Call of Duty Warzone kicks off its second season of the Black Ops 6 era today here's what to expect, including when the update arrives and what's included in the updateTech23:00, 27 Jan 2025Updated 23:56, 27 Jan 2025Expect plenty more skins in the store(Image: Call of Duty)Call of Duty fans that stick to Warzone might be feeling a tad deflated that the Season 2 update is focused primarily on improving the base game rather than rolling out a whole host of new content, but there are still plenty of reasons to be cheerful.For one, Activision continues to target cheaters in the battle royale, plus there are new perks, Ranked Rewards, and weapon and movement changes to look forward to.Add to that the same new weapons found in Black Ops 6 and there's plenty to log in for and that's to say nothing of an upcoming Terminator crossover event.With new features across Black Ops 6 and Warzone, there's an awful lot to cover. We've covered this year's mainline instalment separately with its own patch notes, but here we're focused on the free-to-play battle royale.Here's everything you need to know about Warzone Season 2 when it arrives on January 28.Season 2's quality-of-life improvements could tee up a Verdansk return nicely(Image: Call of Duty)While Call of Duty updates used to launch on Wednesdays, we saw Season 1 Reloaded land on a Thursday, while Season 2 is coming on a Tuesday.That means you'll be able to start playing at 5pm GMT / 12pm EST / 9am PST today, January 28.As a reminder, the update is free, but CoD file sizes tend to be pretty large - be sure to clear some space if you need to. On PC, Battle.net let me preload and it came to just under 20GB.Finally, Gun Game is back(Image: Call of Duty)Article continues belowRanked Play - Players can expect fresh ranked rewards this time around.New Weapons - The PPSH-41 SMG, Cypher 091 AR, and Fen 82 LMG are all included in this season's battle pass, along with attachments including a full auto mod, crossbow, and more. The TR2 Marksman Rifle is an event weapon.New Perks - Warzone is getting new perks, with Reactive Armor at launch and Low Profile during the season.Here are the full Warzone patch notes for Season 2, courtesy of Raven Software.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Just like WandaVision before it, creator Jac Schaeffer envisioned the Marvel series as a one-and-done.

Another Jurassic film seemed unlikely before Jurassic World Dominion actually hit theaters in June 2022; it was the third film in the Jurassic World series, following the three in the Jurassic Park series, and felt like an expected stopping point. But Dominion was not good (io9s review called it colossally terrible). Now, the (mostly) beloved dinosaur franchise is getting another chance with this summers Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One, The Creator), and written by original Jurassic Park adapter David Koepp. In a new interview with Variety, Koeppwho penned Steven Soderberghs haunted-house drama Presence, which just hit theatersspoke about his return to the Jurassic series after writing 1993s Jurassic Park and 1997s The Lost World: Jurassic Park, both for director Steven Spielberg. The first two movies were two of my favorite experiences ever, the busy screenwriter remembered. And Steven [Spielberg] said, What about starting over? Lets try something all new. I said, Oh, thats a cool idea and then I threw an idea back. Thats it. It caught. You do that all the time with your friends and collaborators: throw ideas back and forth. And sometimes they catch, usually they dont. There is pressure because its going to cost a lot of money and there are going to be big expectations and blah, blah, blah. But there was no pressure at first just the pursuit of our ideas. Though Jurassic World Rebirth is based on an original idea this time, Koepp did go back to his original source materialMichael Crichtons Jurassic Park and The Lost World novelsfor inspiration. I reread the two novels to get myself back in that mode we did take some things from them, he said. There was a sequence from the first novel that wed always wanted in the original movie, but didnt have room for. We were like, Hey, we get to use that now. But just to get back in that head space 30 years lateris it still fun? And the answer is yes, it still really is. Dinosaurs are still fun. Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and presumably dinos galore; it picks up five years after the events of Dominion, and hits theaters July 2. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

When talking about technology, pundits often use the word disruptive as a compliment. In the case of DeepSeek, a large language model that is now challenging ChatGPT for AI supremacy, the term carries a mixed message.Financial news about the Chinese LLM delivered a blow to tech stocks for a few reasons. First, the program appears to require less computer processing power than its competitors. Companies like Nvidia had seen their stock prices soar in recent months, because the conventional wisdom said that fueling the AI revolution would require lots and lots of specialized chips like the one the company manufactures. Such stocks tumbled when performance data about DeepSeek was published.It is also being offered for now at least as a less expensive option for users. That could contribute to driving down stock prices of companies like Meta and Alphabet, who are counting on financial returns for their AI investments.Open Source for GoodMohamed Abazeed, a professor at Northwestern University, mostly sees DeepSeeks disruption as a force for good unless youre a stockholder of a company like Nvidia. The main positive, he says, is that DeepSeek is open source, meaning others can play with its code and adapt it to their own specialized needs.It will allow developers to access, modify, and implement the model freely, Abazeed says. This openness is a distinguishing factor from other AI models.Potential Security Risk?Daniel Khashabi, a computer science professor and AI expert at Johns Hopkins University, is less sanguine. He agrees that it grabbed headlines due to its speed and accuracy. But he is suspicious of its Chinese origins.While the model may appear competent based on performance in a few popular benchmarks, it may exhibit various biases and even adversarial behaviors that may not be immediately obvious to most users, Khashabi says. There is a clear security threat here.Khashabi recommends that developers who opt to work with DeepSeek "use significant caution and care." They should closely monitor its output to see that it is following their intended behavior. This is good advice not just for DeepSeek, he says, but for any software developed by a different country that has minimal to no documentation.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

Having dark circles under your eyes could be a tell-tale sign of several things. They usually appear if youre tired but can also be genetic, or a sign of stress, among others. Dark circles can happen to almost anyone of any age and gender, and there are several ways to lighten their appearance and help them fade.What Causes Dark Circles Under Eyes?Whether youve had a long and stressful week at work or pulled an all-nighter studying for an exam, youve likely experienced dark under your eyes. Dark circles under the eyes usually appear purple, blue, brown, or black, similar to a bruise. While there are several reasons as to why they appear, oftentimes, its associated with being tired.However, according to health professionals at UCLA, besides being an indicator of tiredness, the dark circles under your eyes can also be genetic, a sign of stress, a symptom of a different health condition, or a sign of excessive drinking and smoking.Health conditions that can lead to dark under-eye circles include skin conditions, such as eczema and hyperpigmentation, and respiratory conditions, such as asthma and severe allergies. Poor circulation is another cause.With many of these conditions, the skin is pale, causing the blood vessels around the eyes to appear easier. Then, if you itch your eyes, that can cause the blood vessels to swell or even break under the eyes, giving off a bruised appearance. With hyperpigmentation a condition where patches of skin are darker than others sun exposure can lead to dark circles.Another main cause is aging. As our bodies age, our skin can lose its elasticity and thin out, which causes the blood vessels to appear easier.How to Treat Dark CirclesDepending on the cause of the dark circles, there are several ways to treat or prevent them. Getting enough sleep and staying hydrated is a great start. Those with hyperpigmentation should wear sunscreen daily and sunglasses outside to help prevent darker circles under the eyes. Another treatment for hyperpigmentation could be retinoid creams.Cold compresses or even cold tea bags can also help reduce inflamed blood vessels and puffy eyes. The cold tea bags, which contain caffeine and other antioxidants, can help increase blood circulation. Facials can treat dark under eyes, since they are relaxing and also improve circulation. For a quick cosmetic fix, you can cover the dark circles with makeup to reduce the look of them.If the dark under-eye circles are more prominent, there are other medical procedures such as chemical peels, tissue fillers, and laser therapy, among others.If youre concerned about your dark under-eye circles, ask your doctor or medical professional for advice. This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Cleveland Clinic. Dark Circles Under EyesA graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

Peter MaiReleased in the early 90s, Castlevania III: Draculas Curse was one of Peter Mais favorite childhood video games on the NES. The opening scene, where Trevor Belmont stands before the abandoned church, left a strong visual impression on the artist. Inspired by the growing trend of video game remasters, he decided to create his own interpretation of this iconic environment. For Peter, this project serves as an opportunity to adapt the workflow of an environment artist for games and gain more experience in concept look development, building asset kits, optimizing model topology, and refining texture procedural workflows in Unreal Engine 5.Peter has finished building the scene and is now focused on texturing, showcasing a newly created stained glass material with procedural damage controls for the windows. He crafted the design using Substance 3D Designer and Photoshop for the decal artwork, with the final material featuring adjustable glass damage built and refined directly in the engine.Peter MaiPeter MaiHere are the concepts of the location made by Peter to help you better understand both the original look and the creative direction behind his interpretation:Peter MaiPeter MaiMore progress on this project with some amazing materials:Peter MaiPeter MaiPeter MaiFind out more about the stained glass window material here, and read up on Peter Mais Castlevania III: Draculas Curse remaster by clicking here.Also, join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us on Instagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, and awesome artworks.Source link The post Stained Glass Material With Procedural Damage For Castlevania IIIs Environment Remaster appeared first on CG SHARES.

The Sims and Tiny Glade lovers should definitely keep an eye on Outside the Blocks, a game every wannabe environment artist has been dreaming about. You dont have to know ZBrush, Maya, or Substance 3D Painter to create your own dioramas this model builder will give you everything you need.Developed by Micha Kubas, a former Dying Light and Dead Island artist and now the co-owner of Quite OK Games, Outside the Blocks allows you to change terrains, adding grass or epoxy resin-like rivers, easily assemble modular houses, and then light your little scene.Micha KubasStep into Outside the Blocks, the ultimate playground for builders and creators who want to express their artistic side in a relaxing, stress-free environment. Forget about objectives and pressure immerse yourself in the pure joy of creation.Micha KubasMicha KubasYou can manipulate entire building sections with the games block system, customize materials, use layers for more precise control, and imagine a story with animated characters.After youre done expressing your creativity, immortalize your masterpiece with the built-in Photo Mode.Micha KubasMicha KubasMicha KubasMicha KubasMicha KubasMicha KubasOutside the Blocks doesnt have a release date yet, but you can play the demo on Steam.Find Kubass art on ArtStation and join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Practice Your 3D Diorama-Making Skills in This Fun Game appeared first on CG SHARES.

Dragonlance Chronicles Hardcover Omnibus $24.50 (was $35) | Releases February 4 Preorder at Amazon Dungeons & Dragons has spawned numerous novels over the decades, but some of the most celebrated are the original Dragonlance Chronicles novel trilogy written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. Soon, fans will be able to re-experience the novels thanks to a new Dragonlance Chronicles hardcover omnibus collection, marking the first new printing of the novels in several years. The book launches February 4, and preorders are discounted to just $31.50 (was $35) at Amazon. Dragonlance Chronicles Hardcover Omnibus $24.50 (was $35) | Releases February 4 Dragonlance Chronicles is a 1,056-page omnibus featuring the three original novels in the series co-written by Hickman and Weis: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning. It also features an all-new cover illustration and a foreword by actor (and hardcore D&D enthusiast) Joe Manganiello. Preorder at Amazon The series is based in the official Dragonlance campaign setting for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First and Second Editions, which itself was borne out of Hickman and Weis' D&D sessions in the early 1980s. The high fantasy trilogy follows a band of adventurers who get swept up in an epic conflict known as the War of the Lance. The trilogy was published alongside numerous other official D&D works set in the Dragonlance universe, including adventure modules, spin-off board games, video games, and more.While the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy served as the official storyline for the original AD&D Dragonlance modules, future editions of D&D have also featured official modules and expansions set in the Dragonlance setting, including the most recent Fifth Edition. Aside from the official game materials, it has spawned over 190 spin-off novels, including two follow-up books to the original trilogy, Dragonlance Chronicles: The Second Generation and Dragons of Summer Flame. Unfortunately, physical copies of both books are sold out, but you can pick up Kindle and audiobook editions of Summer Flame at Amazon.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Stephen King is a wildly prolific writer, with over 60 novels and novellas to his name, and soon that legacy will grow even larger when The Gwendy Trilogy Omnibus launches on February 18. The collection compiles the entire Gwendy trilogy into one easy-to-read volume. Preorders are discounted to $20 at Amazon (normally $22). The Gwendy Trilogy Omnibus (Paperback) $20 (was $22) | Releases February 18 Written by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar, The Gwendy Trilogy follows a 12-year-old girl who is given a mysterious wooden box by a stranger. Inside are a bunch of unique items--but if Gwendy is tempted to press any of the buttons inside the wooden box, something terrible will happen. The two following books in the trilogy follow Gwendy later in life, with Gwendys Magic Feather seeing her become a successful author only to once again stumble upon the deadly button box, and it concludes with Gwendys Final Task as evil forces attempt to seize control of the box. This paperback omnibus is a bind-up, which is a single-volume edition containing the entire three-book trilogy. Preorder at Amazon Preordering from Amazon locks in the preorder price guarantee, so if the price changes between now and release, youll only be on the hook for the lowest price. You also wont be charged until the item ships. Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Atlantis update added a huge location of the same name to Fisch with various catches, quests, and rewards. However, before you can explore it, you must complete several quests, some of which are quite confusing. This guide will tell you how to get and use the Heart of Zeus to enter Atlantis in Fisch.