An aerial view of the Crater Lake Caldera in Oregon. Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesShareThough immensely powerful, volcanoes are not always spewing hot lava around. Many are considered dormant or even extinct and have not shown their strength for hundreds of thousands of years in some cases. However, a team of scientists recently found magma chambers lurking beneath six volcanoes in the Cascade Range. The findings published January 23 in the journal Nature Geoscience are challenging the idea of what separates an active volcano from a dormant one. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Active vs. dormant volcanoesObviously, visible lava spewing from a volcanos caldera, like Hawaiis Mount Klauea or Grimsvtn in Iceland, indicates that a volcano is active. However, not all active volcanoes are erupting. They have the potential to erupt in the future with young and fresh magma chambers.According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a dormant volcano is one that is not erupting now. However, they could still erupt in the future. Some volcanologists will use the qualifier long-dormant system to refer to a volcano that has not erupted in thousands of years. A recently active system might have erupted a few years or decades or centuries ago. What makes it dormant versus potentially active is that its large magma bodies have typically been expelled during eruptions and have dissipated over time. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzaniawhich last erupted about 360,000 years ago and Japans Mount Fuji317 years agoare both currently considered to be dormant volcanoes.However, new research is challenging these definitions.The magma beneathIn the new study, a team from Cornell University and the USGS studied six volcanoes of various size and dormancy status within the Cascade Range in the northwestern United StatesLassen Peak, Crater Lake, the Newberry Volcano, Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier. Seismic waves identified persistent and large magma chambers in all of the volcanoeseven the dormant ones. According to the team, these results were surprising since some of the volcanoesincluding the Crater Lake volcano in Oregonhave not been active for thousands of years.Regardless of eruption frequency, we see large magma bodies beneath many volcanoes, Guanning Pang, a study co-author and Cornell University postdoctoral researcher, said in a statement. It appears that these magma bodies exist beneath volcanoes over their whole lifetime, not just during an active state.Observing that more volcanoes have sustained magma bodies is an important factor for researchers that monitor and predict future volcanic activity. As part of the National Volcano Early Warning System, the USGS has spent time expanding and upgrading volcanic monitoring networks within the Cascade Range and elsewhere. The goal is to detect the signs and signals of an impending eruption as early as possible to give people ample warning.[ Related: Extinct volcanoes could hold rare earth elements. ]We used to think that if we found a large amount of magma, that meant increased likelihood of eruption, Pang said, but now we are shifting perception that this is the baseline situation.These results suggest eruptions do not always completely drain a magma chamber. Instead, it will release some of the excess volume and pressure. The magma chamber can then be slowly expanded and refilled over time as the crust melts gradually.If we had a better general understanding of where magma was, we could do a much better job of targeting and optimizing monitoring, study co-author and Cornell geophysicist Wiliam Abers said in a statement. Abers also noted that there are a, great many volcanoes that are sparsely monitored or have not been subject to intensive study.A portable methodAdditionally, the team found that they could use fewer tools to recover this important data. They used a very small network of seismometers situated around each volcano in the study and leveraged some of the recent upgrades made to seismic broadband stations near Cascade Range volcanoes. They then applied a technique that uses scattered wavefields from distant earthquakes, to create detailed subsurface images.Previously, imaging methods required deploying tens to hundreds of seismometers around a volcano, making for a challenging undertaking, Abers said.Plans to expand the magma monitoring system to see if the same discovery in the Cascades can be applied elsewhere are already in the works. One of those locations is Alaska, home to over 130 volcanoes, 90 of which have been active within the last 10,000 years.Our method is very portable and can be used at many if not most other volcanoes around the world, with just a small number of modern seismographic stations, Abers said. We think it can help systemize volcano studies, and provide a key piece of global frameworks for volcanic hazard assessment.

XB-1 reached max dynamic pressure during final handling checks during its 10th test flight earlier this month. Credit: Boom SupersonicShareBoom Supersonic passed a major milestone Tuesday on its path to reintroduce supersonic commercial flights. After years of testing and refinement, a pilot flying the aerospace companys XB-1 scale prototype finally broke the sound barrier during a livestream eventnot once, not twice, but three times.XB-1 took off from the runway at Mojave Air & Space Port near Barstow, California at about 11:21 AM EST. From there, Boom Supersonics Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg ascended in the experimental plane to an altitude of 34,000 ft before turning left and beginning its supersonic test. After successfully achieving Mach 1.1 at 11:32 PM EST, Brandenburg continued XB-1 on its deceleration and descent path. At one point, however, XB-1 briefly broke the sound barrier once again.Alright, knock it off, knock it off, someone in Boom Supersonics flight control room could be heard joking during the livestream.XB-1 surpassed Mach 1 yet again a few minutes later before landing 11:54 PM EST after a total flight time of 33.49 minutes. The airspace in which Boom Supersonic complete its test holds historic significanceknown as the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor, the area is named after the first plane to break the sound barrier in 1947.Tuesdays success comes less than a year after the demonstrator aircrafts debut flight on March 22, 2024. The XB-1 conducted another 10 flights prior to todays Mach 1 breakthrough. Its most recent took place on January 10, when Brandenburg topped out at Mach 0.95 at an altitude of 29,481 ft (575 knots true airspeed, or roughly 661 mph).Todays success officially makes Boom Supersonics XB-1 the first civil aircraft to ever go supersonic over the continental US.XB-1 was accompanied by two chase planes At almost 63-feet-long, the XB-1 is about one-third the size of Overture, Boom Supersonics proposed commercial jet. Overture is intended to seat 64-80 passengers, and complete international trips at speeds as fast as Mach 1.7. Thats around twice the speed of todays subsonic jets, but slightly slower than the Concorde.The path to Overtures commercial debut has faced multiple delays over the years. XB-1s first flight was originally scheduled for 2021, but required pushbacks to address various engineering and design concerns. Although such issues are common in the aircraft industry, that still means Overtures proposed 2029 release date likely will be shuffled at least a couple times before a working commercial supersonic plane takes to the skies.Historically, the human race has always wanted to go faster, livestream co-host and former Chief Concorde Pilot Mike Bannister said shortly after XB-1s pair of supersonic achievements.

Nature, Published online: 28 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00255-4Indias One Nation publishing agreement is transformational but beware inequities

Nature, Published online: 28 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00156-6Behavioural experiments in shell-dwelling cichlid fish reveal evolutionary adaptations in parents and offspring that control the timing of emergence from the nest.

Last week, we published a story about the quiet layoff of around 10 employees at Starbreeze, the studio behind the PAYDAY franchise, a cut that the company itself confirmed to 80 Level, providing a corporate explanation about aligning resources with all of our projects current and future needs.While technically correct, the studios representative conveniently omitted that these layoffs were just a small fraction of the firings Starbreeze has been conducting behind the scenes over the past three months, and based on our findings, the situation at the studio could be much worse than theyre letting on.StarbreezeOn January 23, shortly after the aforementioned article was published, we were contacted by an anonymous individual going by the name Anon Frog, claiming to be a former Starbreeze developer who left the studio years ago but still has ways to access its inner workings.In their email, Frog shared a series of allegations suggesting that the studio has laid off far more developers than they admitted to us, that Project Baxter a multiplayer adventure game based on the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, which Starbreeze is developing in partnership with Wizards of the Coast has lost some of its team members, and that Starbreezes Paris office is on the verge of closure. Below is the full email sent to us by the alleged ex-developer:Just wanna say theyre lying about only 10 people getting affected. There was another layoff recently with like 10 more people fired in January, which basically halved the publishing dept. The article seems to only talk about the December layoffs. People from January have posted about it on LinkedIn. I wont link them for privacy reasons.The ones laid off in December were working on a project. 7 out of 10 people let go in December were on Project Baxter and got made redundant due to corporate BS. Some of those laid off were pretty important for the games development, but of course, they wont mention that, cause itd look bad to investors, and WotC too. So they just kinda sweep it under the rug and hope no one notices.You mentioned the French studio might be up in the air. Nah, theyre closing it. They want the whole Tech Team in Stockholm. As of last week, theyre arguing with the French Union about it. No idea how its going but Id bet well see a bunch of former Starbreeze Tech people on LinkedIn soon.As is always the case with sensational insider reports we receive, we initially chucked it to the bin, believing that there was nothing to it as Anon Frog provided no evidence whatsoever to back their claims and even refused to share their real name understandable, perhaps, but unhelpful if they wanted to be heard.A few hours later, however, we were also sent a link to this Reddit thread, where one of the commenters echoed the same claims layoffs, the publishing team, the French office which piqued my interest and prompted me to look deeper into Frogs allegations, and surprisingly, there actually turned out to be something to them.Regarding the layoffs, after contacting several legitimate former Starbreeze developers on LinkedIn whose identities will remain anonymous 80 Level can now confirm that the part about more than 10 people being affected recently is accurate. According to one of the devs who agreed to provide us with some insights, 9 additional people were fired from Starbreeze in November, including some who worked on Project Baxter. This came despite Starbreezes report in November not mentioning any layoffs, only stating that the PAYDAY 3 team would get downsized.Another ex-developer told us that additional cuts did indeed take place in January and, most interestingly, specifically mentioned that the publishing team was affected. Since I never told this former dev that Anon Frog had written to us about the publishing team being impacted, this adds credibility to the initial scoop that sparked this miniature investigation and lends credence to Frogs claims about approximately 10 more employees getting terminated in 2025.In total, the number of layoffs that quietly took place at Starbreeze in November, December, and January can be estimated at around 25-30 workers, with some of them being Project Baxter developers. While this may not seem like a large number, considering the studio had only 191 employees as of October 2024, it represents 13-16% of the entire workforce a significant percentage that may affect the studios ongoing projects.As for the final part regarding the upcoming closure of Starbreeze Paris and the studios intention to move the entire tech team to Stockholm, unfortunately, we were unable to either confirm or deny this.According to the studios official website, they are indeed seeking Gameplay Programmers based in Stockholm, while there are no job postings listed for the Paris office, however, this doesnt even qualify as circumstantial evidence, so it cant be considered proof that the French branch is about to be cranched. Presumably, the potential shutdown, along with the layoffs and the status of Project Baxter, will be officially addressed in Starbreezes Year-End Report 2024, which is scheduled for release on February 18, 2025.So, what are your thoughts on Starbreezes quiet layoffs? How do you think theyll impact Project Baxter and the troubled 2023 installment of the iconic crime simulator franchise, PAYDAY 3? Share your opinions in the comments!Also, dont forget to 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 Sources: PAYDAY Creator Starbreeze Fired 15% of Its Team, Including Some Project Baxter Developers appeared first on CG SHARES.

Tower defense games have been a staple of the video game world for decades. Falling into the strategy genre, tower defense games represent fond memories for many gamers who grew up playing those types of games in school on websites like CoolMath Games or Miniclip. As time has gone on, the tower defense genre grew to be its own entity within strategy games, spawning numerous franchises and hundreds of games over the years.While the genre may not be one of the most prominent around, there are new tower defense games released all the time, some hailing from classic franchises that have hung around due to their superior replayability. While the general premise of most tower defense games remains similar, some titles have reworked the formula to give players something new to experience. Below we go through our picks for the best tower defense games you can easily play in 2025. This list is in no particular order, with easy availability on modern platforms being a factor in determining the entries. For a wider look at the genre, check out our picks for the best strategy games to play right now. Plants Vs. ZombiesDeveloper: PopCap GamesRelease Date: May 5, 2009Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PC, iOS, AndroidLet's kick off the list with one of the most-played and -celebrated tower defense games of all time. It's a hit with children as well as adults and has truly stood the test of time. There are several iterations of Plants Vs. Zombies, but we're choosing to go with the original, which you can play on Steam with the GOTY Edition.Plants Vs. Zombies utilizes a variety of plants you can make use of to stop zombies from invading your garden. You're able to grow plants to use as defense tools, but the game requires on-the-go thinking to know which planets to grow at a given time, particularly considering you have limited space to grow them, and the order they're placed will impact which are attacked first. The games can zip by, so quick strategy is something you'll need to master. See on Apple Dungeon Defenders 2Developer: Chromatic GamesRelease Date: June 20, 2017Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, iOSInstead of the top-down view that is common within the genre, Dungeon Defenders 2 assumes a third-person POV. The core mechanics of a tower defense game are still in place, but there are also RPG elements at play that add more layers of depth and strategy. The first RPG element youll notice is the selection of character classes you can choose from. There are nearly 20 classes to pick from and each grants you different bonuses out in the field.As you eliminate enemies on one of the 10+ maps, you can pick up loot, level up your character, and even acquire some pets along the way. The loot you pick up is added to an inventory that looks straight out of an ARPG. You can then use the loot you acquire to buff up your attacks and defense. Dungeon Defenders has a plethora of weapons to use, including swords, bows, traps, and more, as well as a full gear section to fill out. Upgrading everything about your character is vital to your success, as the game features several bosses that are varied and need different strategies to defeat.You can play Dungeon Defenders 2, which is free-to-play, in co-op with friends or recruit a cast of NPCs to join you in your fight as you progress through the game's various game modes. See on Apple Bloons TD 6Developer: Ninja KiwiRelease Date: June 13, 2018Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, iOS, AndroidBloons TD 6 has been called the ultimate tower defense game by players in the community. It's an improvement upon years of Bloons TD games but still captures that compelling nature that so many of us experienced in the 2000s and 2010s. As with all Bloons TD games, you play as a monkey who's trying to pop balloons, which are the games form of enemy, before they reach the end of a battlefield. There are over 70 maps available to play and the developers are frequently adding more content, even in 2025.If you've never played a Bloons game before or it's been a while, it's difficult to state just how easy it is to get hooked. The simplicity of its premise draws you in and the hours of content available keep you coming back for more. Even with dozens of characters and Monkey Towers to power your defenses, you'd be surprised just how difficult popping balloons can be.Bloons TD 6 also offers quests that can be done outside of the normal gameplay loop. These give you some background stories to keep you interested and share some knowledge about the characters in the game. You can also play in up to four-player co-op. See on Apple Kingdom Rush VengeanceDeveloper: Ironhide Game StudioRelease Date: November 22, 2018Platforms: PC, iOS, AndroidKingdom Rush is a widely known franchise in the tower defense community, and Vengeance, the fourth entry in the series, is Kingdom Rush at its best. You have access to 20 types of towers with unique attacks and behaviors to aid the defense of your kingdom, which is being threatened by enemy empires and rulers. As you progress through the game, you'll unlock more towers and gain new abilities and powers to improve your defenses.In addition to the towers, you can deploy 15 different heroes that can be commanded to perform a wide variety of actions. Heroes can also be leveled up and given new abilities to make them stronger and more specialized in how they perform. Youll be able to equip Trinkets, which offer side bonuses, and other upgrades to aid you in defeating the 35+ kinds of enemies. Vengeances main enemies are the three Kings, though, which require meticulous strategy to defeat.Kingdom Rush Vengeance has hours of content to keep you busy, including several realms to explore, a compelling story, and over 30 levels. See on Fanatical Legion TD 2Developer: AutoAttack GamesRelease Date: November 20, 2017Platforms: PCIf you're looking for more replayability in a tower defense game or one that supports more co-op players, look no further than Legion TD 2. At its core, Legion TD 2 is another tower defense game where you build an army, defend your ruler, and try to defeat the enemy forces and boss. However, there are a variety of different systems at play that make every single fight unique. It supports up to eight-player co-op as well, so you and plenty of friends can join together.Legion TD 2 also features a ton of content, as the game can go on for as long as you want. No matter how many times you push the enemy back, they'll always keep coming. You can think of Legion TD 2 as a roguelite with tower defense mechanics.To halt the enemy time and time again, you have access to over 100 unique soldiers, each with specialized skills. You also have access to auras and spells that can help you offensively or defensively depending on how you play them. All of this culminates on a battlefield that features several gates where enemies can come out, requiring you to span across the level multiple times to ensure nothing gets through your defenses. See on Fanatical Orcs Must Die 3Developer: Robot EntertainmentRelease Date: July 14, 2020Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PCThe third core installment in the series is the most current and arguably the most popular, as it takes the strong points from the previous games and greatly improves upon them. Orcs Must Die 3 uses a third-person perspective to place you right in the action of your chosen character to dispose of every orc imaginable.The third-person perspective and directly controllable character is where Orcs Must Die 3 separates itself from many other tower defense games. With your character, you'll play through different scenarios that are set on a massive scale where you can send orcs flying in fantastic fashion. The flashiest way orcs can die is by getting trapped by War Machines you place. These are huge traps that can catch dozens of orcs at the same time. Youll also have access to dozens of other weapons and equipment, such as bows, rocket launchers, and swords, that can be equipped at any time by swapping through them at the bottom of your screen.Orcs Must Die 3 also features a storyline that picks up 20 years after the events of the second game. However, don't let that deter you from playing, as you don't need to play the previous two to enjoy the third. See on Fanatical Defense Grid: The AwakeningDeveloper: Hidden Path EntertainmentRelease Date: December 8, 2008Platforms: Xbox 360, PCDefense Grid: The Awakening might be one of the older entries on this list, but it's still one of the stronger games to come out of the tower defense genre in the last 20 years. There's a main storyline you can play through that will last you up to eight hours, but as with most games in the genre, there's much more replayability beyond that.When you start Defense Grid: The Awakening, you'll begin on some fairly easy levels that challenge your basic ability to set defenses. As you progress, you'll unlock new tower upgrades and types, with each tower having three distinct capability levels. The different towers all have strengths and weaknesses and some might be strong on one map while weak on another. Speaking of maps, there are 20 unique ones in Defense Grid: The Awakening, with more available through a paid map pack. The maps can spawn a total of 15 different enemies that become stronger the more you play.The enemy variation and the amount of them that come into play often make every round feel like its coming down right to the wire. While your towers might not get overwhelmed at the start of a round, stronger enemies in larger numbers show up as the round goes on and can overthrow your entire strategy.While Defense Grid: The Awakening is an older game, it still captures the magic of what a tower defense game is supposed to be. Pair that with graphics that look straight out of Halo and you have a game well worth checking out. See on Steam Bad NorthDeveloper: Raw FuryRelease Date: August 20, 2018Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOSBad North's visuals belie the tough tower defense game it is. It's a roguelite with minimalistic graphics that might turn some players away. However, once you get used to what's on your screen, you'll find an immensely brutal experience awaits you.The game puts you in charge of a small kingdom on an island that's being threatened by Vikings. You need to command your citizens to stop the Vikings by using the island's unique design and the tools at your disposal. Every island in Bad North is different and it's your job to determine the best way to use each one's design to your advantage. For example, one island could have a high cliff that you can use to throw cannonballs over the edge to stop invading Vikings while another sees enemies attack from multiple directions, forcing you to adapt.Aside from the islands, which are all procedurally generated, your citizens need you to position them correctly and give them the right defense tools. From there, they'll do the rest, engaging in combat themselves and emerging victorious if you set them up correctly. As you defeat more enemies, the islands youre placed on are harder to set up and the enemies are much smarter, making you strategize more and more. See on Fanatical Sanctum 2Developer: Coffee Stain StudiosRelease Date: May 15, 2013Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PCYou don't often think of the tower defense and first-person shooter genres merging, but that's exactly what Sanctum 2 does. The original Sanctum claims to be the first tower defense/FPS hybrid, but the sequel is the better game in almost every way.At the start of the game, you'll select from one of four characters, all of which have different strengths and weaknesses. From there, your job is to protect Cores from aliens with the sole goal of destroying them. To stop the aliens, you get to fully customize your character to become exactly the kind of defender you want them to be. Pick from different character perks and unlock new weapons and towers to stop the aliens at all costs.Your towers are the main line of defense against the aliens, and they can be configured in a way that slows down the enemy by slowing down the enemy. Your character helps to supplement the towers, which is where your chosen strengths and gear come into play. The first-person perspective really gives you a different feeling from the average tower defense game, especially if the enemy overwhelms your towers and youre left to fend off a horde of them.There's a selection of maps to play on as well as four player co-op, so you and three friends can take on the aliens together. See on Fanatical Isle of ArrowsDeveloper: GridpopRelease Date: September 8, 2022Platforms: PC, iOS, AndroidIsle of Arrows mixes the puzzle and tower defense genres into a seamless experience. Featuring a similar graphical style to Bad North, Isle of Arrows sees you build a massive fortress high in the sky, just above the clouds.The main gameplay loop in Isle of Arrows places you on a randomly generated map. The towers use a single-tile design and every tile is hand-placed by you. These affect how the enemy is stopped and attacked on their way across the map. The tiles you place are random, so there's quite a bit of luck involved in developing each tower. You could get lucky and place the exact tile you need while another tile might be ineffective and not conducive to your strategy.Isle of Arrows features endless replayability and the more you play, the more elements you unlock. It's a simple, luck-based tower defense game that also draws on the puzzle genre to figure out how to use tiles to your advantage. See on Apple GemCraft: Chasing ShadowsDeveloper: Game in a BottleRelease Date: Apr 30, 2015Platforms: PCThe GemCraft series has a reputation for being some of the more challenging tower defense games. The best game in the series is the second installment, Chasing Shadows. GemCraft places more of an emphasis on overall strategy compared to other games in the genre, as you need to be extremely purposeful in how you set up your defenses, otherwise you might not make it past the first couple of levels.Chasing Shadows sees you use gems that have different properties to stop an archdemon from destroying your world. You set up your gems across a map and as usual, enemies walk down a winding path to get to the other side. Along the way, your gems need to eliminate the enemies before too many cross to the other side.Sorting and upgrading the gems in GemCraft is easily the highlight of the game. You have access to a plethora of different options that make every encounter with enemies feel distinct. Beating more levels gives you access to new gems to craft. However, not all gems are useful depending on how a map is set up, so knowing your gems in and out is the key to success. See on Fanatical Dungeon Warfare 2Developer: ValsarRelease Date: Jul 6, 2018Platforms: PC, AndroidIf you've ever wondered what it was like to be on the other side of Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeon Warfare 2 gives you the opportunity. You get to be the master of a dungeon and stop adventurers and heroes from getting too far.There are 60 handcrafted levels to go through as well as Endless Mode, where the enemies never stop coming. The levels can be kitted out with various traps to stop adventurers in their tracks. You'll also unlock three skill trees, each with 11 skills, to upgrade your traps and other equipment. Speaking of upgrading, Dungeon Warfare 2 also has runes that can be used to give your defenses various bonuses. Youll unlock more runes the farther you go and these are the key to keeping your defenses in place over time.There are physics-based defense tools, environmental hazards, and even five separate boss fights to keep you engaged. See on Steam X-Morph DefenseDeveloper: Exor StudiosRelease Date: August 30, 2017Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PCX-Morph: Defense might be the most action-packed game on this list. It blends elements of a top-down shooter with the tower defense genre to create a thrilling experience.The game puts you in the shoes of aliens who are invading Earth, letting you play the villain. To help accomplish that goal, you have access to a wide range of alien towers that can be used to mow down human tanks trying to converge on your position. You can physically control an alien spaceship, which can be upgraded and is able to shoot at enemy tanks from above and cause some massive chaos on the map.The levels in X-Morph: Defense are fully destructible, which can completely alter how a map is laid out and where enemies go. You wont be the only one doing the destruction, though, as the humans can send out a massive robotic mech to threaten your chances of success. There's always action on the screen in X-Morph: Defense, but the game does a great job of not making it seem too overwhelming at any given point. If the enemies start to overtake an area, you can drive your spaceship back and regroup with the rest of your defenses. See on Steam The RiftbreakerDeveloper: Exor StudiosRelease Date: October 14, 2021Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PCThe Riftbreaker is designed by the same studio that created X-Morph: Defense, so you know it's also going to be filled to the brim with action. However, The Riftbreaker is a completely different experience from X-Morph or most other tower defense games for that matter.The game blends base-building with survival and ARPG elements as you fend off enemy forces on other worlds. You control a mech-suit that can be kitted out with plenty of weapons and upgrades that make you an unstoppable machine. You're free to traverse large levels to find new research for upgrades, which is where the ARPG elements come into play. You'll find waves of enemies wherever you go, but it's just you out there fighting them.However, in between all the fighting, you can construct a huge base that acts as your primary source of tower defense mechanics. The base you construct is meant to protect all the research and samples you've collected from the worlds you're visiting. Enemies will visit the base and you need to ensure it's well-defended to stop it from being overrun. See on Steam Over The Top Tower DefenseDeveloper: SMG StudioRelease Date: May 21, 2014Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, AndroidThis is arguably the least well-known entry on the list, but it's quite distinct among tower defense games. Over The Top Tower Defense (OTTTD) sees you assume the role of a commander for a military unit that's charged with using dimensional rifts to blast through enemies and make some money.Your military consists of three soldiers who can be given one of seven different classes. The classes all have varying characteristics that make them an asset in one way or another. Some are more offense-oriented while others are meant to be used defensively. As your squad progresses, they'll unlock active abilities, passive skills, and be able to equip one of 30+ weapons and various armor. The soldiers can also place a dozen tower types to aid them in their defense.One of the best parts about OTTTD is the enemy variety you'll come across. There are dozens of unique enemies to fight and you'll need to implement new strategies to deal with new ones that pop up. The enemies are combinations of various creatures, giving each one a special look thats usually pretty horrifying.Overall, OTTTD is an underrated tower defense game that has some great qualities and plenty of replayability. See on Apple Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessDeveloper: CapcomRelease Date: July 19, 2024Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PCInspired by Japanese culture, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a single-player game that takes place at two different times of day.Starting at dawn, your job is to purify villages all across a mountain by visiting different gates with the main character, Soh, and the Maiden of the mountain, Yoshiro. You purify the villages by performing a Kagura Dance in front of them. When night turns to day, an enemy known as the Seethe appears and tries to infiltrate the mountain. Fortunately, Soh has access to a wide array of sword attacks to fend off enemies.Of course, there are also tower defense elements at play as well. You can place villagers in specific positions and utilize their individual roles to help eliminate the Seethe. Battles with the enemy can change on a dime, though, so you have to use quite a bit of strategy to outlast the Seethe until dawn.The graphics in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess are gorgeous, and Soh's sword attacks are beautiful and lethal. The game is well worth your time if you're looking for a newer tower defense game to play. See on Fanatical Defender's Quest: Valley of the ForgottenDeveloper: Level Up LabsRelease Date: October 30, 2012Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCRounding out the list is Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten, which looks like a more primitive tower defense game thanks to its graphics, but it has plenty of depth to it. The game prides itself on not wasting your time with repetitive battles or time sinks. Instead, you'll use the basic tower defense formula to progress through a story with individual characters.In lieu of traditional towers for defense, Valley of the Forgotten utilizes real characters. These characters can be placed around a map just like towers, but each one is able to earn XP and be equipped with different skills and gear. Customizing each character to perform specific jobs or fill a certain role is key in developing the strategy for every level. Each one can also be given strategic commands that dictate things like which enemies they prioritize, which is critical for stopping any from slipping past.Valley of the Forgotten also features an in-depth story that intertwines itself with the gameplay. Don't worry, though, as the story doesn't consider itself to be the main focus, so it's always quick and to the point. See on Steam

Throne and Liberty, the free-to-play MMORPG from Korean developer NCSOFT and publisher Amazon, is set to receive its first major content update on March 6 when its Wilds of Talandre expansion arrives. The update will overhaul some of the game's existing systems while additionally adding all new ones like Artifacts.As the name of the expansion implies and as detailed in a blog post, the update will add the new zone of Talandre. There the game's story will continue as players progress their characters to the new level cap of 55, all the while participating in new world events and field dungeons. There are big changes coming to Throne and Liberty's endgame too, with the update set to introduce a new activity in the form of Solo Dungeons. These are intended as a way to ease players into more difficult endgame group content. Those looking for a true endgame challenge will be able to tackle new 3-Star difficulty dungeons.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sabrina Carpenter may be the next Fortnite Festival concert artist, a well-known leaker has said. The pop star has already been collaborating with Fortnite since late 2024.

It was revealed in an interview that Phantom Blade Zero will offer four difficulty options. The hack 'n slash will also feature several leniencies in its gameplay, such as in boss battles. For example, players won't have to completely restart boss battles in Phantom Blade Zero if they've reached a boss' second phase. If defeated, players will restart from the farthest phase they managed to get.

The Dreadnaught has returned. The fabled Hive ship and Throne World to Oryx himself is once again a threat to humanity. Its under the shadow of this ominous return that Guardians will begin their adventures when Destiny 2: Heresy, the games third Episode and final epilogue of the Light and Darkness Saga, launches on February 4. Today, the Destiny team hosted a livestream featuring an in-depth look at what players can expect from Heresy, including exclusive interviews with developers and live gameplay from the Episode.Today were covering some of the highlights of Heresy that were featured in todays show. For even more, check out the livestream recap here.Play VideoA menacing returnOrbiting the planet Saturn amidst its massive rings, the Dreadnaught never really left the lore of Destiny, serving both as an ominous reminder of Guardians previous conflict with Oryx in The Taken King expansion and, later, as a staging ground for the forces of Xivu Arath. With Heresy, the Hive ship will once again return to the forefront.Whats significant about the Dreadnaughts return for Heresy is that its going to be changing, and were going to be fighting through it in ways weve yet to experience, said Destiny 2 Narrative Architect Nikko Stevens. The Dreadnaught has reawakened for the first time in almost a decade, spurring the Vanguard and Guardians across the system to take notice. We finally get to see what has become of the Dreadnaught years after Oryx was felled and its halls were left to corrode, without a Navigator.Into The NetherDuring Heresy, Guardians take the fight into the Dreadnaught itself in a new activity known as The Nether. With an action-packed mix of exploration, combat, as well as gameplay modifiers and escalating difficulty (not to mention some excellent rewards), The Nether promises to keep players on their toes each time they board.There is a constant surge of Taken forces and corruptive power spilling from the Dreadnaught in Heresy, said Stevens. The outpouring of corruption is like an acerbic current that pushes back against Guardian forces attempting to board the Dreadnaught. This is where The Nether comes in.With a combination of area patrols, multiple bubbles full of challenging enemies, each culminating in heroic boss fights, and all set in the haunted corridors of a metamorphosed Dreadnaught, The Nether activity will find Guardians besieging the sprawling ship to disable its weaponry and prevent the Taken corruption from spreading. With lessons learned from previous rogue-lite experiments in Destiny 2 such as The Coil from Season of the Wish and Deep Dives from Season of the Deep, Guardians can also look forward to a constantly varied experience. For example, after completing a bubble, the Power level of enemies increase. In addition, the activity introduces a new twist to the combat formula in the form of boons that directly affect gameplay.Three types of boons will be available for players to collect: minor, major, and corrupted. Minor boons offer boosts to stats and will stack upon collection. Major boons are acquired by completing a bubble, and though they wont stack, they offer gameplay-altering benefits such as building up Static Charge stacks by sprinting, ultimately allowing you to unleash a powerful thunderbolt by firing your weapon. Corrupted boons also offer a significant gameplay boost, but also a downside as well. For example, one corrupted boon increases the damage done to targets while also increasing damage taken from sources.Weve also experimented with player modifiers, with increased health pools, no regenerating of health, low ammo drops and revive tokens, and a modification on healing in the sandbox over the course of play, said Destiny 2 Senior Designer Ryan Harris, adding that build crafting is a key to success in the Nether activity. Players should look to build their loadouts geared for survivability as the game mode modifiers increase health pools of players significantly while also stopping all health regen.Alongside the new narrative twists as well as new gear and updates, todays livestream also introduced the newly announced collaboration between Bungie and Lucasfilm Games to bring Star Wars-inspired gear and accessories to Destiny 2. Available with the launch of Heresy are three new armor ornaments (one per Guardian class), each inspired by the soldiers of the Galactic Empire, in addition to a number of Star Wars-inspired accessories.With three Acts coming this Episode, Heresy still has plenty of fun left in the coming months, with new activities, amazing gear to collect, and much more. Heresy is also just the start of a great 2025 for Destiny 2, so be on the lookout for more!Destiny 2: Heresy launches on February 4.