If the world isnt already scary enough, horror can provide a safe, controlled release of tension. Its no wonder, then, that today horror is more popular than ever. 2025 has already seen the release of some hotly anticipated titles, including Eric LaRoccas novella about a grieving dad, At Dark, I Become Loathsome, and the latest instant bestseller from Grady Hendrix, the devilishly good Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.Looking over the long, long list of forthcoming horror full-length novels, novellas, and fiction collections across publishers big and small, some trends are emerging on the horizon. There are sinister graphic novels like Markus Redmonds Blood Slaves, and middle grade horror for younger readers such as Paul Tremblays Another. Westerns both historical or modern are having a moment, and murderous fungus is still growing strong for all those The Last of Us fans, too.Whether you like your scare gothic, cultish, sci-fi-tinged, or simply full of incomprehensible existential dread, the scariest monster of all might be your To Be Read pile.The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham JonesMarch 18, SagaThe New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and I Was a Teenage Slasher (a Den of Geek Best Book of 2024) returns with an absorbing standalone historical novel that might not have chainsaws, but still spills buckets of blood. If youve watched recent Westerns like Netflixs American Primeval, or remember any American history, you know this countrys story was born in violence. Jones makes the bloodshed even more literal in this chilling vampire tale. The 1912 diary of a Lutheran priest is discovered and contains a story within a story: the life and undeath of a Blackfoot warrior named Good Stab who struggles to keep his humanity as his appetite makes him a tool for vengeance. This is one of Jones most ambitious novels yet, and all the more horrific for the authenticity he brings to this exploration of trauma. But its also as hypnotic and fun as the eeriest of campfire tales.rekt by Alex GonzalesMarch 25, ErewhonThe dark recesses of the internet and masculinity are a toxic combination in this sadistic, distressing debut novel that feels all too timely. After a car crash leaves Sammy descending into guilt and depression, he finds a sick solace in watching the most violent, disturbing videos online including one of his girlfriends fatal wreck, and grisly deaths yet to be. A sinister algorithm seems to know just what pain Sammy needs and he must become something even worse to fight it. Its Faces of Death meets Fight Club for the incel age of Andrew Tate in this unrepentant chiller that will surely fuel some interesting online discussions of its own.The Butchers Daughter: The Hitherto Untold Story of Mrs. Lovett by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh ClarkMay 6, Hells HundredVegetarians, beware! Horror retellings of fairy tales are always welcome, but what if the source material is instead an infamous penny dreadful? Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, has his musical (and Tim Burton movie.) Now, his meat pie-baking partner in Victorian crime gets her due in this grisly, evocative historical mystery. Told through a collection of correspondence, including letters between a young female journalist and an old woman who may or may not be one whose name we darent speak aloud for its profanity. Well-researched and immersive youll feel the grim, sooty reality of 19th-century London on your skin this is a highbrow, Gothic spin on a sensationalist story populated with women who live, breathe and bleed.Never Flinch by Stephen KingMay 27, ScribnerIs it unfair to include the indisputable king of horror when there are so many other incredible, talented horror authors who would benefit from a signal boost? Sure. But a new Stephen King novel remains a special event. Never Flinch weaves together two storylines about two different killers one hell-bent on revenge, the other targeting a celebrity feminist activist. Recurring King character Holly Gibney, from Mr. Mercedes and If It Bleeds, plays a key role in this latest creepy thriller, making her a character in more King novels even than The Dark Towers Randall Flagg. Holly has always fought for the victims of evil men, but could this confrontation make her a true final girl?Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-GarciaJuly 15, Del ReySet in 1990s Massachusetts, a graduate student named Minerva is researching an obscure female author (and university alum) for her thesis on horror literature. The more Minerva uncovers about Beatrice Tremblays manuscript and her mysterious disappearance, the more the young woman recognizes elements of her own grandmothers tales of witchcraft in 1900s Mexico. Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic, imbues her novel with evocative prose and razor-sharp wit to spectacular, creepy effect. Ghosts and witches abound as a haunting echoes through three generations of extraordinary women.A Game in Yellow by Hailey PiperAugust 12, SagaRobert H. Chambers The King in Yellow was a cult hit brought into wider pop culture fame when it got name-checked in the first and fourth seasons of HBOs True Detective. Piper, the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, has crafted a new descent into Carcosa, but makes it very horny and very queer. Carmen and Blanca are in a loving but sexually dull marriage. They rediscover their spark by reading strange passages from the play The King in Yellow. Addicted to this escape from the mundane, the boundaries between Carmens world and the plays blur and bleed with kink, cosmic horror and the grotesque often all at once.The October Film Haunt by Michael WehuntSept 23, St. Martins PressThis debut novel from Shirley Jackson Award finalist Michael Wehunt is already garnering a long list of advance praise from genre heavy hitters (some of whom are already mentioned on this list.) Jorie Stroud, a horror blogger at the height of her fame, stayed overnight in a graveyard from from fictional infamous cult film Proof of Demons. Things did not go as planned and now, a decade later, Jorie finds herself being pulled into a sequel. Found-footage novels like Paul Tremblays Horror Movie and Gemma Files Experimental Film are ripe for meta terror, and Wehunts deft talent for creating unbearable dread and weird-with-a-capital-W scenarios seems poised to get major attention from fans across literary borders.Nowhere Burning by Catriona WardOct 7, NightfireHome isnt always a safe place. Actor Leaf Winhams Nowhere ranch, set in the cold recesses of the Rocky Mountains, was once his sanctuary from fame and playground for his most horrifying crimes until it burned down in a fire. Now, a brother and sister escape their own unsafe home to seek refuge at Nowhere, which is rumored to house feral children. But acceptance into this mysterious, vicious clan wont be easy, and something darker residing on the ranch might never let them leave. Perfect for fans of Yellowjackets and dark suspense novels from Riley Sager and Ruth Ware, as well as Wards own The Last House on Needless Street.

Video game studio comedy Mythic Quest returns today for season four on Apple TV+. The comedy features Rob McElhenney as Ian, a maverick game producer, and his surrounding team as they struggle to stay relevant in the modern gaming market. Mythic Quest first premiered in February 2020, making it Apples longest-running comedy. Although there is no confirmation yet of a season five renewal, the service is about to launch a spin-off series and has begun running trailers.The spin-off is amusingly entitled Side Quest. When watching Mythic Quest on Apple TV+ right now, the app is playing trailers for Side Quest. The trailer will be on YouTube soon.Side Quest expands the Mythic Quest world with a four-part anthological format of less comedic and more dramatic stories. It shows the impact of the games on the people that play them. It builds on the success of Mythic Quests standalone episodes like A Dark Quiet Death and Backstory, which were the most critically-acclaimed elements of the show. Side Quest premieres on March 26, with all four episodes dropping on that date. Meanwhile, Mythic Quest season four premieres today with the first two episodes. The remainder of the season rolls out weekly, with the finale episode ten debuting on March 26. That means fans of the series can watch Side Quest before the finale of Mythic Quest.Mythic Quest and Side Quest are exclusive to Apple TV+. Watch using the Apple TV app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox and more platforms. Android users can also watch on the web at tv.apple.com.Apple TV+ shows and movies: Everything to watch on Apple TV PlusAdd 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

Source: Make ArchitectsThe scheme, designed by Make, will include a 25-storey towerDemolition contractor McGee has finally begun work on the scheme to redevelop the former ITV Studios headquarters bringing to an end a years-long planning battle.The development, designed by Make Architects, will create a 25-storey office building connected to two buildings of 14 and six storeys on Londons South Bank.Multiplex has been confirmed as main contractor on the job, with the value of its deal put at 500m.The scheme was originally due to be built by Lendlease but he job was retendered last year after the developer decided it needed a plan B in the wake of the decision by Lendleases Australian parent to put it up for sale.It is being developed by CO-RE and Mitsubishi Estate with others working on the job including QS T&T Alinea, landscape architect Grant Associates and engineer Arup.A legal challenge by a local from a local campaign group called Save Our Southbank (SoS) was dismissed just before Christmas in the High Court.SoS, which had argued that the tower could be refurbished to provide 200 homes and 500,000 sq ft of offices, then had until last week (21 January) to decide whether to launch a legal challenge through the Court of Appeal but the deadline to do so came and went.The job, better known as 72 Upper Ground, is due to complete in 2029.How the planning battle unfoldedNovember 2019: Site bought by developers Mitsubishi Estate and CO-RE for close to 150mMarch 2022: Lambeth council gives scheme green lightMay 2022: Lendlease lands 72 Upper Ground deal, known as Project Vista and then priced at 400m, having beaten Laing ORourke and Sir Robert McAlpine. A few days later, then communities secretary Michael Gove puts scheme on ice by issuing an Article 31 notice stopping demolition work at the siteSeptember 2022: Goves successor Greg Clark calls scheme in for public inquiryJanuary 2023: Public inquiry finishes with decision promised by August that yearDecember 2023: Decision delayed for a third time by Gove, now back as communities secretary, with promise that final call will be made the following FebruaryFebruary 2024: In a 340-page report, Gove gives scheme green lightMarch 2024: Campaign group Save Our Southbank launches legal appeal against Goves decisionJuly 2024: Mace and Multiplex revealed as firms bidding revised dealOctober 2024: Two day hearing into appeal is heard with decision promised by the end of November; Building reveals Multiplex has won re-run competitionDecember 2024: High Court throws out campaigners appealJanuary 2025: Deadline for campaigners to challenge ruling elapses; McGee finally starts work to bring down tower

BDP-designed building is one of the most prominent in citys financial districtMichael Laird Architects designs for the 200m refurbishmentMichael Laird Architects has unveiled its designs for a 200m refurbishment of Lloyds Banking Groups Scottish headquarters.The Port Hamilton building in the centre of Edinburgh will be transformed into an innovation hub under plans designed for developer Drum Property Group.The 282,000sq ft, eight storey building was designed by BDP. It has been occupied by Lloyds subsidiary Scottish Widows for the past 30 years and, with its curved roof, is one of the most distinctive in the citys financial district.Drum group managing director Graeme Bone said the level of investment, structure and net-zero objectives of the Port Hamilton redevelopment sends out a very strong message for the future of the city centre office market.The existing building was designed by BDPAs part of the deal with Lloyds, Drum will assume control of the property and take responsibility for redeveloping the building as part of a forward funding agreement.Port Hamilton will remain the head office for the pensions and investments business as Drum has also concluded a pre-letting agreement with Lloyds which will see the firm enter a 21-year lease after the transformation works, which are expected to complete in 2027.

Merton Council has named Charles Holland Architects the winner of its competition for a bold and striking new 90,000 temporary bandstand in Mitcham, south London The winning multidisciplinary team will now work with local people to co-design and then deliver a new temporary and re-usable bandstand for Mitcham Town Centre that will be used from July to September for the next three years.Charles Holland Architects working with fabricator Raskl was chosen ahead of an undisclosed shortlist of rival teams to win the commission.The project aims to boost footfall by drawing on the history of an earlier bandstand that was constructed in the 1920s on the Fair Green in Mitcham Town Centre but was removed in the mid-20th century.AdvertisementThe completed bandstand will be called What Goes Around, a reference to its use of recycled materials as well as the return of a bandstand to the area after 100 years.Deputy leader, councillor and cabinet member for civic pride and climate change Eleanor Stringer said: The new bandstand will be a celebration of Mitchams history and heritage as well as its future.Mitchams community is so proud of this area and wants to see improvements made. The new bandstand will be at the heart of Fair Green, and is one of many ways we are revitalising the area bringing it to life for everyone who lives, works and visits here.Were delighted to be working with Charles Holland Architects, who will reach out to the community to involve them in this exciting project.Mitcham is located around 11.6km south-west of Charing Cross. Local landmarks include Godsmark Architectures Merton Sea Cadet Corps Hall, the Pollards Pop-Up By Okra Studio and Mitcham Cricket Green which is thought to be one of the oldest cricket greens in the world.AdvertisementThe latest project aims to deliver a new bold and striking temporary bandstand structure on Fair Green in the centre of Mitcham. The bold, robust and safe structure is expected to be freestanding with no permanent fixtures made to the ground.Charles Holland Architects practice principal Charles Holland said: This is a lovely project to be involved in, something that we hope will add an important element of fun and spontaneity to Mitcham Fair Green.We are very happy to be working with the team at Merton Council, our collaborators at Raskl, and the people of Mitcham in developing What Goes Around.2025-01-29Merlin Fulchercomment and share

Southwark confirmed to the AJ that a hole running directly alongside the practices 27-storey EDGE tower, which is currently being built on Fenning Street, appeared on 6 January.The cause of the sink hole is unknown and the council has added in a statement that it is monitoring the situation along with Mace, the site contractor.A council spokesperson said: The exact cause of the sinkhole remains under investigation and when the investigation is concluded, we will share findings.AdvertisementThe councils engineering services are in close liaison with the team from Mace [and] Work at the construction site continues with the hole being continually monitored seven days a week.Mace is also carrying out stabilising works and repairs, which Southwark said could take weeks. The entrance to the construction site is understood to have been relocated.The hole was visible to passers-by up until last weekend when hoardings were put up around the site, Southwark News reported. The same local news outlet shared pictures of the hole swallowing the entrance to the construction site.Pilbrow & Partners, which did not respond to the AJs request for comment, secured approval for the 27-storey EDGE tower from Southwark Council in 2021.The scheme replaces a former Home Office building near London Bridge station. Dutch developer Edge is backing the project.AdvertisementPilbrow & Partners' plans for EDGE London Bridge

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Dino Crisis 1 & 2 getting enhanced PC re-releases courtesy of GOGDRM-free and out today.Image credit: Capcom News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 29, 2025 There's some good news for PC players who spent the end of last year casting jealous glances at PlayStation owners, following the surprise re-release of Capcom's beloved survival horror game Dino Crisis; not only is Dino Crisis 1 now available on PC, it's sequel has also been re-released, meaning PlayStation owners might be feeling a little green eyed now too.Dino Crisis, if you're unfamiliar, originally released for PlayStation 1 back in 1999. It was created by legendary Capcom director Shinji Mikami, giving the B-movie survival horror template established in his earlier Resident Evil a jungle-based, dinosaur-themed twist. A more action-focused sequel released in 2000, followed by the Xbox-exclusive Dino Crisis 3 in 2003, and that was it for the series - leaving it to develop something of a cult following in the years since.Indeed, according to a Capcom poll last year, Dino Crisis is the series fans want to see the developer revisit the most. To date, that hasn't happen - creator Shinji Mikami later told Eurogamer he doesn't "feel like there's a whole lot of space" for a new Dino Crisis game thanks to the success of Monster Hunter - but Capcom did at least attempt to appease fans with a surprise PlayStation Plus re-release of Dino Crisis 1 last October. Since then, Dino Crisis 1 has been made available for general purchase on PlayStation, and now - in partnership with GOG - Capcom has launched the game and its beloved sequel on PC.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Newscast: Xbox Developer Direct - four promising games also due on PlayStation.Watch on YouTubeBoth Dino Crisis GOG releases are DRM-free and include all content included in the originals, alongside a range of enhancements for modern-day machines. Dino Crisis 1, for instance, is now playable on Windows 10/11, and includes Original mode, Arrange mode, and the Operation Wipe Out mode exclusive to the game's original PC port back in the day. It also features enhanced DirectX rendering, 4K resolution support, plus new in-game options including V-sync, gamma correction, and anti-aliasing. That's in addition to support for modern controllers, and fixes for stability, transparency, and save issues.Dino Crisis 1 & 2 launch for PC via GOG today (here and here, specifically), and there's a two-game bundle for anyone wanting to pick up both. Their arrival coincides with the launch of GOG's new Dreamlist tool - a "next generation" version of its Community Wishlist - intended to show IP owners community interest in old games and help bring them back to life.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe Finals Season 5 continues with a new update. Patch 5.6.0 listed some weapon fixes and made changes to Quick Cash and Cashout, and it was also the beginning of Embark celebrating Lunar New Year. Now Embark has shared The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notes, and they simply include a contract fix along with the addition of legendary beast, Big Foot, via the store rotation.The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notesBelow are The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notes:Update 5.7 is here, bringing legendary looks, treasure-worthy firepower, and a small but welcome contract fix. Looking ahead, Update 5.8 will be our mid-season balance patch complete with key adjustments to the overall game balance.In the meantime, a certain hairy legend has entered the Arena! The Hairy Hiker Set lets you become the myth itself, complete with a full outfit, a beastly gun charm and sticker, plus an emote thatll have you striking a familiar, shadowy pose. If you prefer something with ancient power (and maybe some mold), the Sunstone Set transforms your weapons into relics of a lost civilization. Weathered stone, creeping vines, and golden emblems hold together firepower that looks like its been unearthed straight from a forgotten temple.On the fixes side, weve removed the Eliminate 5 opponents from 30 meters or more using gadgets contract, as it wasnt tracking properly. Players who had this contract have been assigned a new one!Thats all for this one, lets suit up and get back in The Arena!Content and Bug FixesContractsRemoved Eliminate 5 opponents from 30 meters or more using gadgets, as it was not tracking properlyFor more The Finals, check out our guide to thebest weapons in the game ranked, and we also have a guide to thebest gadgets. In addition, we have a guide to thebest FPS settingsto help you win matchesalong witharanking of the best classesin the game.The FinalsPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, First-Person Shooter, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe leveling system in Fortnite has gone through several massive changes over the past few years. Epic Games has completely revamped challenges and XP a couple of times, making the leveling process different. Fortnite Chapter 6 is no different, as the game developer has modified XP values in almost every game mode.On Tuesday night, Epic released another change to XP. This time, leveling was buffed, which is a positive change for the community. More precisely, the game developer more than doubled XP playtime rates in Fortnite Reload.How much XP can you get from Fortnite?Gaining levels in Fortnite is one of the easiest tasks. Thanks to a variety of modes and XP buffs, reaching level 200 is a piece of cake for many players. On top of this, many members of the community use Fortnite XP maps to level up as quickly as possible and unlock all the Battle Pass rewards.While leveling up has been fast over the past few seasons, Epic Games made it even easier with the latest buff. On Tuesday, the Fortnite creator buffed XP in the Reload mode, increasing playtime gains from 750 to 1,550 per minute. Gaining XP is now much faster in Fortnite Reload. Image by VideoGamerBefore the buff, Reload players could get 45,000 XP an hour just from playing the game mode, which is a bit more than half of a level. Now, this value is 93,000 XP, meaning that players can get at least one level since it takes 80,000 XP to level up. Its important to note that this is just from Playtime XP. Performing other actions, such as opening chests and eliminating enemies, can easily lead to three or more levels per hour.Considering how many XP changes Epic has released this season, this buff may not be the last one. Furthermore, with Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 ending on February 21, the game developer will likely enable Supercharged XP for all players in the final week of it. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share