GameDev Archives GameDev ArchivesSelect Month January 2025 (17) December 2024 (29) November 2024 (25) October 2024 (26) September 2024 (22) August 2024 (14) July 2024 (20) June 2024 (20) May 2024 (21) April 2024 (23) March 2024 (30) February 2024 (23) January 2024 (17) December 2023 (18) November 2023 (17) October 2023 (30) September 2023 (30) August 2023 (13) July 2023 (17) June 2023 (20) May 2023 (24) April 2023 (20) March 2023 (25) February 2023 (22) January 2023 (19) December 2022 (15) November 2022 (25) October 2022 (18) September 2022 (19) August 2022 (18) July 2022 (13) June 2022 (22) May 2022 (23) April 2022 (28) March 2022 (29) February 2022 (21) January 2022 (21) December 2021 (18) November 2021 (26) October 2021 (22) September 2021 (21) August 2021 (23) July 2021 (24) June 2021 (23) May 2021 (24) April 2021 (28) March 2021 (35) February 2021 (26) January 2021 (28) December 2020 (33) November 2020 (38) October 2020 (34) September 2020 (38) August 2020 (30) July 2020 (33) June 2020 (34) May 2020 (27) April 2020 (34) March 2020 (31) February 2020 (26) January 2020 (22) December 2019 (20) November 2019 (23) October 2019 (34) September 2019 (30) August 2019 (17) July 2019 (25) June 2019 (22) May 2019 (26) April 2019 (21) March 2019 (28) February 2019 (24) January 2019 (27) December 2018 (14) November 2018 (19) October 2018 (22) September 2018 (23) August 2018 (23) July 2018 (30) June 2018 (32) May 2018 (33) April 2018 (21) March 2018 (29) February 2018 (16) January 2018 (18) December 2017 (15) November 2017 (15) October 2017 (15) September 2017 (20) August 2017 (12) July 2017 (15) June 2017 (25) May 2017 (20) April 2017 (16) March 2017 (30) February 2017 (31) January 2017 (24) December 2016 (32) November 2016 (42) October 2016 (27) September 2016 (34) August 2016 (32) July 2016 (35) June 2016 (37) May 2016 (48) April 2016 (83) March 2016 (56) February 2016 (43) January 2016 (54) December 2015 (44) November 2015 (49) October 2015 (17) September 2015 (13) August 2015 (13) July 2015 (17) June 2015 (27) May 2015 (20) April 2015 (15) March 2015 (18) February 2015 (9) January 2015 (11) December 2014 (17) November 2014 (22) October 2014 (47) September 2014 (9) August 2014 (5) July 2014 (14) June 2014 (17) May 2014 (12) April 2014 (13) March 2014 (18) February 2014 (13) January 2014 (15) December 2013 (6) November 2013 (8) October 2013 (8) September 2013 (21) August 2013 (13) July 2013 (16) June 2013 (17) May 2013 (13) April 2013 (21) March 2013 (18) February 2013 (13) January 2013 (13) December 2012 (15) November 2012 (22) October 2012 (24) September 2012 (24) August 2012 (41) July 2012 (16) June 2012 (32) May 2012 (28) April 2012 (19) March 2012 (12) February 2012 (18) January 2012 (11) December 2011 (12) November 2011 (13) October 2011 (22) September 2011 (7) August 2011 (11) July 2011 (5) June 2011 (7) May 2011 (16) April 2011 (10) January 1970 (1)

Tokenization plays a fundamental role in the performance and scalability of Large Language Models (LLMs). Despite being a critical component, its influence on model training and efficiency remains underexplored. While larger vocabularies can compress sequences and reduce computational costs, existing approaches tie input and output vocabularies together, creating trade-offs where scaling benefits larger models but harms smaller ones. This paper introduces a framework called Over-Tokenized Transformers that reimagines vocabulary design by decoupling input and output tokenization, unlocking new pathways for model efficiency and performance.Reference: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.16975Traditional tokenization methods use identical vocabularies for input processing and output prediction. While larger vocabularies allow models to process longer n-gram tokens (e.g., multi-character sequences), they force smaller models to handle overly granular output predictions, increasing underfitting risks. For instance, a 3-gram tokenizer reduces sequence length by 66% but requires predicting three characters jointlya task manageable for large models but overwhelming for smaller ones. Previous work like multi-token prediction (MTP) attempted to address this by predicting future tokens in parallel, but these methods still entangled input/output granularity and struggled with smaller architectures.The research team identified a critical insight through synthetic experiments with context-free grammars: input and output vocabularies influence models differently. Larger input vocabularies consistently improved all model sizes by enriching context representations through multi-gram embeddings. Conversely, larger output vocabularies introduced fine-grained prediction tasks that only benefited sufficiently large models. This dichotomy motivated their Over-Tokenized framework, which separates input encoding (Over-Encoding) and output decoding (Over-Decoding) vocabularies.Over-Encoding (OE) scales input vocabularies exponentially using hierarchical n-gram embeddings. Instead of a single token ID, each input token is represented as the sum of 1-, 2-, and 3-gram embeddings. For example, the word cat might decompose into embeddings for c, ca, and cat, allowing the model to capture multi-scale contextual cues. To avoid impractical memory costs from large n-gram tables (e.g., 100k entries), the team used parameter-efficient techniques:Modulo-based token hashing: Maps n-gram tokens to a fixed-size embedding table using modular arithmetic, enabling dynamic vocabulary expansion without storing all possible combinations.Embedding decomposition:Over-Decoding (OD) approximates larger output vocabularies by predicting multiple future tokens sequentially, a refinement of earlier MTP methods. For instance, instead of predicting one token at a time, OD trains the model to predict the next two tokens conditioned on the first prediction. Crucially, OD is selectively appliedonly larger models benefit from this granular supervision, while smaller ones retain single-token decoding to avoid underfitting.The researchers performed experiments on OLMo and OLMoE architectures and demonstrated three key findings:Log-Linear Scaling: Training loss decreased linearly as input vocabulary size grew exponentially (Figure 1). A 400M parameter model with a 12.8M-entry input vocabulary matched the performance of a 1B-parameter baseline, achieving 2.5 effective scaling at equal computational cost.Convergence Acceleration: Over-Encoding reduced training steps needed for convergence by 35 across tasks like MMLU and PIQA, suggesting richer input representations accelerate learning.Sparse Parameter Efficiency: Despite using 128 larger input vocabularies, memory and computation overheads increased by <5% due to sparse embedding access and optimized sharding strategies.On evaluations, the framework demonstrated consistent performance improvements across various model types. For dense models, a 151M Over-Encoded (OE) model achieved a 14% reduction in perplexity compared to its baseline. Similarly, in sparse Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) models, the OLMoE-1.3B with OE reduced validation loss by 0.12 points, although the gains were less pronounced as the benefits of sparse experts diluted the impact of embedding enhancements. Beyond synthetic experiments, real-world evaluations on large-scale datasets further validated these findings. Over-Encoded models consistently improved performance across multiple benchmarks, including MMLU-Var, Hellaswag, ARC-Challenge, ARC-Easy, and PIQA. Notably, the framework accelerated convergence, achieving a 5.7 speedup in training loss reduction. Additionally, downstream evaluations showed significant acceleration, with OE delivering speedups of 3.2 on MMLU-Var, 3.0 on Hellaswag, 2.6 on ARC-Challenge, 3.1 on ARC-Easy, and 3.9 on PIQA, highlighting its efficiency and effectiveness across diverse tasks.In conclusion, this work redefines tokenization as a scalable dimension in language model design. By decoupling input and output vocabularies, Over-Tokenized Transformers break traditional trade-offs, enabling smaller models to benefit from compressed input sequences without grappling with overly complex prediction tasks. The log-linear relationship between input vocabulary size and performance suggests embedding parameters represent a new axis for scaling laws, complementing existing work on model depth and width. Practically, the framework offers a low-cost upgrade path for existing architecturesintegrating Over-Encoding requires minimal code changes but yields immediate efficiency gains. Future research could explore hybrid tokenization strategies or dynamic vocabulary adaptation, further solidifying tokenizations role in the next generation of efficient, high-performing LLMs.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our70k+ ML SubReddit.(Promoted) Vineet KumarVineet Kumar is a consulting intern at MarktechPost. He is currently pursuing his BS from the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Kanpur. He is a Machine Learning enthusiast. He is passionate about research and the latest advancements in Deep Learning, Computer Vision, and related fields.Vineet Kumarhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/vineet1897/Creating An AI Agent-Based System with LangGraph: A Beginners GuideVineet Kumarhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/vineet1897/Unlocking Autonomous Planning in LLMs: How AoT+ Overcomes Hallucinations and Cognitive LoadVineet Kumarhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/vineet1897/Plurai Introduces IntellAgent: An Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework to Evaluate Complex Conversational AI SystemVineet Kumarhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/vineet1897/Create Portrait Mode Effect with Segment Anything Model 2 (SAM2) [Recommended] Join Our Telegram Channel

#60: DeepSeek, CAG, and the Future of AI Reasoning 0 like January 30, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Towards AI Editorial Team Originally published on Towards AI. Good morning, AI enthusiasts! The last two weeks in AI have been all about Deepseek-R1. So this weeks issue includes resources and discussions on that, along with emerging techniques such as CAG, AI agent frameworks like AutoGen, AG2, and Semantic Kernel, and more. Enjoy the read!Whats AI WeeklyThis week in Whats AI, I explore Cache-Augmented Generation (CAG), which has emerged as a true alternative to RAG. RAG is great for accuracy but needs time to search through and compare documents. And it gets worse the more data you have. This is where CAG comes in and says, What if we just preloaded all that knowledge directly into the models memory? So, lets understand what CAG is, how it differs from RAG, and when to use both. Read the article here or watch the video on YouTube. Louis-Franois Bouchard, Towards AI Co-founder & Head of CommunityLearn AI Together Community section!Featured Community post from the DiscordFuwafuwari. has built a resource website that can serve as a roadmap for anyone starting in the field of AI. It includes curated roadmaps, videos, articles, and other learning materials. You can start learning through the open-sourced GitHub repository. You can also contribute material and support a community member. If you have any questions or suggestions, reach out in the thread!AI poll of the week!Only a handful of people knew about DeepSeek a few days ago. Yet, thanks to the release of DeepSeek-R1, its been arguably the most discussed company, and the polls also show a clear inclination towards using DeepSeek. Is price guiding your decision? Tell us in the thread!Meme of the week!Meme shared by richardlhkTAI Curated sectionArticle of the weekAdvancing Time Series Forecasting: A Comparative Study of Mamba, GRU, KAN, GNN, and ARMA Models By Shenggang LiThis article evaluates five models for multivariate time series forecasting: Mamba, GRU, KAN, GNN, and ARMA. It highlights the strengths and limitations of each, with KAN excelling due to its dynamic weighting for nonlinear relationships, achieving the lowest error rates. GRU performed well in capturing sequential dependencies, while Mamba balanced accuracy and interpretability. GNN showed moderate results, requiring further tuning, and ARMA struggled with multivariate complexity. It also proposes integrating Mamba and KAN for a unified framework, combining temporal modeling with nonlinear adaptability. This comparative study provides insights into selecting and enhancing models for complex forecasting tasks.Our must-read articles1. AutoGen, AG2, and Semantic Kernel: Complete Guide By Naveen KrishnanThis article provides a comprehensive guide to three AI agent frameworks: AutoGen, AG2, and Semantic Kernel. It explores their architectures, features, and use cases, offering practical examples for implementation. AutoGen introduces asynchronous messaging, modularity, debugging tools, and applications like AutoGen Studio for rapid prototyping. AG2, a community-driven evolution of AutoGen, focuses on agent orchestration and collaboration. Semantic Kernel, a lightweight framework, supports enterprise-grade AI integration. It concludes by highlighting the strengths of each framework, helping developers select the most suitable option for building intelligent, autonomous systems tailored to their needs.2. DeepSeek-R1: The Open-Source AI That Thinks Like OpenAIs Best By Yash ThubeThis article introduces DeepSeek-R1, an open-source language model designed to rival OpenAIs advanced models in reasoning tasks at a fraction of the cost. Using innovative techniques like Group Relative Policy Optimization (GRPO) and reinforcement learning, the model self-learns reasoning strategies without extensive human feedback. DeepSeek-R1 excels in benchmarks like AIME 2024 and coding tasks, offering clear, structured outputs. By releasing its weights and distillation recipes, DeepSeek democratizes AI, enabling developers to create specialized, cost-effective models.3. Why Phi-4 14B Is So Much Better Than GPT-4o And o1 Here The Results By Gao Dalie ()This article compares Microsofts Phi-4 model with GPT-4o and O1, highlighting Phi-4s strengths in mathematical reasoning and efficiency. Phi-4 features 14 billion parameters and excels in tasks requiring logical thinking, such as solving equations and financial modeling. It achieves high benchmark scores, surpassing larger models like Googles Gemini Pro. It also demonstrates Phi-4s usability on standard hardware through quantization techniques, making it accessible for local deployment. While O1 is faster, Phi-4s open-source nature and performance make it a practical choice for developers with limited resources.4. Bayesian State-Space Neural Networks (BSSNN): A Novel Framework for Interpretable and Probabilistic Neural Models By Shenggang LiThis article introduces the Bayesian State-Space Neural Network (BSSNN), a framework combining Bayesian principles, state-space modeling, and neural networks to enhance interpretability and probabilistic forecasting. BSSNN explicitly models joint and marginal probabilities, enabling it to predict outcomes (Y|X) and reverse inferences (X|Y). The article details its architecture, training process, and performance evaluation, comparing it to logistic regression. While BSSNN demonstrates improved accuracy and flexibility, challenges like computational demands and potential underfitting are noted.If you are interested in publishing with Towards AI, check our guidelines and sign up. We will publish your work to our network if it meets our editorial policies and standards.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

There has never been a better time to read comics than right now.This would probably pass as a controversial opinion if you were to belt it out at your local comic shop, with a guy buying a stack of Amazing Spider-Man books immediately telling you how terrible Amazing Spider-Man is and so on, but speaking as someone who waited a full decade to read the first four issues of Legion Lost (but not the last eight), I can tell you that every single issue of every comic ever printed is more accessible now than it was a decade ago. And this is true in print as well as digital.But that makes for some confusing purchases. You could get the new Spencer Ackerman/Julius Ohta Iron Man in singles, or wait for the trade? Why get the Starman compendiums when an annual subscription to the DC Universe Infinite on-demand comics app that gives you access to most of DCs massive archive of books costs about the same? Believe it or not, Ive thought a lot about this, and I have some advice.First, if you like it, there is no wrong way to read it. Comics should be read to your hearts content. Dont worry too much about how to read it, as long as you can read it.Second, if it looks interesting but youre not quite ready to commit, ask your library to get it. Most libraries have digital options, and many are part of consortiums that have bigger purchasing power than you might think. And Ive never met a group of people more excited to get requests than librarians. Now onto format specific recommendations.You should check out a streaming service if youre planning to race through a huge backlog of books. Im doing a Claremont-era X-Book run now, and its so much easier being able to bring 35 issues on a plane on an ipad than it is to bring a trade or an omnibus. I have LOTS of recommendations for what to stream at Marvel Unlimited and DC Infinite if thats whats holding you back.You should pre-order single issues if you like a creative team and want to keep seeing their take on a character, or if its creator-owned or from a small press. There will always be a comic called X-Men or Green Lantern on shelves, but your favorite artists run might get cut short if the book doesnt sell well upfrontsee Omega Men in 2016.You should chase down back issues if you like the thrill of the hunt, you can spot a key issue at 60 paces, or you cant find a copy anywhere else. It took 10 years before I fully read Abnett & Lannings Legion Lost, and it took another few years before I had gathered most of their full run in singles, so that when DC finally started collecting their work in trade, inertia made me complete the set. But that was actually a lot of fun! And I find a certain collectors wanderlust pushing me to start thinking about other runs, too. If you get that feeling, hit those back issue bins at your local comic shop!You should get trade paperback collections if you like a story, want a more compact way to collect physical copies, and want it now. Trades look really nice on bookshelves, and they provide immediate reading material that is (usually) certain to be printed through to the end, which you cant always say for larger formats.You should buy compendiums if you dont trust streaming services entirely and you want to own something youre going to read to death. These booksDC calls them compendiums, Marvel has Epic Collections, Dark Horse does library editions, IDW calls them omnisusually have slightly worse paper quality and less fancy bindings in exchange for a TON of comics. This isnt universally the casethe Black Hammer Library Editions are as good or better than Marvels (slightly more upscale than this) omnibuses, and theyre way cheaper. These are, to me, the best bang for your buck.Fancy editions are a wonderful way to collect the stories you love the most. Marvel omnis, DCs Absolute Editions, IDW Artists Editions, and the like are all top of the line collections. They do different thingsMarvel omnis are a mostly straightforward collection of comics, printed with a fancy book jacket and usually an amazing hardcover underneath. Absolutes come in slipcases with a ton of secondary material. Artists Editions are laser focused on showing off a particular artists process and work. The unifying factor here is that they are all made with incredible care by people who adore the work and the medium. Theyre pricier, but if you have a story that you lovefor me, its Walt Simonsons Thor, Kirbys Fourth World, and Darwyn Cookes Parker storiesthese are wonderful to read and a joy to own and share.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

The second season of Netflixs The Recruit is full of action, espionage, and intrigue as Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) tries to get off the CIAs shit list by looking into a graymail case in South Korea. No matter how much he tries to avoid the mistakes of his last mission, he cant help but fall face first into another deadly thread of conspiracies and secrets that could threaten his job, and his life, if he doesnt succeed.Heres how The Recruit season 2 ending goes down. How Many Episodes Are in The Recruit Season 2?This season of The Recruit is shorter than the last, with only six episodes compared to eight in season 1. Which is unfortunate, because this season could have really used a little breathing room to wrap things up.While no definitive reason has been given for why this season of The Recruit is shorter than the last, it seems to be part of a larger trend of shorter sophomore seasons across streaming services and cable networks. Some like Squid Game and The Diplomat have been shortened at the behest of the writers behind them, but others are likely do to a combination of factors like shorter budgets and production timelines affected by the WGA and SAG work stoppages of 2023.Is Owens Mission Successful?This section contains spoilers for the season 2 finale of The Recruit.Owen, Jang Kyun (Teo Yoo), Lester (Colton Dunn), Dawn (Angel Parker), and her crew of mercenaries make it to Russian waters aboard the fishing boat Owen bought/rented from his childhood friend,Yoo Jin (Shin Do-hyun). Once they pass inspection with a hefty bribe, all thats left to do is find a way to get Nan-hee (Lee Sang-hee)back from the Yakuza.After doing some recon, Nichka (Maddie Hasson), reveals that the Yakuza are basically holding Nan-hee in a fortress. Infiltrating that seems virtually impossible with their small crew and lack of resources, so Owen proposes luring the Yakuza out onto the water for an ambush by once again posing as a K&R agent looking to get Nan-hee released.The operation seems like it has every potential to succeed. Owen and Jang Kyun get the Yakuza right where they want them. Dawn and her mercenaries are poised to infiltrate. But then a Russian boat starts patrolling the area a bit too close, leading Dawn to call off the attack and leaving Owen and Jang Kyun to fend for themselves.Jang Kyun is shot and captured and Owen barely escapes the boat alive. He manages to swim to shore, taking refuge in a nearby houseboat. Owen is presumed dead by Dawn, Lester, and the CIA, who task Amelia (Kaylah Zander) with repapering Owen and pinning everything they can on him.Meanwhile, the houseboats residents, Russian officers, come home and Owen is forced to take them out. Once theyre at least temporarily taken care of, Owen uses one of their phones to call Lester, who tries to talk him out of trying to rescue Jang Kyun and Nan-hee on his own. When that fails, he sends Nichka to help.Does Nichka Betray Owen and the CIA?But Nichka has no interest in actually helping. Surprising no one, the Russian agent who killed her own mother without hesitation sold Owen and the others out to the FSB and paid the Russian Coast Guard to patrol the water. Shes the reason that the original plan failed. Owen realizes this when she comes to help him infiltrate the airfield that Jang Kyun and Nan-hee are being held at. He fights her, knocks her out, and decides to proceed alone.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Somehow against all odds, Owen manages to sneak in and get Jang Kyun and Nan-hee out of Russian custody. They make a break for the water where Yoo Jin, Lester and the fishing boat are waiting for them. They sail away as fast as they can, with Nichka and the Russians in hot pursuit until, miraculously, a U.S. submarine comes out of the water and chases them off.Whats Next for Owen and the Others in Season 3?Owen and Jang Kyun have a brief talk about Jang Kyun and Nan-hees future Owen highly encourages him to let the CIA fake their deaths and give them new identities in America in exchange for intel. Jang Kyun agrees, not really having much of a choice, and they shake on it as the submarine sails off into the sunset.While Owen is technically successful in his mission, we dont really get to see any of the aftermath. Is the CIA still going to try and take him to task for all of his mistakes? Is he going to officially be more than just a lawyer now that hes recruited Jang Kyun? Was this submarine really just in the right place at the right time?This ending has left us with so many questions, and we really wish that there had been another episode or two to give this intense and action-packed finale a little more room to explore the aftermath. Owen has been ready to quit his job since season 1, but with his own flipped agent to take care of now, the path toward becoming a true field agent is looking pretty open, should he choose to go down it. Fingers crossed another season is on the way to answer these questions, and more.

Typically, if Im holding my breath while playing a game, its because Im focused on the rhythm of say, an intense combat sequence or platforming section. The tension stems from the precise, real-time input needed to triumph in those situations, a perfectly-aligned leap or parry. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, an RPG in which the main mechanic is placing dice into a slot at your leisure, does not require the lightning fast touch of a button, and that in itself is a testament to how exhilarating the game can be.Citizen Sleeper 2 is the sequel to 2022s Citizen Sleeper, and a compelling evolution to the first instalment that introduces new characters, stories and mechanics. You dont necessarily need to have played the first game, but it does help in understanding the nuance and complexities of the unforgiving, dystopian world that Citizen Sleeper is set in. While the first game often felt like an isolated journey where helping yourself was often a zero-sum game, Citizen Sleeper 2 introduces a crew system, alongside some other clever new features, allowing your Sleeper to become the quirky, unappointed protagonist of your very own episodic sci-fi adventure.Mechanically, the sequel feels fresh but familiar. Like the first game, Citizen Sleeper 2 is driven by Cycles, and at the start of each, youll roll a set of six-sided dice that will determine your output during any given Cycle. These dice will then slot into numerous activities, and the higher the roll, the higher the chance of success. Where Citizen Sleeper 2 builds on this is in a brand-new Glitch system, a quirk that can debuff one or multiple of your dice rolls substantially, and the Push system, which allows you to decrease the risk of using a specific dice to accrue Stress, another new feature.Stress is an exchange, letting you exchange short term success for further complications later on like breaking a die, rendering it useless for a Cycle. This system forces you to gamble, to analyse whether success in the moment is worth whatever damage youll do to yourself in the long run. This is where those tense, exhilarating moments come into play, Citizen Sleeper 2 is at its best when a critical success or punishing failure hinges on an unpredictable dice roll.Its a much more engaging system, turning the act of simply rolling dice into a wider risk/reward system that enables you to essentially push through a difficult situation and pay for it later. Citizen Sleeper 2 is effectively a game about being alive in a body that doesnt quite work as youd like it to, and its mechanics are masterfully built to force you to wrestle with that at all times, yet it never feels a burden to play.Another new addition that impacts how you play is the class system, which introduces three distinct Sleeper archetypes with their own strengths and weaknesses. Each class starts with strength in one skill, with the ability to unlock points and build out other skills as you play. However, each of these has one skill completely blocked off, youll not be able to build on it and will always be at a disadvantage on activities that require it. For example, I went with the Machinist role, a pragmatic archetype that excels with the Engineer skill and falls short with the Engage skill. In short, great at fixing things, not so great at socialising. Its a balanced system, but one that drives a natural instinct to play a role, which will also impact how you build your party, another excellent addition to Citizen Sleeper 2.As you progress, youll meet new characters that can be recruited as part of your crew, and each of these new additions comes with their own skills. This changes the dynamic of Citizen Sleeper 2 dramatically youre no longer only dependent on your own dice rolls, your crew members can contribute additional die in certain moments.However, these characters are more than just tactical additions to your tabletop arsenal. Citizen Sleeper 2s colorful cast is compelling to follow, because theyre not merely compelled to follow you. Theyre individual personalities, each with their own drives and dreams. Sometimes, crew members will be indisposed on errands of their own making, and sometimes their actions will put you in interesting positions, and sometimes those situations may conflict with how you have chosen to roleplay your Sleeper. These characters are not written to be necessarily good or bad personalities, but everyone you meet has been molded by the dystopian landscape they all share in some way. Theres moral ambiguity in characters that have been shaped by loneliness, conflict and desperation, and theres a muted cordiality in everyone just trying to survive.One thing to really heed is that there is no right or wrong way to play Citizen Sleeper 2. Progression is not confined by the binaries of success and failure here, there is no game over if you find yourself stumbling through a run of bad luck and poor dice rolls. The decisions that you or your crew decide or deign are the ones that truly matter, and your priorities may change as you uncover new threads to pull on.The main story of Citizen Sleeper 2 is propelled forward by Major Drives, main missions thatll advance the plot, but youll also pick up Minor Drives, side quests that are optional but will uncover integral additions such as new crew members and valuable items, some of which will pertain to the personal goals of your crew members. However, the new Contract system is where Citizen Sleeper 2 really shines in its homage to the episodic television format the game draws influence from. Contracts are little missions that your crew can embark on with their own engaging narratives and rewards, and theyre also where camaraderie with your crew is key to survival. Opportunities are often shrouded behind inconspicuous interactions that require good use of every skill, and not just your own.Contracts are accessed via a new map layout, which allows your crew to travel freely between several locations. Citizen Sleeper 2 is far less linear, some Minor Drives will take you to new locations, or you can just choose to spend a few Cycles exploring a place with no specific goal. While its predecessor kept you isolated and tied to one place, Citizen Sleeper 2 extends an open invitation to explore a sprawling galaxy, as long as you have the supplies to get where youre going.There is, however, a constant clock running in the background as you partake in all of this wild-eyed wandering. The next narrative beat will often be forced upon you after a certain number of Cycles, and the way to keep failure at bay is to always be moving around. Again, this isnt a pending failure, but a persistent reminder that there are consequences to your actions in this unrelenting universe.Citizen Sleeper 2 constantly dances on the line between a calm, controlled stroll and a high-octane sprint. While you may be engaging in some non-important churn, taking your time with its many engaging dialogue sequences, the everpresent thrum of danger is always creeping up to you, making sure you can never truly relax wherever you are. Its a masterful feat of thoughtful worldbuilding, where your success is often either clutched through chaos or entirely incalculable, which is also a salient question that Citizen Sleepers world poses about existence: What if everything just went wrong anyway, and that was okay?Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is out January 31 for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and is available day one with Xbox Game Pass.

SummaryIndie Selects has turned one year old, and were celebrating by crowning our top six picks for the last year.Check out quotes from the developers of our Anniversary Collection.Were running a huge Indie Selects sale, with discounts on over 200 indie games from 2024.Happy new year to all and happy first birthday to Indie Selects! A year ago, we set up the Indie Selects program with the goal of highlighting and recommending indie games found on the Xbox Store that arent necessarily part of the Xbox Game Pass service, so that great games and great teams never go uncelebrated. Think of Indie Selects as the Staff Picks shelf at a Blockbuster Video or Tower Records. And now you think I am 80 years old. Ah well.Today, were celebrating the one-year anniversary of this program with a 2024 Anniversary Collection featuring our six top Indie Selects titles from 2024 that we believe you need to play they will be enshrined for all time (or until the Xbox Store team tells us to stop). So, without further ado, here are the six titles we picked for our first Yearly Selects line-up: Balatro, Animal Well, The Plucky Squire, Neva, Crow Country, and Hypercharge: Unboxed.Whether you come home from a rough day and need to unwind, or youre just looking for the right adventure that can connect you with a family member, games like these six matter and so do the teams that make them. These contributions to the industry deserve attention, celebration, and enjoyment. The Anniversary Collection can be found in the Indie Selects row on Xbox Store Games home from January 29 to February 11. Heres how to find it:From Xbox Home, select StoreOn Store go to the left nav bar and select Games Home.On Game Home scroll down until you see the collection!Each of these titles are a great representation of what our industry strives to achieve. To celebrate and thank each of these developers for creating such beloved pieces of work, we asked each of them if they would be gracious enough to reflect and share their thoughts with us on the following question:Looking back at the entire development process, what does it mean to your game studio to launch this project and receive so much high praise from both the gaming audience and critics alike?Balatro Developed by LocalThunk Inc.While the praise for the game is certainly nice, Balatro is and always has been a personal passion project more than anything else. I am lucky that the game performed well in this industry at all, and Im really glad to use the attention from Balatro to shine a light on some of the other incredible indie games out there right now. I think its a great time to be a fan of indie games! LocalThunk, Developer of BalatroBalatroPlaystack Ltd231$14.99$12.74Get it nowBalatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. Youre going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory.Animal Well Developed by Billy BassoSeven years ago, I started building a new game/engine from scratch, more as a learning experience than out of any ambition to create the new big indie hit. I drew a few animal sprites. Got a candle to glow the way I wanted. As the game and the engine organically fed off of one another, it took a shape I never would have predicted when I first started. And now that Animal Well is out in the world, players continue to color it with their own perspectives, their pet theories, their love for the game. I feel like I was able to make a small contribution to video game culture and my efforts have been rewarded a hundredfold. Billy Basso, Developer of Animal WellANIMAL WELLBigmode46$24.99Get it nowHatch from your flower and spelunk through the beautiful and sometimes haunting world of Animal Well, a pixelated wonder rendered in intricate audio and visual detail. Encounter lively creatures small and large, helpful and ominous as you discover unconventional upgrades and unravel the wells secrets. This is a truly unique experience that can make you laugh in fear, surprise, or delight.The Plucky Squire Developed by All Possible FuturesWorking on The Plucky Squire has been an amazing journey for all of us at All Possible Futures. From those first prototypes of Jot leaping from desk to book, to seeing players light up as they experience it its been a joy to share with the world. We poured all of our heart into the game, and its been incredible to see players and critics connect with it in ways we couldnt have imagined. Knowing that the game has brought smiles to so many faces is the most rewarding part of it all. Thats what its all about for us, and we couldnt be more grateful for the love and support along the way. Jonathan Biddle, Co-director, All Possible FuturesThe Plucky SquireDevolver Digital65$29.99Get it nowThe Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends storybook characters who discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book.When the malevolent Humgrump realizes he's the villain of the book destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.Jot must face challenges, unlike anything he's ever seen if he is to save his friends from Humgrump's dark forces and restore the book's happy ending.Jump between 2D and 3D worlds in this charming action-adventure solving puzzles, boxing badgers, flying with a jetpack, and enjoying many more delightful and surprising mini-challenges as you become the hero of a living storybook.Neva Developed by Nomada StudioLaunching Neva has been a journey of four yearsmore than double the time it took to develop [our last game] Gris. It has been a long and challenging process.Our biggest fear was living up to the expectations of our fans and critics. After the huge and unexpected success of Gris, we felt the pressure of both external expectations and our own ambitions. Every element of Neva, from its storytelling to its art and gameplay, was crafted with the hope of creating a meaningful connection with players. This is the kind of game we aspire to create as a studio.Seeing both critics and players enjoy and praise Neva has been incredibly fulfillinga perfect final gift to its long development journey and a transformative milestone for our studio. It has proven that players are truly eager for games capable of evoking powerful emotions and telling unique, meaningful stories that resonate with them; and for us, this recognition has provided the strength and motivation to continue pursuing this goal for as long as we can. Conrad Roset, Creative Director, Nomada StudioNevaDevolver Digital51$19.99Get it nowNeva is an emotionally-charged action adventure from the visionary team behind the critically acclaimed GRIS.Neva chronicles the story of Alba, a young woman bound to a curious wolf cub following a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together they embark on a perilous journey through a once-beautiful world as it slowly decays around them.Over time, their relationship will evolve as they learn to work together, helping one another to brave increasingly dangerous situations. The wolf will grow from a rebellious cub to an imposing adult seeking to forge his own identity, testing Albas love and their commitment to one another.As the cursed world threatens to overwhelm them, Alba and her courageous companion will do whatever it takes to survive and make a new home, together.Crow Country Developed by SFB GamesWe had hopes that people would get excited for Crow Country when even early, out-of-context teaser screenshots would get very positive attention. Nothing is certain in game development though, so to have had this many people write so many lovely things about the game, recommend it to their friends or audiences, and rate it so highly its really reassuring that the kind of games we want to make are the kind that people want to play. Its also been a morale-boosting liferaft in a very troubled time for the games industry, and will keep [studio co-founder] Adam and me going through the next game and beyond! Tom Vian, Co-founder, SFB GamesCrow CountrySFB Games135$19.99$15.99Get it nowThe year is 1990. Its been two years since the mysterious disappearance of Edward Crow and the abrupt closure of his theme park, Crow Country. But your arrival has broken the silence, Mara Forest. If you want answers, youll have to venture deep into the darkness of Crow Country to find themA survival horror game, where youll test yourself against puzzles and riddles as you investigate the eerie tranquility of the abandoned theme park. Dont be deceived by the whimsical surroundings, something is awfully wrong in Crow Country.As you unlock new areas, backtrack and discover more, you gradually piece together why Edward really shut down his park and where he mysteriously disappeared to. Youve heard some pretty disturbing rumors, but they couldnt possibly be true..right?For visitors to the park who are more interested in spotting crows and taking in the sights, Exploration Mode allows you to journey on without the fear of being attacked by the mysterious monsters roaming Crow Country. Besides, if you knew what those monsters really are..Just how far would someone go to follow their ambition? Are some sins too wicked for redemption?A tale of reckless hubris and human greed, and now at the center of it all you.Who are you really, Mara Forest?Hypercharge Unboxed Developed by Digital Cybercherries LimitedPower Your Dreams is more than just a slogan: it speaks to the heart of every dreamer, reminding us that with passion and determination, even childhood dreams can come true. We believed in that message and powered our dream of creating Hypercharge. With Xboxs support, we were able to launch on this incredible platform and witness it not only change our lives as a small indie studio, but also bring families closer together through the magic of couch co-op. Seeing parents and children laughing and working together to overcome challenges in Hypercharge has been truly heart-warming. That shared experience, playing together in the same room, on their Xbox thats something really special, where memories will last a lifetime. Were immensely grateful to Xbox for helping make our dream come true and for allowing players to join us on this journey! The overwhelmingly positive response to Hypercharge has been truly inspiring. To everyone who has played and supported our game, thank you! Joe Henson, Creative Gameplay & Marketing Director, Digital CybercherriesHYPERCHARGE UnboxedDigital Cybercherries Limited269$29.99$23.99Get it nowHELP SGT. MAX AMMO TO DEFEAT MAJOR EVIL AND SAVE THE HYPERCORE!There was once an ancient line of action figures, who created a magical power source that would allow humans to keep their favourite childhood memories of their toys. This ancient power source is known as the Hypercore. Inside the Hypercore are the beloved memories of our favorite toys. If Major Evil destroys it, these memories will disappear forever. Defend it with everything you've got, or see our cherished toys turn into lost treasures of the past! Hypercharge is a first and third-person shooter action figure game you've always dreamed of! Grab your friends, complete objectives, defend the Hypercore against waves of weaponized toys, and defeat Major Evil together in the story campaign!PLAY CO-OP WITH YOUR FRIENDSWork together as a team to defend the Hypercore. Grab a friend, break out of your toy packaging, and get ready to fight waves of classic toys. Prepare for each wave by searching for weapons, resources, and even hidden secrets.OFFLINE PLAY FOR SOLO PLAYERSNot everybody likes to play online. Hypercharge supports Offline, Split-Screen and Local play. You can progress and unlock everything in-game while playing solo.PLAYER BOTSDont have a team to play with? Dont worry, weve got you solo players covered. Player bots listen to your commands, collect resources, and even help to build defences.UNLOCK ACTION FIGURESIn Hypercharge, hundreds of unlocks are available, all of which can be earned directly in-game without any microtransactions.PLAYER VERSUS PLAYER MODESGo head-to-head against other action figures as you fight to become top of the scoreboard! Classic PvP modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Battery, Infection, and King of the Hill.On top of the Collection itself, were running an Indie Selects Anniversary Sale from January 28 to February 3, featuring over 200 indie titles that launched in 2024. This is the perfect opportunity to save on titles we recommended, including Balatro, Phasmophobia, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Rounds, and more.Check out the full list of on-sale titles below. Thanks for playing, and stay tuned for even more Indie Selects in the years ahead!Full List of Games in the Indie Selects Anniversary SaleContent TitleDiscountNotesBalatro15%Indie Selects SalePhasmophobia (Game Preview)25%Indie Selects SaleS.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy35%Indie Selects SaleKena: Bridge of Spirits50%Indie Selects SaleRounds50%Indie Selects SaleStarship Troopers: Extermination30%Indie Selects SaleStar Wars Bounty Hunter25%Indie Selects SaleHYPERCHARGE Unboxed20%Indie Selects SaleCat Quest III30%Indie Selects SaleKill Knight33%Indie Selects SaleGarten of Banban 420%Indie Selects SaleGarten of Banban 320%Indie Selects SaleCloser the distance35%Indie Selects SaleHYPERCHARGE COMPLETE EDITION20%Indie Selects SaleThe Last Faith35%Indie Selects SaleINDIKA25%Indie Selects SaleThe Invincible40%Indie Selects SaleWizard with a Gun: Deluxe Edition67%Indie Selects SaleThe Talos Principle 250%Indie Selects SaleLets! Revolution!40%Indie Selects SaleDagon: Complete Edition20%Indie Selects SaleThe Sparkle 2 Evo50%Indie Selects SaleFlooded50%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in London33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Paris33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in New York33%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Spooky Town25%Indie Selects SaleDinobreak50%Indie Selects SaleTurnip Boy Robs a Bank35%Indie Selects SaleElderand60%Indie Selects SaleCtrl Alt Ego30%Indie Selects SaleBio Inc. Redemption30%Indie Selects SaleCLeM35%Indie Selects SaleTenderfoot Tactics60%Indie Selects SaleDustborn60%Indie Selects SaleRage of the Dragons NEO20%Indie Selects SaleBang-on Balls: Chronicles60%Indie Selects SaleBeyond Galaxyland35%Indie Selects SaleEverdream Valley60%Indie Selects SaleThe Hong Kong Massacre80%Indie Selects SaleReady Steady Ship50%Indie Selects SaleDeep Beyond30%Indie Selects SaleGift (Xbox Series X|S Edition)65%Indie Selects SaleSCHiM20%Indie Selects SaleSCHiM20%Indie Selects SaleThe Star Named EOS20%Indie Selects SaleRusted Moss20%Indie Selects SaleGNOSIA30%Indie Selects SaleAaero220%Indie Selects SaleVampire Hunters30%Indie Selects SaleSongs of Silence20%Indie Selects SaleWW2 Rebuilder30%Indie Selects SaleBrocula40%Indie Selects SaleBraid: Anniversary Edition75%Indie Selects SaleMediterranea Inferno60%Indie Selects SaleKitten Island50%Indie Selects SaleThe Jackbox Party Pack 1040%Indie Selects SaleNeptunia Sisters VS Sisters60%Indie Selects SaleAlien Hominid Invasion20%Indie Selects SaleThe Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication20%Indie Selects SalePaper Trail50%Indie Selects SaleKnights of Braveland25%Indie Selects SaleA Time Travellers Guide To Past Delicacies (Xbox Series X|S)50%Indie Selects SaleKamaeru: A Frog Refuge25%Indie Selects SaleRuff Ghanor60%Indie Selects SaleSpiral20%Indie Selects SaleIron Meat20%Indie Selects SaleRetaliate50%Indie Selects SaleAlisa Developers Cut30%Indie Selects SaleCrypt Custodian20%Indie Selects SaleAthenian Rhapsody30%Indie Selects SaleThe Palace on the Hill40%Indie Selects SaleSky Oceans: Wing for Hire25%Indie Selects SaleSlender: The Arrival60%Indie Selects SaleChoice of Life: MIddle Ages 265%Indie Selects SaleTourist Trap30%Indie Selects SaleSilver Axe The Honest Elf50%Indie Selects SaleNerd Survivors50%Indie Selects SaleLong Gone Days40%Indie Selects SaleLifeless Moon30%Indie Selects SaleTo the Moon30%Indie Selects SaleSlay the Princess The Pristine Cut20%Indie Selects SaleKeylocker20%Indie Selects SaleBBQ Simulator The Squad50%Indie Selects SaleReel Fishing: Days of Summer25%Indie Selects SaleJust Crow Things25%Indie Selects SaleThe Inheritance of Crimson Manor70%Indie Selects SaleHand in Hand40%Indie Selects SaleShieldwall30%Indie Selects SalePuppet House30%Indie Selects SaleAlien Hominid HD20%Indie Selects SaleEndless Dungeon50%Indie Selects SaleEndless Dungeon Last Wish Edition50%Indie Selects SalePanzer Paladin25%Indie Selects Sale8 Bit Adventures 220%Indie Selects SaleAlina of the Arena30%Indie Selects SaleSuper Woden GP 225%Indie Selects SaleEspresso Tycoon30%Indie Selects SaleMotesolo30%Indie Selects SaleAquarium Designer35%Indie Selects SaleTrail Out50%Indie Selects SaleYOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE-50%Indie Selects SaleThe House of Da Vinci 240%Indie Selects SaleThe House of Da Vinci 330%Indie Selects SaleBloomtown: A Different Story20%Indie Selects SaleWhile True: learn()30%Indie Selects SaleTri6: Infinite +50%Indie Selects Salepureya25%Indie Selects SalePaper io 250%Indie Selects SaleThe Coma 2B: Catacomb25%Indie Selects SaleAerial_Knights We Never Yield50%Indie Selects SaleCorpoNation: The Sorting Process40%Indie Selects SaleLil Gator Game40%Indie Selects SaleUltra Foodmess Deluxe40%Indie Selects SaleHidden Cats in Rome25%Indie Selects SalePixel Cafe90%Indie Selects SaleELDERBORN20%Indie Selects SaleEMPTY SHELL25%Indie Selects SaleManor Lords (Game Preview)30%Indie Selects SaleLil Guardsman50%Indie Selects SaleTamarak Trail50%Indie Selects SaleBroken Roads50%Indie Selects SaleAstor: Blade of the Monolith50%Indie Selects SaleMy Time At Sandrock35%Indie Selects SaleTEVI35%Indie Selects SaleExhausted Man20%Indie Selects SaleHARDCORE MECHA30%Indie Selects SaleStunt Paradise25%Indie Selects SalePhantom Spark35%Indie Selects SaleLaika: Aged through Blood40%Indie Selects SaleWordless45%Indie Selects SaleOffroad Mechanic Simulator20%Indie Selects SaleQomp 235%Indie Selects SaleLunar Landar Beyond35%Indie Selects SalePOed35%Indie Selects SaleBioframe Outpost20%Indie Selects SaleArmed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition25%Indie Selects SaleStolen Realm50%Indie Selects SaleTrinity Fusion50%Indie Selects SaleTrinity Fusion Deluxe Edition50%Indie Selects SaleUnleaving50%Indie Selects SaleDeadlink35%Indie Selects SaleSuper Space Club25%Indie Selects SaleAccess Denied: Escape30%Indie Selects SaleSkeler Boy40%Indie Selects SaleAero The Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge20%Indie Selects SaleA Perfect Day35%Indie Selects SaleLoretta40%Indie Selects SaleDungeon Drafters40%Indie Selects SaleTribe: Primitive Builder20%Indie Selects Sale3XTINCTION40%Indie Selects SaleParkitect: Deluxe Edition50%Indie Selects SaleDrova Forsaken Kin20%Indie Selects SaleCrow Country20%Indie Selects SaleRogue Flight30%Indie Selects SaleWithering Rooms50%Indie Selects SaleBullet Runner40%Indie Selects SaleGarden Witch Life30%Indie Selects SaleAlbatroz30%Indie Selects SaleJorels Brother and The Most Important Game of the Galaxy50%Indie Selects SaleAstrea: Six-Sided Oracles20%Indie Selects SaleCryptmaster20%Indie Selects SaleEverafter Falls20%Indie Selects SaleAnother Crabs Treasure35%Indie Selects SaleTroublemaker: Raise Your Gang50%Indie Selects SaleTetris Forever20%Indie Selects SaleVolgarr the Viking II30%Indie Selects SaleWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord35%Indie Selects SaleLandnama30%Indie Selects SaleSpeedollama20%Indie Selects SaleBorn of Bread55%Indie Selects SaleLords of Exile35%Indie Selects SaleThe Land Beneath Us30%Indie Selects SaleDownward: Enhanced Edition40%Indie Selects SaleFabledom35%Indie Selects SaleTrain Sim World 540%Indie Selects SaleGoons: Legends & Mayhem50%Indie Selects SaleBuilder Simulator40%Indie Selects SaleHighwater75%Indie Selects SaleBlacksad: Under the Skin (X1)75%Indie Selects SaleBlacksad: Under the Skin (Series)65%Indie Selects SaleSam & Max The Devils Playhouse20%Indie Selects SaleSail Forth + Maelstrom Bundle40%Indie Selects SaleSlave Zero X30%Indie Selects SalePepper Grinder40%Indie Selects SaleBotany Manor20%Indie Selects SaleThe Masters Pupil30%Indie Selects SaleBurger Bistro Story30%Indie Selects SaleNinja Village50%Indie Selects SaleHeroine Anthem Zero 2 : Scalescars Oath30%Indie Selects SaleBackpack hero30%Indie Selects SaleHowl50%Indie Selects SaleABRISS build to destroy40%Indie Selects SaleDesktop Dungeons: Rewind30%Indie Selects SaleHeretics Fork30%Indie Selects SaleDaydream: Forgotten Sorrow50%Indie Selects SalePromenade50%Indie Selects SaleShogun Showdown25%Indie Selects SaleDarkest Dungeon II25%Indie Selects SaleSpellcats50%Indie Selects SaleWelcome to Empyreum40%Indie Selects SaleRewind or Die30%Indie Selects SaleHome Safety Hotline30%Indie Selects SaleTimes and Galaxy30%Indie Selects SaleAcross the Obelisk50%Indie Selects SaleDemocracy 4: Console Edition20%Indie Selects SalePets Hotel70%Indie Selects SaleShip Graveyard Simulator 250%Indie Selects SaleEternal Threads60%Indie Selects SaleShadow of the Ninja Reborn20%Indie Selects SaleKing Arthur: Knights Tale60%Indie Selects SaleAurion: Legacy of the Kori-Odan50%Indie Selects SaleHorizon Chase 250%Indie Selects SaleBetween Horizons50%Indie Selects SaleMy Child Lebensborn Remastered25%Indie Selects SaleGreat God Grove20%Indie Selects SaleLittle Noah: Scion of Paradise70%Indie Selects SaleLittle Noah: Scion of Paradise Special Edition70%Indie Selects SaleBlindfire20%Indie Selects SalePrune & Milo50%Indie Selects SaleKingdom Eighties50%Indie Selects SaleSuper Rolling Heroes Deluxe50%Indie Selects SaleCandle Knight50%Indie Selects SaleAbathor25%Indie Selects SaleHorror Tales: The Beggar30%Indie Selects SaleRebel Transmute40%Indie Selects SaleReveil50%Indie Selects SaleInsurmountable50%Indie Selects SaleCapes35%Indie Selects SaleCapes King City Edition35%Indie Selects SaleREVEIL Funhouse Edition50%Indie Selects SaleBrothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake50%Indie Selects Sale

Stacy Zarin GoldbergEvery item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.A collection of indoor plants can immediately elevate an interior, bringing in much-needed color, life, and natural texture. Having houseplants around can even help to purify the air and improve your mental health. However, not every room is suited to live plants. Most houseplants are tropical in origin and need ample sunlight, high humidity, and a strict watering routine in order to thrive. While you can search for a low-maintenance houseplant that suits your needs, you can always opt for the alternative: an artificial plant.Fake plants are a little taboo in the interior design realm, well admit. The plastic-looking succulents conjure up images of doctors offices and bank counters. However, if you choose the right type and a high-quality variety, no one may ever know the difference.Faux plants can be a great alternative in the right situations, especially for clients who want the greenery without the maintenance, says interior designer Laetitia Laurent. We asked a handful of interior designers their thoughts on this controversial topic, and what they said might surprise you. Read on to learn how not to commit a faux pas with faux greenery. Related StoriesAre Fake Plants Ever Okay to Use?The short answer is yes! The longer answer is that it really depends on the type of space you're working with and the size of the fake plant. According to Laurent, Fake plants make sense in spaces where sunlight is limited or maintenance is tricky. Theyre also ideal in resort-style outdoor areas where you want that lush, tropical feel without worrying about constant upkeep. Plus, if you have allergies or travel often, fake plants are a low-stress option that youre guaranteed not to kill.As an alternative to plastic, interior designer Erica McLain favors using preserved or dried botanicals instead. These arrangements bridge the gap between natures authenticity and convenience, McLain says. Some favorites include weeping willow eucalyptus, amaranth, and Echinops globe thistles. They retain the organic, textural quality of living plants but dont require watering or sunlight. Related StoryHow to Use Fake Plants WellBefore you start shopping for fake plants to put all around your space, here are the expert-approved pointers to keep in mind.Focus on Imperfect FormsAny faux plant that is too glossy or too symmetrical will immediately read as fake according to McLain. Look for realism in texture, variation in color, and an organic flow in the shape, she recommends. High-quality faux plants mimic the natural irregularities of live greenery. Avoid anything overly glossy or unnaturally symmetricalnature is wonderfully imperfect, and the best faux pieces honor that. Laurent adds that the way to convincingly display a faux plant is all in the styling. Focus on your plantersthe right vessel can elevate any variety of faux plants.The Bigger, the BetterLarger faux plants, like trees, tend to look more convincing because they create that natural, sculptural effect, says Laurent. Fake trees or larger ferns tend to be further from our direct eye line, causing us to scrutinize or notice them less than, say, a fake bouquet or a row of succulents. Stacy Zarin GoldbergThe large tree in this Texas home is surprisingly not real.McLain agrees, saying, A faux tree, when scaled and styled appropriately, can soften a stark corner or add height and dimension to a room. The key is in their placement and qualityuse them sparingly and intentionally.Pair With Natural Textures To offset the artificial look, McLain recommends ensuring there are colors and materials that can actually be found in the great outdoors nearby. If youre incorporating faux plants, balance them with natural elementsthink raw woods, natural stones, or preserved botanicalsto ground the space in authenticity. And dont overuse them; a single statement piece will elevate a room, while too many can feel cluttered or contrived, she says.Try New MaterialsFor an artistic statement, look past realistic-looking fake plants and instead opt for a sculptural approach. McLain turns to handcrafted pieces like Tommy Mitchell's metal florals or Roberta Schilling's suede houseplant collection. They offer a whimsical and sculptural nod to greenery without pretending to be something theyre not, she says.Other options to consider are the silk plants by Afloral. According to Stephanie Brown, an interior designer and former floral designer, They make great plant dupes, she says. These can look good, but they need to be included in your dusting routine or else they will reveal themselves as faux very quickly! Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

TSMC is a major Apple partner, producing chips for its many hundreds of millions of new devices each year. But per the companys founder, there was once a time when Intel got a shot at iPhone chip production, and failed to impress.In a new interview on the Acquired podcast, TSMC founder Morris Chang discussesamong many other thingsthe history of the companys partnership with Apple.One of the most interesting exchanges has to do with a period in February 2011 when Apple reportedly considered giving Intel some of its iPhone chip production business.At the time, Intel still made chips for the Mac. But its iPhone trial phase reportedly left CEO Tim Cook unimpressed.Chang recalls speaking to Jeff Williams at the time, who told him, We need to pause our discussions for two months because the highest level of Intel has approached Tim Cook and has asked Tim Cook to consider Intel. Chang explains, Jeff Williams was talking about the iPhone. Then he goes on:So that was all he said, and I wasnt all that worried because in 2011, Intel was no longer a name that you would, when you hear it, you would stand up and bowI of course had to accept Jeff Williams request, but againI wasnt all that worried.Later, Cook reportedly had lunch with Chang at Apples campus where he told him, Theres nothing to worry about because Intel doesnt know how to be a foundry. Chang called this answer very short, but very satisfactory to me.Chang also shared that his understanding of Intels reputation with customers was not strong at the time:Before Apple became our customer, I knew a lot of Intels customers in Taiwanyou know, all the PC makers are Intels customers. None of them liked Intel. Intel always acted like they were the only guy.Later he said that out of the Intel customers he knew, they all wished there were another supplier.You can watch the full interview here.What do you make of Changs comments about Intel possibly making iPhone chips? 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

Todays best deals in Apple gear and accessories include Apple Watch Series 10 at up to $136 off alongside ongoing Black Friday pricing across the entire lineup. These offers join the $110 price drop on Apple Watch Ultra 2, but Amazon has also brought back the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro at the lowest we have tracked with $200 in savings alongside a massive $400 price drop on select M4 Max MacBook Pro configs for folks looking to score a real beast of a new laptop. Satechi is running a serious 50% sale on its desktop and workstation accessories, plus youll find everything else down below.Apple Watch Series 10 now up to $136 off at Best Buy from $263 shipped (open-box, 1-yr. Apple warranty)While we are still tracking the return of Black Friday pricing across the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup courtesy of Amazon, matching the lowest prices we have tracked, but we have some open-box deals to scope out today with full Apple warranties. Best Buys trusty open-box listings have now dropped even lower, delivering the the 42mm model in silver or rose gold down at $262.99 and $275.99 shipped, respectively, while the Jet Black is now sitting at $313.99 shipped ($5 under our previous mention). Details below.42mm Apple Watch Series 10 $329 (Reg. $399) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 $359 (Reg. $429) 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $429 (Reg. $499) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+Cell $459 (Reg. $529) 46mm Apple Watch Series 10 GPS+CellTitanium modelApples 16GB M4 MacBook Pro in Space Black returns to $1,399 all-time low ($200 off) Update 2: If youre looking to score a real monster of an M4 Max MacBook Pro, Amazon has a massive price drop at the ready on the 16-inch 48GB/1TB model at $3,599 shipped thats $400 off the regular $3,999 list price on this configuration. Update: The silver model has jumped up in price but the Space Black has returned to the $1,399 all-time low after quickly going out of stock the most affordable M4 MacBook Pro at the lowest we have tracked. Details below.We have already seen some notable deals hit on the higher-end and particularly pricey M4 Pro configurations since the end-of-year holiday price drops last year, but today marks your first chance in 2025 to land all-time low pricing on the most affordable new M4 MacBook Pro. Amazon is now serving up an on-page coupon that knocks the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and the 512GB SSD down to $1,399 shipped in both Space Black and Silver thats $200 off the regular $1,599 list price at Apple and elsewhere.Satechi is perhaps best known for its Apple gear accessories chargers, keyboards, and more, but it also makes a suite of gear that can make for a wonderful addition to your at-home workstation. And to get your year started on the right foot, it has now launched a wide-ranging Your Best Work Starts Here sale, offering 50% off its ultimate desk setup gear using code NEWDESK2025 at checkout. Youll find all of the eligible gear right here and additional details on our favorites down below.Type-C Aluminum Monitor Stand Hub for iMac $45 (Reg. $90) R1 Aluminum Hinge Holder Foldable Stand $20 (Reg. $40) 108W Pro USB-C PD Desktop Charger $40 (Reg. $80) Quatro Wireless Power Bank $50 (Reg. $100) With Apple Watch chargerUSB-C Monitor Stand Hub XL $75 (Reg. $150) And even more And youll also find some of its desk mats and mouse pads eligible for the 50% promo code deal as well:Vegan-Leather Premium Mouse Pad $10 (Reg. $20) Vegan-Leather Premium Desk Mat $20 (Reg. $40) Eco-Leather Deskmate $20 (Reg. $40) And even more Natural Apple Watch Ultra 2 undercuts Black Friday at $119 off today, or refurb OG Ultra 1 at $399 offAmazon brings back all-time low pricing on Apples iPad mini 7 at $100 off, deals from $399Todays accessories and charging deals:Last day to score the 50% off intro price on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete for iOS/AndroidGrab Apples official all-black iPhone 16 case with Camera Control at just $22 (55% off)Tested: Im really liking the new mini magnetic FlashFinder flashlight with Apple Find My, especially at $25Add 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