It looks like Pokmon TCG Pocket will offer all players a guaranteed rare card for the franchise's annual Pokmon Day. Read more

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 here Contents hide Destiny 2 fans are in for a busy February, and it all starts with the launch of Episode Heresy. There is a lot for D2 players to anticipate about this new chapter from Bungie, including the simultaneous launch of a crossover with Star Wars. The release date and time countdown for when Destiny 2 Episode Heresy will start is right around the corner, and Bungie has outlined the official maintenance schedule.Destiny 2 Episode Heresy release dateThe release date for Destiny 2 Episode Heresy is February 4th. This is the same day the crossover with Star Wars will launch, too.Ahead of the new chapters launch, Bungie has provided fans with a lot of details. The developer has announced a new weapon Tome, theyve announced some mega buffs and new perks, and theyve also announced a popular OP weapon archetype getting nerfed so its no longer great at killing everything.Following the launch of Heresy, fans then have the Bungie Game2Give charity fundraiser livestream on February 6th, and then theres the Sundered Doctrine Dungeon Racestarting February 7th.When does Destiny 2 Episode Heresy start?The start time for Destiny 2 Episode Heresy is 9AM PT/12PM ET/5PM GMT on February 4th. This is when the update will be available across all platforms and regions for players to experience, with fans able to log back into D2.Unfortunately, at the hours listed above, players might be placed in a queue and encounter issues logging in due to background maintenance still continuing. Maintenance will fully conclude at 11AM PT/2PM ET/7PM GMT, so any possible issues should no longer be encountered by these times. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Destiny 2 Episode Heresy start time US9AM PT on Tuesday, February 4th12PM ET on Tuesday, February 4thDestiny 2 Episode Heresy release time UK5PM GMT on Tuesday, February 4thCountdownBelow is a visual countdown to when the chapter will launch:D2 maintenance scheduleBelow is the official maintenance schedule courtesy of Bungie:February 3rd:Background maintenance starts at 10AM PT/1PM ET/6PM GMTBackground maintenance ends at 2PM PT/5PM ET/10PM GMTFebruary 4th:Maintenance starts at 6:30AM PT/9:30AM ET/2:30PM GMTDestiny 2 is brought offline at 7:45AM PT/10:45AM ET/3:45PM GMTUpdate 8.2.0 will be available across all platforms/regions, D2 players able to log back in at 9AM PT/12PM ET/5PM GMTMaintenance fully concludes at 11AM PT/2PM ET/7PM GMTImage credit: BungieCheck out Bungies sever and update status webpage for more information.As for more Destiny 2, check out our guide to thebest Legendary weaponsalong with thebest weapons for PvP.Destiny 2Platform(s):Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Web, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Adventure, First Person, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

The best hotels in New York City offer a few key features: sweeping views of the skyline, attentive service, and proximity to the citys buzziest neighborhoods and sightsCentral Park, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village, Soho, Chelsea, and (dare we say it) Times Square. It feels like theres a luxury hotel around every corner, and you wouldnt be entirely wrong. From the picture frame windows and mood lighting of the PUBLIC Hotel to the regency-style interiors of The Pierre, theres plenty to write home about from these post card-worthy lodgings.Choosing just one spot to check off the boxes on your travel to-do list is a very tall order, but you might be surprised what youll find in the city that never sleeps. Location really makes a difference here, and in an effort to help you navigate the vibrant world of New York City hotels, we pulled together some of our favorite design-forward stays from all over the subway map. At AD, we love a good interior, so we highlighted a curated selection of spots to satisfy your aesthetic cravings, with plenty of other perks to make it a visit to remember. Whether youre looking for Art Deco style, an otherworldly spa that sets you on a whole nother plane of relaxation, some Michelin-worthy dining options, or a rooftop bar that looks out onto the heart of the city, weve got options for you.We broke the following picks down into three budget categoriesbecause you dont need us to tell you that staying in the Big Apple can be expensive. Consider this your official travel guide for finding the most luxurious place to lay your head at night.The Best Hotels in New York City, by Category:Under $500 a NightCourtesy of the Ludlow HotelThe Ludlow HotelPerks: Rain-style showers, in-room living spaces, a fitness center, and accommodations for petsNeighborhood: The Lower East SideLocated in the hip Lower East Sidewhere young, cooler-than-thou locals and buzzy shops like Colbo and Coming Soon convergelies the Ludlow, a boutique hotel designed by a trio of renowned New York City hoteliers: Sean MacPherson, Ira Drukier, and Richard Born. It includes 175 spacious guest rooms spanning studios, terraces, loft spaces, and a penthouse suite that feature exposed beams, chairs clad in sheepskin rugs, and old-school four poster beds. The oak-paneled lobby is one of his coziest gathering places, from the grand limestone fireplace offset with squelchy leather seating to the garden terrace where French cuisine is served under a constellation of colorful glass pendants. From $389 per night.BOOK NOWPhoto: Matt DutileWythe HotelPerks: Dedicated workspaces, exposed brick, fitness center, room service, concierge serviceNeighborhood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

No, it was not a Sputnik moment. The launch last month of DeepSeek R1, the Chinese generative AI or chatbot, created mayhem in the tech world, with stocks plummeting and much chatter about the US losing its supremacy in AI technology. Yet, for all the disruption, the Sputnik analogy reveals less about DeepSeek than about American neuroses.The original Sputnik moment came on 4 October 1957 when the Soviet Union shocked the world by launching Sputnik 1, the first time humanity had sent a satellite into orbit. It was, to anachronistically borrow a phrase from a later and even more momentous landmark, one giant leap for mankind, in Neil Armstrongs historic words as he took a small step on to the surface of the moon.It was a significant moment in the cold war, too. A confidential White House report worried that American prestige had sustained a severe blow, giving the USSR clear advantage in the cold war. That fear spurred Washington into reshaping its space programme, and catalysed the Apollo missions, culminating with Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming, on 20 July 1969, the first humans to walk uponanothercelestial body.DeepSeek, sponsored by a Chinese hedge fund, is a notable achievement. Technically, though, it is no advance on large language models (LLMs) that already exist. It is neither faster nor cleverer than OpenAIs ChatGPT or Anthropics Claude and just as prone to hallucinations the tendency, exhibited by all LLMs, to give false answers or to make up facts to fill gaps in its data. According to NewsGuard, a rating system for news and information websites, DeepSeeks chatbot made false claims 30% of the time and gave no answers to 53% of questions, compared with 40% and 22% respectively for the 10 leading chatbots in NewsGuards most recent audit.The figures expose the profound unreliability of all LLMs. DeepSeeks particularly high non-response rate is likely to be the product of its censoriousness; it refuses to provide answers on any issue that China finds sensitive or about which it wants facts restricted, whether Tiananmen Square or Taiwan.The true impact of DeepSeek is not on the technology but on the economics of AI. It is a chatbot as capable, and as flawed, as other current leading models, but built at a fraction of the cost and from inferior technology. The US ban on the sale to China of the most advanced chips and chip-making equipment, imposed by the Biden administration in 2022, and tightened several times since, was designed to curtail Beijings access to cutting-edge technology. Paradoxically, it may have spurred Chinese researchers into becoming more innovative.Had DeepSeek been created by geeks at a US university, it would most likely have been feted without global tumultDeepSeek is also free to use, and open source. The combination of low cost and openness may help democratise AI technology, enabling others, especially from outside America, to enter the market. There is a certain irony that it should be China that is opening up the technology while US firms continue to create as many barriers as possible to competitors attempting to enter the field.And here lies perhaps the biggest impact of DeepSeek. It has ripped off the veil of mystique that previously surrounded AI. Silicon Valley has nurtured the image of AI technology as a precious and miraculous accomplishment, and portrayed its leading figures, from Elon Musk to Sam Altman, as prophets guiding us into a new world. The technology itself has been endowed with almost magical powers, including the promise of artificial general intelligence, or AGI superintelligent machines capable of surpassing human abilities on any cognitive task as being almost within our grasp.Last April, Musk predicted that AI would be smarter than any human by the end of 2025. Last month, Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the driving force behind the current generative AI boom, similarly claimed to be confident we know how to build AGI and that in 2025, we may see the first AI agents join the workforce.Almost a decade ago, the Nobel prize-winning computer scientist Geoff Hinton urged nations to stop training radiologists, and similar medical technicians, because its completely obvious within five years, deep learning [AI] is going to do better. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, a corporation founded by former OpenAI employees, has claimed that AI could double the human lifespan within five to 10 years. These fantasy claims have been shredded by critics such as the American cognitive scientist Gary Marcus, who has even challenged Musk to a $1m bet over his smarter than any human claim for AI.Nevertheless, for all the pushback, each time one fantasy prediction fails to materialise, another takes its place. Such claims derive less from technological possibilities than from political and economic needs. While AI technology has provided hugely important tools, capable of surpassing humans in specific fields, from the solving of mathematical problems to the recognition of disease patterns, thebusiness model depends on hype. It is the hype that drives the billion-dollar investment and buys political influence, including a seat at the presidential inauguration.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to ObservedFree weekly newsletterAnalysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionIt is also an approach that seeks to advance AI less through major scientific breakthroughs than through a brute force strategy of scaling up building bigger models, using larger datasets, and deploying vastly greater computational power. The disruptive quality of DeepSeek lies in questioning this approach, demonstrating that the best generative AI models can be matched with much less computational power and a lower financial burden.The hype around DeepSeek is in part a reflection of the hype around AI. It is a reflection, too, of geopolitical tensions. Had DeepSeek been created by geeks at a US university, it would most likely have been feted but without the global tumult of the past two weeks. Beneath the panic lies fear of DeepSeeks Chinese origins andownership.Yet, too great an obsession with the geopolitics of DeepSeek can distort the lessons we take from it. The promise of more open access to such vital technology becomes subsumed into a fear of its Chinese provenance. Concerns about privacy, censorship and surveillance, rightly raised by a model such as DeepSeek, can help obscure the reality that such issues bedevil all AI technology, not just that from China. Particularly at a time of threatened trade wars and threats to democracy, our capacity to navigate between the hype and the fear assumes new importance.

The recent Salt Typhoon cyberattack, orchestrated by Chinese attackers, finally gave US officials the much needed nudge to start endorsing strong end-to-end encryption, instead of wanting to undermine it! In this hack, the Chinese infiltrated major American telecommunications networks and, worst of all, they are still in the systems and can not be removed. For US officials, it wasnt just another cyberattack; it was a wake-up call. For years, cybersecurity experts have warned about the risks posed by insecure and outdated communication systems, and the devastating consequences of Salt Typhoon underline how bad the situation has become.The Salt Typhoon hack, also labeled as the worst hack in US history, led to a notable and long-overdue policy shift in the USA.Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has now recommended using end-to-end encrypted services for secure communications, and best of all especially those that dont harvest or store metadata. This move is significant not only because it validates what privacy advocates have been saying for years but also because for the first time US government officials ask everyone to use encryption. In its Mobile Communications Best Practice Guidance CISA recommends:1. Use only end-to-end encrypted communicationsCISA specifically names the Signal chat app as a secure alternative, not only because of its quantum-resistant, end-to-end encryption, but also because users should evaluate the extent to which the app and associated services collect and store metadata which in Signals case is very little.Battle against end-to-end encryptionHistorically, the US government has had a much different relationship with end-to-end encryption.Politicians and governmental agencies alike have often portrayed encryption as a barrier to law enforcement rather than a safeguard for individual privacy. Again and again, politicians tried to force tech companies offering secure encryption for backdoor access stating that access for the good guys should be possible to prevent terrorist attacks or the sexual exploitation of children.Efforts to undermine strong encryption have been persistent for as long as end-to-end encryption has existed.The Crypto Wars of the 1990sIn the early days of the internet and shortly after the invention of PGP encryption which for the first time allowed individuals to send encrypted emails over the internet, the US government pushed against the export of such technology. The US government argued that technology like PGP would allow anyone including foreign adversaries - to protect their communication from prying eyes, in particular, from US secret services.Consequently, US government export regulations banned the export of cryptographic systems with 128-bit keys, like PGPs AES/RSA encryption. The attitude towards encryption in the US was split: On one side, military cryptography experts entirely focused on preventing adversaries from accessing sensitive information, making sure to use strong encryption for such information. On the other side, officials wanted access to foreign communications.However, a backdoor to encryption was never introduced to PGP, and strong end-to-end encryption is being used to this day, now even with quantum-resistant algorithms.Apple vs. FBI (2016) US government wanting backdoor access to iPhones from Apple. Hackers, repressive regimes etc. standing in line to also get access.The FBIs demand that Apple should create a backdoor to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter sparked a national debate in the USA. Apples refusal highlighted the fundamental tension between individual privacy and governmental surveillance.To this day, Apple is able to offer strong end-to-end encryption to its users.The EARN IT Act (2020)Under the guise of combating child exploitation, the US government wanted to force companies offering encrypted services to undermine this encryption by enabling scanning mechanisms with the help of the EARN IT Act.Critics warned it would effectively outlaw strong encryption, and the EARN IT Act never got passed.The Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act (2020)Introduced as a measure to ensure law enforcement could access encrypted data during investigations, the Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act sought to mandate that companies create backdoors in their encryption systems. Proponents argued it was necessary for public safety, but critics pointed out that such backdoors would weaken encryption for everyone, exposing users to cyberattacks and surveillance.The proposal faced significant opposition from privacy advocates and the tech industry and ultimately failed to gain traction in Congress.Every attempt to break encryption has consistently led to a very controversial debate about encryption in the United States during the last few decades.But every time anyone demands backdoor access to encryption, one thing comes out crystal-clear:Any deliberate weakening of encryption not only compromises privacy but also exposes users to the same kinds of attacks demonstrated by Salt Typhoon.Salt Typhoon: A wake-up callSalt Typhoons success was rooted in exploiting weaknesses in (old and outdated) telecommunications networks. While much of the focus has been on the scale of the hack, its implications are even more alarming. This attack revealed that attackers could access sensitive communications, gather extensive metadata, and potentially disrupt critical infrastructure.The breach is a stark reminder that secure communication is not a given, we must make smart decisions to make sure our online communication is secure by choosing encrypted services like Signal and Tuta Mail as it has now been recommended by CISA.Victory for privacyWe at Tuta highly welcome CISAs new recommendation we do not only welcome it, we call it a long-awaited victory for privacy.This recommendation by CISA marks a significant and overdue shift in US policy towards prioritizing privacy and security in digital communications. For years, experts have emphasized the importance of end-to-end encryption and minimal metadata retention. Its the only safe method we have to make sure our communication can not be monitored. It is encouraging to see this is finally being understood at such a high governmental level. CISAs recent statement is the loudest endorsement of encryption that we have ever heard from an agency of the US government.At Tuta, our goal is to give users full control over their data. By implementing strong, quantum-safe encryption algorithms, by using a zero-knowledge architecture and by storing as little metadata as possible about our users, we make sure that our users data stays safe, online and offline.Why privacy mattersPrivacy is often framed as necessary only for those with something to hide. But this narrative ignores the fundamental role privacy plays in a democratic society. Privacy matters because without it, free speech and freedom of expression, even freedom of thought are at risk. Journalists, activists, and whistleblowers rely on secure communication to expose corruption and injustice.But thats only one part. If we are able to keep our data private and confidential, we can protect it from any kind of prying eyes not just from political opponents, but also from economic adversaries. Businesses depend on privacy through end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive data from competitors, business espionage and bad actors.Salt Typhoon demonstrated what can happen when these safeguards are absent. This breach mainly affected politicians spied upon by Chinese attackers but anyone could fall victim to it: individuals, businesses, NGOs, anyone. The Salt Typhoon hack affects national security and global trust in critical communications infrastructure and the only method that can keep us safe is end-to-end encryption.Calling on politicians to end the crypto warsCISAs recommendation of using end-to-end encryption is a step in the right direction, but it must be followed by action. Policymakers need to resist future attempts to weaken encryption or to undermine it with backdoors for the good guys.The crypto wars must finally come to an end!Instead, politicians must actively support end-to-end encryption and the development of secure technologies in their own interest.Lets build a more secure digital future. Lets fight for privacy together!

McDonald's At HomeThis new gacha game is absolutely ripping off your favourite anime, but it's so blatant you can't help but applaudOriginality? Who needs it!Image credit: Unicorn Whale Technology Limited News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 3, 2025 There's a new gacha game on the scene, and it's so obviously copying some of the biggest anime around, all you can do is laugh.Is creativity dead? Well, no, there's so much good stuff coming out these days I'm struggling to keep up, but if I were to only look at Enigma of Sepia, I'd certainly think it was. I can't really tell you what kind of game Enigma of Sepia is - it's certainly a gacha game, it's definitely coming to mobile devices, and it claims to be an RPG, but there's hardly a lick of gameplay available despite supposedly releasing this coming February 14 (yes, Valentine's Day). There are a couple of trailers available, one technically being a cinematic trailer, the other showing off characters you collect with a bit of gameplay in the background, but right off the bat you can see that some of them look familiar.Watch on YouTubeIn that character trailer alone you can see a ripoff of what I think is meant to be Kirito from Sword Art Online, Shinji from Neon Genesis Evangelion (who is just straight up wearing EVA Unit-01 as an outfit), Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist, and Yuji from Jujutsu Kaisen. That's not to mention characters shown off on the game's Twitter, like Satoria, who is definitely not Jujutsu Kaisen's Gojo Satoru, and Chronis, who absolutely isn't Jotaro and Star Platinum from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Hell, there's even Denise, who isn't Denji from Chainsaw Man at all!To see this content please enable targeting cookies. One thing I'm sure you'll have also noticed by now is that all of these characters are typically men, but instead are now hot anime women with giant you-know-whats, which is certainly a creative choice that has been made. It appears to be the debut title of Unicorn Whale Technology Limited, and it certainly looks like it, but hey, maybe it's the next breakout hit! Maybe.

Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 stress test went live last week, and thanks to it, a thing exists. Yep, the actual patch isn't even out yet, and someone's already used the new photo mode to create a perfect bear sex-themed twist on the distracted boyfriend meme. Come on, you know the one. Read more

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795k44 years after its release, you'd think that the speedrunning community would have pushed the Donkey Kong arcade game to its limit. But, as it turns out, there are a handful of extra levels hidden behind the game's long-assumed unbeatable kill screen. All you've got to do is beat it.That's the challenge that was recently undertaken by Super Mario Bros. speedrunner Kosmic. In a 29-minute YouTube video, the Mario pro explains that Donkey Kong's US arcade release (the one used for competitive play) maxes out at the first barrel stage of level 22. This comes as a product of a glitch in the game's bonus timer algorithm, where the game will prematurely end after just 400 bonus points have passed nowhere near long enough to make it all the way to Pauline at the top of the tower.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube Now, this was (understandably) assumed to be the game's natural end, but, inspired by a Discord message from another DK speedrunner, Kosmic worked out that you could hypothetically use another glitch to overcome the premature kill screen fighting fire with fire, and all that.The glitch in question is one that allows Mario (the artist formally known as Jumpman) to eternally climb the screen thanks to some coordinate manipulation on a broken ladder. If you could ride this exploit all the way to the top, he'd theoretically make it before the dodgy bonus timer expired.Booting up the game in an emulator and using frame advance to slow things down for frame-perfect inputs, Kosmic got to work climbing DK's tower in this weird, floaty manner. And it works.The speedrunner made it past level 22's first barrel stage and progressed through a further five stages to get to the 22-6 rivet stage. There are no broken ladders to exploit on this one, so things naturally wrap up after you've nabbed six of the eight required rivets and you're hit with the definitive final kill screen.You have to get very lucky (like a 1/1024 chance level of lucky), but it is possible. Ah yes, Kosmic also flags that he only managed to do it thanks to the frame advance slowing things down. If you were to try it in real-time, you'd have to move the joystick back and forth 24 times per second, which ain't happening.But heck, an additional five screens on a 44-year-old game? That's a pretty wild discovery. Bring on its 88th anniversary so we can finally see someone hit level 23... The true Original Edition"There's a kill screen comin' up!"What do you make of this discovery? Climb down to the comments below and let us know.[source youtube.com]Related GamesShare:02 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles69 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Supercharge' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherRandom: Local Supermarket Wins Trademark Battle Against NintendoIt didn't expect to beat "such a commercial monster"Japan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment MethodsChange will come into effect in March

"I am just blown over".The 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony has come and gone, with the likes of Beyonc, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, and even The Beatles bagging some of the coveted gongs.What we're particularly interested in, however, is the 'Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media' category. This year, it was won by composer Winifred Phillips for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, the 2024 remake from Digital Eclipse.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

AnnouncementThe Art of VFX turns 15!By Vincent Frei - 03/02/2025 Oh yeah! This February, The Art of VFX celebrates 15 years!What started as a passion project has grown into a trusted resource for our community, thanks to youthe incredible VFX artists, studios, and enthusiasts who make this industry so inspiring. Its a true honor to have your continued support.Over the years, The Art of VFX has published more than 1,000 interviews featuring over 800 talented professionals, sharing their insights and experiences. Today, the site welcomes thousands of visitors every day, a testament to the passion and dedication of the VFX community.To mark this special anniversary, I have a few surprises in store throughout the year starting today with this special logo. Stay with me for whats next!Thank you all! Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025