot of feeling suitably challenging without being overly frustrating or discouraging. You have all the tools you need for success, but just mashing and refusing to learn a new boss attack patterns will almost always result in getting sent back to the last checkpoint. Even outside boss rooms, common enemies hit hard and can gang up on you if youre not careful, making the push for the next checkpoint fraught with tension as you eye your dwindling potion supply.Character progression is handled via a mixture of RPG-lite elements and simple exploration, giving you a decent amount of agency to work out a build. Levelling up from combat will give you simple stat buffs across the board, and you can bolster this by finding more pickups in your travels or donning relics that give you passives on top of minor stat boosts. Considering the limited space for equippable relics, you have to consider your playstyle and what abilities will give you the most utility.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)Each weapon also has a few different forms, such as your primary being either a slow and heavy axe, a quick and scrappy scythe, or a sword that falls somewhere between the two. New forms are unlocked through pickups as you explore and defeat bosses, and your favoured forms can then be upgraded to increase their potency. We appreciated the flexibility that this character growth system offers, as it caters to a variety of playstyles without bogging you down with too many distinct options.Part of what makes Ender Magnolia so enjoyable is the attention paid to various quality-of-life features that make the gameplay flow much smoother. Backtracking as you gain new powers is a feature of the genre and Ender Magnolia supports you by allowing quick and generous fast travel and by colouring in areas of the map which youve already fully emptied of secrets.Features such as this may not sound like a big deal, but they make it clear that the developers put a lot of thought into the end-user experience and worked to reduce or eliminate as many friction points as possible. This is the sort of game that you sit down to play for 15 minutes and then realise an hour has passed, and much of that comes down to its ability to minimise frustration and keep you immersed.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)As for its visuals, Ender Magnolia reminds us a bit of a grimdark take on Vanillawares iconic art style, seen in games such as Unicorn Overlord. The hand-drawn nature of the cutesy-but-creepy graphics stands out among genre peers, and though many environments can get a little too similar with all the takes on the smoggy, decrepit aesthetic, some biomes find colourful and interesting ways of bucking the trend. Perhaps best of all, everything runs at a buttery smooth 60fps in both docked and handheld, an absolute must for a game that demands this level of precision in combat.Going right along with the dark and sad vibe of the visuals is a soundtrack that equally sounds heavy. The soft piano notes and strings present in most tracks maintain an atmosphere of contemplation and mourning, as you explore this ruined world. Some of the tracks naturally play up the wonderment or ratchet up the energy a little bit, but the audio makes it clear that this game isnt meant to have a fun vibe in the same way as something like Guacamelee or one of the Shantae games.

UVeye started as a play to scan cars for security threats, but the Israeli startup really hit its stride when its founders realized the AI-powered computer vision systems could perform more typical vehicle inspections.Now, the company is evolving its funding strategy. UVeye announced Wednesday morning a $191 million extension to its 2023 Series D round led by Toyotas Woven Capital growth fund. The round includes a mix of $41 million in equity financing with participation from UMC Capital and MyBerg and a $150 million debt facility structured by Trinity Capital.Were installing at quite a lot of locations, and were getting a lot of data, and weve signed some very strategic deals in the past year, and we have, right now, more demand than we can actually support, UVeye CEO and co-founder Amir Hever told TechCrunch in an interview. So theres a need to be able to fund more systems, deploy more units, and scale really, really quickly.The debt includes a $100 million initial commitment and an option for an additional $50 million, and will help UVeye deploy close to 700 of its inspection systems in 2025, Hever said.The systems which cars can drive through and use cameras to scan the undercarriage, exterior, and interior have been popular with customers that include Amazon, CarMax (which invested in the 2023 Series D), and even car dealers and manufacturers.Hever said working with those customers has influenced the evolution of UVeyes tech and business model. The company was initially focused on a cars undercarriage, since it was trying to modernize roadside security screenings. But customers started asking for the ability to inspect things like tire wear, or scan the cars exterior for damage.It was kind of a step-by-step [process] to really understand the market needs, and how they are inspecting vehicles today, and how we can help them to be more efficient, to increase their revenue, to support our business, Hever said.Now, Hever said, UVeye is scanning nearly one million cars per month.

Lily Vittayarukskul was studying aerospace engineering when her aunt was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. Her aunt had lived under the same roof as Vittayarukskul while she was growing up and helped raise her. We went all in on her care, she recalled.Post-chemotherapy, Vittayarukskuls aunt became very frail, so her family originally from Cambodia navigated about two and half years of her daily long-term care needs. It wiped us out financially, she told TechCrunch.The emotional and financial impact was so traumatic that it prompted Vittayarukskul to pivot her studies to genetic and data science.Ultimately, she founded Waterlily, a now four-year-old, San Francisco startup aimed at helping individuals and advisors navigate long -term care options by modeling costs and funding strategies. Its goal, according to Vittayarukskul, is to make it easier for financial advisors and insurance agents to recommend the right financial products based on a familys predicted long-term care needs.Explained Vittayarukskul, Usually individuals start to think about long-term care when theyre between the ages of 65 and 70, or just when they need it. But in many cases, that can be too late.Waterlily uses artificial intelligence to predict a familys future long-term care needs and costs and then guides them in building a care plan and figuring out the right way to pay for it, Vittayarukskul told TechCrunch. That might mean buying life insurance with a long-term care rider, purchasing a dedicated LTC policy, using annuities, or simply self-funding.Waterlilys predictive AI can be used for any individual over 40.The company pulls from over 500 million data points and machine learning algorithms using its AI modeling software in an effort to make highly personalized care and cost predictions and forecast the when, how, and how much of someones potential long-term care needs.We have formal data-sharing agreements with long-term care providers, government databases, academic research studies, and individual users these include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program and were finalizing similar contracts with insurance carriers to securely ingest their anonymized data, Vittayarukskul said.Vittayarukskul initially started Waterlily as a solo founder until Evan Ehrenberg, a small angel investor, came along. Ehrenberg who had previously founded and sold Clara Health helped with early research, and was struck by the industrys response. Curious, he tested the platform himself and was shocked by his long-term care predictions so much so that he changed his diet, hired a personal trainer, and updated his financial plans.That experience pulled him in deeper. He saw parallels between long-term care and issues hed encountered in clinical trials. Clara Health had helped tens of thousands of patients find trials, but he also saw how many turned to them not for cutting-edge treatments, but for generic copycats of existing drugs because insurance wouldnt cover the name-brand drugs they needed. Long-term care brought a similar realization health insurance doesnt cover it, and many are unprepared for the financial burden, noted Vittayarukskul.After six months of working together, we knew it was a great fit and made him a co-founder, she said.Ehrenbergs own backstory is interesting: After graduating from UC Berkeley at 16, he became MITs youngest neuroscience Ph.D. Today, he also serves as Waterlilys chief operating officer.Standing out in a complicated spaceOther tools exist that help with long-term planning, but Vittayarukskul believes they differ from Waterlilys more personalized offering. Genworths cost of care calculator, for example, shows zip-code averages. NaviPlan, eMoney, MoneyGuidePro, and RightCapital are broader financial-planning platforms that include basic long-term care modules or cost calculators as one of their multiple functions.According to her, While these tools help advisors model retirement and insurance scenarios, their LTC assumptions are typically driven by national averages or Monte Carlo simulations in order to stress-test financial planning by introducing noise into a basic default simulation. Waterlily, by contrast, blends deep predictive modeling with an easy-to-use platform.Waterlily only launched its platform publicly in March of 2024 so it doesnt have year-over-year metrics yet, but Vittayarukskul told TechCrunch the startups monthly recurring revenue (MRR) today is greater than 22x what it was after its first month in the market. And, she said, its average month-over-month MRR growth since its launch has been 58%.The company currently has eight major enterprise customers, including Prudential and several other Fortune 100 insurance carriers. There are also hundreds of independent financial advisors and insurance agents who use Waterlily, according to Vittayarukskul. Its revenue model is SaaS-based, with the company charging $250 per advisor or agent seat per month.And now the startup has raised $7 million in seed funding led byWaterlily plans to use its new capital, which was raised via a SAFE, to build out its engineering data science and enterprise management teams, as well as to continue strengthening its AI models and data partnerships. It also plans to increase its sales and marketing efforts.Presently, the startup has 9 full-time employees in addition to contractors.Looking ahead, Waterlily is looking at disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity and Medicare planning, or really any area where advanced predictive modeling would help families make better life and health coverage decisions, Vittayarukskul said.The company says it is also receiving interest from insurance carriers that want to use its data in underwriting. It potentially might expand internationally as well to Canada, the UK and parts of Asia.Investor Kim, who is also former president of New York Life, told TechCrunch that he put money into Waterlily because he believes it is the first AI native guidance tool to assist in the single largest need as Americans age.He added: LTC insurance is a large and growing need, and largely underserved by trusted advisors today. Waterlilys guidance tool has no comparable offering. It provides a customized and personalized recommendation for ones LTC needs. I believe it will be a game changer for the LTC insurance marketplace.Want more fintech news in your inbox? Sign up for TechCrunch Fintechhere.Want to reach out with a tip? Email me atmaryann@techcrunch.comor send me a message on Signal at 408.204.3036. You can also send a note to the whole TechCrunch crew attips@techcrunch.com. For more secure communications,click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop and links to encrypted messaging apps.

Breakdown & ShowreelsDune Prophecy: VFX Breakdown by Important Looking PiratesBy Vincent Frei - 29/01/2025 In Dune: Prophecy, Wallach IX isnt just a settingits a character. Thanks to the artistry of Important Looking Pirates, this iconic world bursts to life with breathtaking detail and cinematic brilliance. Prepare to be captivated by the home planet of the Bene Gesserit as youve never imagined it before!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Important Looking Pirates: Dedicated page about Dune: Prophecy on Important Looking Pirates website.Mike Enriquez & Terron Pratt: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Mike Enriquez and VFX Producer Terron Pratt. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

Powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printer manufacturer Xact Metal has recorded its second-highest order revenue in Q4 2024, citing increased demand for its metal 3D printers, while also marking a production milestone in December with the shipment of its 150th unit.CEO Juan Mario Gomez attributed the revenue growth to a targeted focus on industry applications, particularly in tooling. He noted that the XM200G metal 3D printer has gained traction in the injection molding sector, where both new and repeat customers have integrated metal 3D printing into their production processes.A partnership with Uddeholm, a tool steel manufacturer, has further expanded the companys presence in mold-making. Gomez highlighted that pairing the XM200G printer with Uddeholms Corrax metal powder, a corrosion-resistant material, has provided manufacturers with an alternative to conventional mold production methods. According to him, industry response to the combination has been positive.Beyond tooling, a shift toward decentralized metal AM has contributed to order growth, with smaller manufacturers integrating the technology. The manufacturers 150th 3D printer was delivered to Zero Tolerance, a plastic injection mold machine shop based in Clinton Township, Michigan. According to Gomez, orders from both new and returning customers reflect a broader transition toward metal 3D printing as a viable alternative to traditional machining.We are excited to see what Steve Michon, the owner, and the team at Zero Tolerance will do with their XM200G metal 3D printer, as they continue to invest in the highest performance machinery and tooling to succeed in the production mold industry, he said.Zero Tolerances Steve Michon. Photo via Xact Metal.Xact Metals progress over the yearsSpeaking with 3D Printing Industry, the CEO recalled his transition from a successful career in aviation to leading a metal 3D printing startup.With an engineering background and a tenure at General Electric (GE), where he helped grow a business to $250 million in sales, he saw an opportunity to bring metal AM to a broader market. In 2017, he co-founded Xact Metal alongside two engineers from Penn State University (PSU), aiming to develop an affordable yet functional metal 3D printer.Early days came with challenges, especially during the pandemic when quarterly orders plummeted to $10,000. Despite this, Gomez resisted downsizing and instead focused on financial stability, a strategy shaped by his experience at GE.As demand rebounded, the company pivoted from an XY scanning system to a galvo-based architecture, improving print speed and productivity. The shift laid the foundation for introducing higher-powered machines like the XM200G and XM300G.A growing number of small and mid-sized manufacturers, particularly in injection molding, have adopted Xact Metals printers as a lower-cost alternative to high-end industrial systems.Expanding its reseller network has been a key focus, ensuring localized support for customers. Partnerships with companies like Oqton have also brought AI-driven enhancements to its machines, aligning with the industrys push toward automation.Moreover, GPAINNOVA America partnered with Xact Metal to offer an end-to-end metal 3D printing solution, incorporating GPAINNOVAs DryLyte Technology, a patented dry electropolishing method, for post-processing. This integration sought to simplify and enhance metal 3D printing by automating finishing processes, making the technology more accessible across industries.Xact Metals team. Photo via Xact Metal.Increasing metal AM adoptionAs metal 3D printing gains traction across industries, companies are seeking to refine workflows and expand its adoption.Last year, Belgian 3D printing bureau Materialise and Renishaw partnered to improve the efficiency of Renishaws additive manufacturing systems. Having combined Materialise build processor and Magics software with the RenAM 500 series, this move sought to create a more seamless and controlled production process.Manufacturers will have access to advanced tools that simplify complex geometries and fine-tune print settings, helping to cut production time while increasing precision. With a stronger, more flexible workflow, this partnership is expected to drive wider adoption of metal 3D printing across various industries.Two years ago, Oerlikon AM, a division of Oerlikon, partnered with US-based 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems to improve metal AM scalability. By integrating 3D Systems direct metal printing technology with Oerlikon AMs expertise in surface engineering, the partnership aimed to accelerate industrial adoption, particularly within the semiconductor and aerospace sectors.As part of this initiative, Oerlikon AM expanded its manufacturing capacity by acquiring a fourth 3D Systems DMP Factory 500 printer, reinforcing its ability to produce high-precision metal components for specialized applications.Who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?All the news fromFormnext 2024.To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook.While youre here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays.Featured image shows Xact Metals team. Photo via Xact Metal.

Investment in additive manufacturing during 2024 fell compared to 2023 levels, with deal counts slightly higher in 2024 than in 2023 but funding down from the industrys previous peaks. 3D printer manufacturers secured more financing in 2024 than the previous year, largely through a handful of sizeable transactions. Application-focused firms and companies integrating 3D printing into their core offerings are also attracting funds, while materials and software investments remain modest.Valuations appear more rational, and investors are applying greater scrutiny to ensure sustainable returns. The emphasis is shifting from broad promises toward tangible results, particularly in delivering reliable, consistent output. AI is seen as a potential solution to improve quality assurance, reduce errors, and streamline production.Despite frequent predictions, industry consolidation has not accelerated. Large deals have not substantially reshaped the landscape, and new entrants continue to emerge, leaving many users confused by a crowded marketplace. Analysts foresee no major shifts in the investment climate for 2025 and expect funding to remain steady rather than surge, with growth likely to occur in application-based segments.I spoke to Sona Dadhania, a Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, to learn more.According to industry analyst Dadhania, The big drop came between 2022 and 2023, leaving the sector with far less capital than when it commanded sums in excess of $1.2bn through much of 2021 and 2022.That wave of investment has since receded as venture capital firms recalibrate after what Dadhania calls a string of failures. The sectors tightening has not spared additive manufacturing. Instead, it now faces more sober evaluations as investors weigh the reliability of returns and re-examine where to deploy their capital.Sona Dadhania, a Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx. Photo via IDTechEx.2024 Total 3D Printing FundingAdditive manufacturing investment during 2024 was a story of steady deal counts, limited headline-grabbing transactions, and a shifting focus toward hardware innovators and specialist applications. According to IDTechExs data, total funding for the sector in 2024 stood at around US$650m, spread across approximately 40 deals. This is about half the level reached during the investment frenzy that followed the pandemic. The space had a lot of excitement coming out of the pandemic, Dadhania. She attributes the earlier surge both to temporary enthusiasm over new applications exposed by supply-chain disruptions and to a broader flood of venture capital during 2021 and 2022. Most of the value is predicated on a handful of very, very large deals, says Dadhania. She singles out 6Ks US$82m September round, Restor3ds US$70m, and Magnus Metals US$75m as significant contributors.While the aggregate number of deals appears stable, the composition of investment has changed. Printer manufacturers, many pursuing novel production methods, have secured around US$315m in funding this year, over double the 2023 sum. They got a lot more money this year, says Dadhania. This group includes firms introducing unconventional printing technologies that promise to serve previously untapped users. While their solutions may require customers to adapt entire workflows and supply chains, investors seem persuaded by the potential to target niche applications that established players have overlooked.Outside printer hardware, applications-focused firms and AM-intensive producers collected about US$160m. These include businesses that integrate additive manufacturing into their core operations, producing aerospace components or healthcare implants. Notable examples include Conflux Technology, which employs advanced printing techniques to produce heat exchangers. Materials companies, meanwhile, accounted for roughly US$115m in investment, largely driven by a few major rounds, notably involving 6K and Equispheres.Software-oriented deals this year are minimal, capturing only a small fraction of total investment, Backflip AI is one notable expectation here, with a $30 million round led by NEA and a16z.A 3D printed copper mug designed in Backflip. Image via Backflip.Steady returns on the horizon?Investors appear to be taking a more measured approach to valuations and expectations for returns in additive manufacturing. Most of the deals make sense, says IDTechExs Principal Technology Analyst, Sona Dadhania. She notes that during the investment peaks between 2020 and 2022, some ventures raised hundreds of millions in a manner that seemed difficult to justify. Multiples have since returned to more rational levels, with startups now often seeking modest, incremental funding to spur organic growth.This recalibration suits the technologys long timelines and operational complexity. Hardware-focused businesses cannot rely on rapid scaling by adding cloud servers; they must secure trusted supply chains, develop application expertise, train engineers, and prove their systems cost-effectiveness before convincing customers to invest in additional equipment. If the investor is not as familiar with the timespan it takes to develop those applications, warns Dadhania, they might be expecting returns much faster than is realistic.The shift toward more sustainable investments could foster long-term stability, preventing early-stage firms from becoming trapped by inflated valuations. Instead of chasing aggressive growth targets to justify massive funding rounds, these enterprises can focus on technical achievements and incremental market penetration. The result may be fewer dramatic funding announcements but a more balanced industry that builds a track record of steady returns.Winning the race: break-out leadersStartups targeting specific verticals appear better positioned to stand out, as many 3D printing firms have struggled to gain traction across multiple sectors at once. Its very difficult to try and successfully hit every application area, says Dadhania, noting that concentrating on defined niches allows companies to use their limited resources more efficiently and build credibility in demanding fields such as healthcare or aerospace.This focus on specialized problems may yield a longer-term advantage. Firms that address underserved segments, whether radio-frequency antennas or other niche applications. can more easily become leaders in their chosen territory. If you have identified a space that is very underserved by 3D printing, Dadhania says, you can be the person for that area. The idea aligns neatly with the cautionary proverb that you cannot chase two antelope at once. By zeroing in on a single vertical, startups can secure a beachhead, proving their technologys value and justifying future expansion beyond their initial targets.Long-standing concerns about materials performance and process consistency continue to unsettle the additive manufacturing sector. You have to build trust that if you are printing an alloy the customer already knows, it will perform as expected batch after batch, says Dadhania. She notes that no single company can overcome this reliability gap alone, as it involves improvements to materials, machines, monitoring systems, and verification standards.Artificial intelligence may help. Dadhania sees particular potential in AI-driven quality assurance that allows printers to self-correct in real time. If AI can reduce the tinkering, so you just press print and get the part you want, that would be the biggest value, she says, contrasting it with todays trial-and-error approach. While AIs role in generative design has attracted attention, its capacity to detect errors early and streamline production parameters may prove more transformative.Beyond materials and machine intelligence, post-processing remains a stubborn bottleneck. Although firms like DyeMansion and Solukon have introduced automated solutions, many users still grapple with time-consuming, messy workflows. Dadhania identifies this area as ripe for further innovation: new technologies and automated systems that simplify finishing could help transform the overall productivity and reliability of additive manufacturing.Solukons SFM-AT1500-S depowdering system. Photo via Solukon.Consolidation and the year aheadIndustry observers have long foreseen a wave of consolidation in additive manufacturing, but predictions of swift shakeouts have yet to materialize. Weve been anticipating it for a while, says Dadhania, but has it gone completely as planned? Maybe not. While acquisitions such as Nano Dimensions headline-grabbing pursuit of Markforged and Desktop Metal have commanded attention, these moves have not significantly reshaped the market structure. Uncertainty as to whether the transactions will be completed persists. The aggregate revenues of even prominent merged entities represent only a small fraction of the estimated multi-billion-dollar additive sector.The underlying challenge is that newcomers continue to emerge. With a proliferation of start-ups and well over 800 exhibitors at major trade shows, end-users and investors face a baffling array of offerings. The industry needs to consolidate for full maturity, Ms. Dadhania notes, suggesting that the industry having fewer players could make it easier for customers to identify the right solutions for their application. For now, however, the drive to merge and simplify is lagging behind the rate at which new entrants arrive, leaving many players vying for attention in an increasingly crowded field.Investment levels in additive manufacturing look unlikely to rebound dramatically in 2025, with venture funding expected to remain stable rather than surge. I dont see significant changes in macroeconomic factors or attitudes that tell me more investment is coming, says Dadhania. She anticipates funding levels similar to those of 2024, with any growth likely concentrated on application-focused businesses rather than hardware or materials start-ups.Read more in this series:The State of Investment in the 3D Printing IndustryNATO Innovation Fund and defense tech investingAM Ventures: how to get your 3D printing start-up fundedNinepointfive founding partner on the new investment realityDont miss the upcoming articles in our State of Investing in 3D Printing series; subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter.To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, follow 3D Printing Industry on LinkedIn.You can also find us on Twitter, and Facebook.Featured image showsLondons financial district. Photo by Michael Petch.Michael PetchMichael Petch is the editor-in-chief at 3DPI and the author of several books on 3D printing. He is a regular keynote speaker at technology conferences where he has delivered presentations such as 3D printing with graphene and ceramics and the use of technology to enhance food security. Michael is most interested in the science behind emerging technology and the accompanying economic and social implications.

Frederick Tang Architectures latest project is a testament to form and multifunctionality, creating a serene space that lovingly expresses the personality and heritage of the apartments inhabitants. Throughout the Quarry Loft apartment in New York, Tang thoughtfully integrated delicate white oak millwork with decorative wallpaper panels and bold stonework. The familys grandfather was an abstract artist, so we were picking a lot of gestural textures on purpose, said Frederick Tang, principal of the eponymous studio. Youll see that in the stone, [and] the fabric panels are very painterlyalmost like watercolors. Tang opted for Kotoubia Fabric in Cyrrus from Eskayel. The main room features a vaulted ceiling, a series of sliding screens and fabric panels, and recessed doorsa space made to be flexible. Its a foyer, a guest room, a library, and an office, Tang toldAN Interior.Behind cabinetry, a hidden murphy bed can be revealed to create a fifth bedroomperfect for hosting guests during the familys large reunions. A desk rests behind blue panels that flank a religious altarpiece.Read more about the apartment on aninteriormag.com.