Vision-language models (VLMs) face a critical challenge in achieving robust generalization beyond their training data while maintaining computational resources and cost efficiency. Approaches, such as chain-of-thought supervised fine-tuning (CoT-SFT), often lead to overfitting, where models perform well on seen data but struggle with new, unseen scenarios. This limitation reduces their effectiveness in applications that demand adaptability, such as autonomous systems, medical imaging, and visual reasoning tasks. Also, the prevailing assumption is that increasing model size is the key to improved performance. The need for a more efficient training paradigm that enhances generalization, minimizes overfitting and reduces computational costs has become crucial for advancing VLMs.Deep Agent released R1-V to resolve some of the above concerns. This novel reinforcement learning approach enhances the generalization ability of VLMs while being cost-effective. This approach demonstrates how reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR) can outperform traditional CoT-SFT in effectiveness and robustness when dealing with out-of-distribution (OOD) data.The main objective of the R1-V approach is to enhance VLMs ability to generalize beyond their training datasets. R1-V tackles this issue by employing reinforcement learning techniques that guide the model to learn generalizable skills rather than memorizing training examples. In particular, it focuses on teaching VLMs to develop robust visual counting abilities, an essential skill in many AI applications, including image recognition, autonomous systems, and visual reasoning.A major highlight of R1-V is its training efficiency. Despite utilizing a relatively small model with only 2 billion parameters, R1-V performs better than a significantly larger 72 billion parameter model in OOD tests. This demonstrates that model size is not the sole determinant of performance; the training methodology and reinforcement learning strategies are crucial in enhancing a models capabilities.R1-V was trained on eight A100 GPUs for 30 minutes, with a total computational cost of only $2.62. This cost-effectiveness makes it an attractive alternative for researchers and developers who wish to achieve high performance without extensive computational resources. R1-V also stands out due to its reliance on a curated training dataset. The model was trained using CLEVR-70k and R1-Distilled Visual Reasoning datasets, specifically designed to encourage visual reasoning and robust decision-making. Using these datasets ensures that the model develops a deep understanding of visual relationships and logical reasoning rather than simply learning to recognize patterns from a given dataset.In conclusion, the development of R1-V supports open-source AI research by making its code, model weights, datasets, and training scripts publicly available. This allows the AI research community to refine and improve vision-language modeling. R1-Vs reinforcement learning approach enables rapid learning of patterns and structures in data. It leads to high performance with minimal computational cost. This challenges the assumption that extensive training and massive datasets are necessary for state-of-the-art AI performance. Instead, efficient training methodologies can reduce computational demands while maintaining or surpassing traditional results.Check outtheGitHub Page.All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our75k+ ML SubReddit. Sana HassanSana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. With a keen interest in solving practical problems, he brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions.Sana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/ARM: Enhancing Open-Domain Question Answering with Structured Retrieval and Efficient Data AlignmentSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Google AI Introduces Parfait: A Privacy-First AI System for Secure Data Aggregation and AnalyticsSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Exploration Challenges in LLMs: Balancing Uncertainty and Empowerment in Open-Ended TasksSana Hassanhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/sana-hassan/Creating an AI-Powered Tutor Using Vector Database and Groq for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Step by Step Guide [Recommended] Join Our Telegram Channel

Resource-Efficient Fine-Tuning of DeepSeek-R1 0 like February 4, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Thuwarakesh Murallie Originally published on Towards AI. How to make DeepSeek R1 to reason with your private dataThis member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.Photo by Dan Schiumarini on UnsplashWe no longer seek validation to say that DeepSeek R1 is awesome. It really is.DeepSeek can provide comparable performance to OpenAI-O1 but at a fraction of its cost. Thats because the model is open source.Yet, we cannot jump in and start using it in production-grade applications. Any model, open-weight or proprietary, has an inference cost that must fit your budget. Needless to say, the more parameters there are, the more costs there are.DeepSeeks R1 is a 671 billion parameter model. For any given inference, some 37 billion active parameters will do the job for you. You need at least 90GB of vRAM to host this model locally.Heres a back-of-the-envolop calculation of the GPU memory needed to host the model.vRAM estimation for hosting LLMs locally Image by the authorIf you dont have a GPU with that much vRAM, luckily, this is not the end of the world.Of course, you can rent a GPU from a provider. But Im not talking about that.DeepSeek R1 can be successfully run on the most popular GPUs, such as RTX 3090 or 4090. You can even run it for Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on April 24. Its a turn-based RPG, but it also incorporates real-time mechanics sort of like the Mario RPG series. But the tone is way more serious, weird, and artsy. It looks great. Its coming out in standard and deluxe editions, and theyre all available for preorder now (see it at Amazon). Lets dive in to see what comes in each.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Standard EditionClair Obscur: Expedition 33$49.99 at AmazonPS5Get it at Amazon - $49.99Get it at Best Buy - $49.99Get it at GameStop - $49.99Get it at Target - $49.99Get it at PS Store (digital) - $49.99Xbox Series X|SGet it at Amazon - $49.99Get it at Best Buy - $49.99Get it at GameStop - $49.99Get it at Target - $49.99Get it at Xbox Store (digital) - $49.99PCGet it on Steam - $44.99If all you want is the base game, grab the standard edition. It doesnt come with any extras, but it has the game and thats all you really need.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Digital Deluxe EditionGet it for PS5 - $59.99Get it for Xbox - $59.99Get it for PC (Steam) - $53.99The deluxe edition comes with the base game, plus the following extras:The Flowers Collection - Six outfits and hairstyles inspired by the Flowers of Lumire, along with six additional Gommage outfit variations. One for each playable character.Clair - A custom outfit for MaelleObscur - A custom outfit for GustaveClair Obscur: Expedition 33 Will Be on Xbox Game PassXbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 Months)The standard edition of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be available on day one for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Above, youll find the best current deal on a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.How Does the Deluxe Edition Upgrade Work?Get it for XboxIf you have Xbox Game Pass, but you want the extras that come in the digital deluxe edition, you can buy the deluxe edition upgrade on the Xbox Store with the link above. It does exactly what it sounds like: turns your standard edition into a deluxe edition.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preorder BonusUnfortunately, there are no preorder bonuses available at this time. If that changes, well drop them here.What Is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33?PlayClair Obscur is a turn-based RPG developed by the French studio Sandfall Interactive that uses real-time elements during battles. Its set in a dark fantasy world in which, once a year, a powerful being called the Paintress wakes and paints a number on her monolith. When she does, everyone of that age vanishes from the earth. As the game kicks off, the Paintress is going to wake soon and paint the number 33. You plays as Expedition 33, a group of 33-year-olds who plan to kill the Paintress.The combat sounds like a real selling point for the game. Its turn-based, but you do a lot of other things besides choosing attacks for your expeditioners. You can dodge, parry, and counter incoming attacks. You can chain combos together by pressing buttons in a rhythm, and you can use a free-aim system to target enemy weak points. It looks pretty cool. Check out our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 preview for more info.Other Preorder GuidesChris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.

Face front, True Believers, because the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has arrived. We now have our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvels First Family, as well as robot companion HERBIE and a better sense of the retro-futurism-inspired art design. The trailer strikes the right tone for this property and feels far different from most other MCU projects. While were excited for everything the movie has in store when it arrives on July 25, 2025, the one character who (literally) stands above the rest is Galactus, the devourer of worlds.We only get a glimpse of him in the trailer, but Galactus already looks to be far closer to his comics self than the last attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Lets take a look at why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally do justice to this iconic Marvel character.The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally do justice to this iconic Marvel character.Who Is The Devourer of Worlds? Galactus ExplainedIn case youre not familiar with Galactus, lets go over his history in the comics. Galactus is a cosmic entity in the Marvel mythos first created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Galactus started his life as Galan, a mortal being and the only survivor of the previous universe before the Big Bang that created our own. Galan survived by being merged with the sentience of his universe, recreating him as the first being of the new one. Now called Galactus, he became a giant figure who would roam the cosmos, needing to consume life-bearing planets in order to survive. Galactus would later take on a number of heralds who sought out planets for him, the most famous of which is the Silver Surfer.PlayIn the first confrontation between Galactus and the Fantastic Four, the super team was warned of Galactus arrival by the Watcher, who broke his oath of non-interference to try to save Earth from being consumed. The heroes battled the Silver Surfer, but failed to stop him from signaling his master, who arrived shortly afterwards to eat the planet. Even though the FF managed to convince the Surfer to turn against Galactus, the Human Torch still had to travel into Galactus worldship, Taa II, and retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier, one of the only items in the universe capable of harming Galactus. When Mr. Fantastic threatened the devourer with it, Galactus swore to leave Earth in exchange for returning the Nullifier. Galactus then departed for space, but not before sentencing the Silver Surfer to exile on the planet for his betrayal.Galactus would be an important figure in the Marvel universe ever since, returning several more times to battle the Fantastic Four under various circumstances, and also having encounters with Thor, where Galactus backstory was first revealed. Hes also not really evil in the traditional sense, instead being a morally ambiguous figure since he only eats to survive. But despite being one of Marvels coolest antagonists, he hasnt been done justice on the big screen. Yet.The Second Coming of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First StepsAlthough hes made several appearances in cartoons and video games, such as in the 90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Galactus has only appeared in one film before First Steps. That would be Tim Storys 2007 entry Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and it wasnt exactly the best outing for the devourer of worlds. Although the film followed the basic template of the comic story with the Surfers arrival beforehand leading to Galactus coming to eat the planet (they also threw in Doctor Doom stealing the Surfers board, something that happened a few issues later in the source material), Galactus himself was a let-down, reimagined from his iconic comic design with purple armor and a giant helmet to a big cloud with little to no distinguishing features. He also never spoke, and was seemingly killed by the Surfer with very little effort. It certainly wasnt what fans wanted from Galactus first appearance on film.Galactus is one of the few remaining Marvel villains with enough of a pedigree to help turn things around for the MCU.However, from what weve seen so far, Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps looks to be a serious course correction. The small look at him we got in the trailer as well as the tease from a drone light show at last years San Diego Comic-Con indicates that the new film will be sticking close to Jack Kirbys classic design for the character. The fact that Marvel Studios selected Galactus for the villain of their Fantastic Four reboot in the first place is also an interesting choice. Even though there were plenty of FF baddies to choose from (and we might still see others does anyone know who John Malkovich is playing?), Marvel picking Galactus indicates that they know fans werent happy with 20th Century Foxs take and want to get him right this time around. And since it appears that Robert Downey, Jrs Doctor Doom is being reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (although were still hoping for a cameo in First Steps), Marvel can put all their focus on giving Galactus the MCU debut he deserves.This is especially important because of the MCUs recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. Given how many movies theyve made and villains theyve burned through, Galactus is one of the few remaining Marvel villains with enough of a pedigree to help turn things around for the franchise. A good Galactus adaptation could help swing the MCUs reputation around and generate further excitement for the next two Avengers films, which the Fantastic Four are set to be major figures in.The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 StillsAfter all, a common refrain from fans back when the Fantastic Four were in exile due to the Fox-Marvel feud over the film rights was that they were more interested in seeing the FFs rogues gallery, such as Doctor Doom, Annihilus, and Galactus in the MCU than the First Family themselves. Now, hopefully were all back on the the Fantastic Four are actually good train (you should check out Ryan Norths current run on the comics; its great), but it is true that Galactus and many other characters associated with the FF could be the secret sauce the MCU needs to rejuvenate the brand after they wrap up the Multiverse Saga.Either way, Galactus is one of the best characters associated with the Fantastic Four, and its way past time we get to see him in all his glory in live-action. Well see how Marvels attempt at Galactus and the FF fares this July, but at least going by this trailer, their first steps seem to be on the right path.Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Bluesky.

Michael MannFebruary 4, 20252024 was a year for Age of Empires and Age of Mythology players and a year shaped by your passion, creativity, and epic moments. Thanks to your dedication, its been an incredible year not just for the community, but for the franchise as a whole. Together, weve had an incredible year. We kicked things off with the New Year, New Age showcase, crowned champions at Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado, connected with many of you at Gamescom, and celebrated the launches of Age of Mythology: Retold and Age of Empires Mobile. Along the way, we expanded the franchise in new ways and welcomed over 10 million new playersreaching an incredible milestone of 60 million Age of Empires players worldwide.Our players continue to influence the many ways in which the franchise moves forward. Today were thrilled to start 2025 by unveiling whats ahead. Settle in, because weve got a lot to share!Immortal Pillars Expansion Launches March 4, Pre-Order NowFor Age of Mythology: Retold players, the wait is almost over! After revealing the Immortal Pillars expansion for Age of Mythology: Retold at Tokyo Game Show, were excited to announce it will launch on March 4th and pre-orders are live now! Packed with brand-new content, this expansion introduces the Chinese pantheon, alongside stunning new maps, myth units, and gameplay features. Check out some highlights of all the exciting content here!More About Immortal Pillars*As a reminder, if you already own theAge of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition, Immortal Pillarsis yours at no additional cost jump in and play on day one!Age of Empires II: DE and Age of Mythology: Retold coming to PlayStation 5Im delighted to share that we are giving fans more choice to play where they want by bringing Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Mythology: Retold to PlayStation 5.Playing across all platforms is a game-changer for our franchise, and its all about bringing our community together. This isnt just about convenienceits about growing and strengthening the Age community. With cross-play, were creating one global battlefield where every strategy, every empire, and every player matters.Age of Mythology: Retold on PlayStation 5First, on March 4, Age of Mythology: Retold will expand into new myths, new cultures, and welcome new players alongside the Immortal Pillars expansion release. We will welcome PlayStation 5 players to adventure with Arkantos, choose their pantheon, and fight for divine blessings with all the same content available in the Xbox and PC versions. PlayStation 5 players will also be able to purchase Immortal Pillars, and expand their Age of Mythology: Retold experience with the all-new Chinese pantheon.PlayStation 5 Bonuses:Get the Premium Edition for 5-day early access starting February 27th, access to the new Immortal Pillars expansion, and much more!Pre-order now and enjoy two exclusive Blessings for the Arena of the Gods mode.All game updates from March 4th onwards will go to all platforms simultaneously Steam, Windows Store, Xbox and PlayStation 5 and players will be able to play together.Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on PlayStationThis spring, the globally beloved Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition will make its debut on PlayStation 5. Alongside this release, well be dropping one of the most exciting DLC expansions for Age II: DE yet, packed with fresh new content, new civilizations for Ranked play, and ready for all players to enjoy together across all platforms PC, Xbox , and PlayStation 5.While were keeping some details under wraps until spring, heres a sneak peek at whats coming.No matter where you are or what platform you prefer, you can now unite with friends, challenge rivals, and share your passion for Age of Empires and Age of Mythology.Two DLCs Bring Exciting New Ways to Play Age IV in 2025Big news for Age of Empires IV players! Last year we shared we were working on new DLC for Age of Empires IV, and now were back with even better news. Were not rolling out one DLC in 2025 were actually rolling out two!With these DLCs, were expanding upon concepts weve introduced previously, like variant civilizations, with your feedback in mind. Variant civilizations allow us to capture diverse strategic tactics and military forces afforded to various historical bodies, and weve got some very exciting ones in development, one of which weve heard the communitys been wanting since the release of The Sultans Ascend. Not only are we changing up strategic gameplay with these variants, but were also spending time on the fine details: were introducing a large set of new units and buildings and, in some cases, updating the overall visuals of many shared units and buildings to assist with better readability and make sure your experience feels fresh! In addition to adapting the variant civilization concept, were also exploring unique game modes in both 2025 DLCs that focus on shorter and repeatable experiences these modes will encourage you to try out new playstyles while also allowing you to adapt your skills and test your mettle over time.Excited to learn more? You wont have to wait long! The first of these two DLCs, Knights of Cross and Rose, is set to launch this spring. This DLC brings fresh new gameplay experiences to the Age IV community, allowing players to lead two well-known armies inspired by history and offering a solo mode that will challenge even the most skilled strategists.Stay on the lookout for a deep dive soon. The Age IV team is excited to share what theyve been cooking up!Age of Empires Mobile: The Journey ContinuesIn just four months since launch, Age of Empires Mobile has captivated millions of players worldwide and brought new fans to our community. From Halloween mayhem to the Mightiest Empire contest, governors have been busy expanding kingdoms and leading legendary heroes like Boudica and Lu Bu to victory.February brings a host of new features and events to enhance your gameplay experience:Battle of Dawn: A campaign set in a legendary temple is about to unfold. Secure ultimate victory by transporting temple relics and employing class skills. With four stages leading to cross-server combat, theres plenty to look forward to.Stellar Glory: This new event activates a battle zone mode letting you face off against governors from different kingdoms. Valentines Day Cosmetics: Obtain exclusive themed items like the Heart Hunters Circus Citadel Theme and Passionate Reverie Troop Set.Josephines Treasure Hunt: Follow Princess Josephine and compete in three events; Celestial Chronicles, Path of Starlight and Alchemists Secret Art. Earn dice items to roll and earn points. Move around a game board to earn rewards!Stay tuned for these exciting updates and new features in February.To celebrate Age of Empires Mobile, weve also got an exclusive gift code for the first 20,000 users to redeem it! Code: AoEMVLTNMaking History in 2025This is just a glimpse of whats shaping up to be an extraordinary 2025. Weve got plenty more surprises in store, so make sure youre following our community channels and reading our blogs at ageofempires.com to stay up to date.Please continue to send us your feedback, your thoughts and what youd like to see next across our social channels, forums, Discord and Steam.Armor up and rally your forcesits time to charge into 2025 like Zeus commanding the skies, Joan of Arc leading her crusade, or Genghis Khan conquering the steppes and Ill see YOU on the battlefield!!

Ahoy mateys! We hope youve worked on your sea legs because its time to set sail in Rogue Waters!Rogue Waters is a tactical turn-based roguelite where players take control of Captain Cutter, a pirate captain on a quest for revenge after being betrayed by rival pirate Blackbone and left with a mysterious cursed eye. On the journey to find Blackbone, players will hire a ragtag crew and navigate a procedurally generated game world full of turn-based naval and melee combat encounters, curious landmarks, plunderable treasures and even more secrets to discover.Rogue Waters sets sail on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One starting today! Rather than break open a bottle of oh-so-precious rum, we threw together a list of four ways Rogue Waters lets you live the pirate life.No true pirate can call themselves captain without their very own ship! In Rogue Waters, players can use their ship to navigate the game world and equip various types of artillery to dominate in in naval combat and leave the enemy ship vulnerable to their boarding party.Hire and Manage a Ragtag CrewAlthough players start with humble beginnings, theyll quickly find that there are plenty of swashbuckling cooks, spearmaidens, grapplers, and more just waiting to be hired aboard your ship!As the crew gains combat experience, theyll unlock new abilities and increase their combat proficiency. However, their health persists through each rogue-lite run (similar to a traditional mission, but with a rogue-lite twist). Between runs, crew members will need to rest in order to get themselves back into fighting order.Experience Rogue Waters fresh take on turn-based tactical combat designed to replicate the delicate and visceral dance of high-seas sword-fighting and naval combat. After boarding an enemy vessel, players will have to navigate a grid-like play space, trading turn-based attacks with enemy AI and sending them overboard into the briny deep.Summon Creatures of Pirate LegendCreatures of legend no more! In Rogue Waters, the Kraken is very, very real. There are three monsters in total just waiting to be discovered along your journey. Play your cards right, and they may choose to be your ally; aiding you in battle and striking fear in the hearts of your enemies.There you have it, folks! There are plenty more piratey secrets awaiting Captain Cutter on his quest for vengeance that wed rather not spoil here. So, hoist anchor and set sail in Rogue Waters on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One today!Rogue WatersTripwire Interactive LLCGet it nowRogue Waters is a Pirate Tactical Turn-Based Rogue-lite. Play as Captain Cutter, commanding your ship and crew through procedurally generated encounters to seek revenge. Recruit, train, and upgrade crew, use powerful sea creatures, and engage in dynamic naval and melee combat to gain the upper hand.Set sail as Captain Cutter, a pirate caught in a deadly struggle for power and vengeance. Navigate dangerous waters, unleash mythical sea creatures, and outwit enemies as you chase legendary treasure and confront dark secrets.Embark on a journey of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge, as you unravel the mysteries of the Sea Shepherd prophecy and face the immortal Captain Blackbone.Use your Pirate Cave (HUB) to equip ship upgrades & crew members before each run.Each run generates new encounters, requiring careful navigation as you work your way toward Captain Blackbone.Enjoy a rich, story-driven adventure across 3 acts, with endless replayability.Recruit and grow your pirate crew, discovering their hidden potential as you lead them into battle. It's your responsibility to mold them into the legendary pirates they were destined to be.Recruit from 6 unique classes, each with distinct abilities and playstyles for your ships crew.After each run, upgrade your crews skills to increase their effectiveness.Damage persists across runs, requiring you to swap out crew members to allow them time to heal.Face new challenges as the game world shifts procedurally with each run, offering fresh secrets, combat scenarios, and treasures to discover.Encounters feature diverse pirate factions and enemy typeschoose your battles wisely.Your crew will engage enemies on ships and land alike.Visit shops to heal, upgrade crew, buy cannons, and repair your ship.You can extort shops for loot, but itll lead to a fight.Customize your naval encounters with cannons and ship artillery. Unleash powerful shots during naval combat to destroy enemy ship modules and gain the upper hand in boarding fights.Encounters begin with Sea Battles where you can use cannons to target key areas of enemy ships.Both your ship and the enemy's have distinct buffs that can be destroyed.Crew members can be targeted and killed during battle, so defend your ship and crew before boarding.Experience a fresh take on turn-based tactical combat that replicates the visceral intensity of cloak-and-dagger duels. Use the environment to gain the upper hand like never before.The boarding phase involves hand-to-hand combat where your crew faces off against enemies.Use your crew's unique abilities to maneuver and pin enemies against obstacles for fatal damage.Leverage the environment by pushing enemies into spikes, grabbing one-time weapons, or swinging into position with ropes.Legendary sea creatures, once thought to be myths, roam the oceans of Rogue Waters. Free them from captivity and gain their trust to summon them in battle.Summon 3 sea monsters to assist in the boarding phase:The Kraken crushes nearby enemies.The Mermaid disrupts and pushes enemies in any direction.The Giant Snail drops a deadly spiked obstacle on the deck.Each run resets your equipment and items, but unlocks permanent upgrades for your crew, ship, and Captain Cutter, allowing you to grow stronger with every battle.Items and upgrades reset between each run:Personal items (character equipment): additional weapons, attack modifiers, and side upgrades for abilities.Shipboard weapons (cannons and similar items): each new run begins with a usable, basic starter set.Ship modules reset as well.Each run permanently increases your progress:Unlock skill trees for crew members and Captain Cutter.Acquire ship and port facility upgrades in the Pirate Cave (HUB).

Hot Ones, the popular YouTube series, just released a new episode where two Apple TV+ stars from Severance compete in a test of heat. Here are the details.Severance co-stars compete in Hot Ones wing challengeSeverance season 2 releases a new episode tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern, but to bide your time until then, you can watch two of the shows co-stars face off in a wing eating competition.Severance stars Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette compete in the latest episode of Hot Ones Versus.From the episodes description:Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette are the stars of the hit series Severance on Apple TV+. But today, these co-stars will have two choices: Tell the truth, or suffer the wrath of the Last Dab. Whoever eats the most wings, loses!From Adams last text conversation with Paul Rudd to Patricias worst on-screen kiss, these two will either need to be honest or go head-to-head with the Wings of Death. Can Patricia guess Adams go-to karaoke song? Who knows the others filmography best? Tune in to an all-new episode of Hot Ones Versus, and see who takes home the golden chicken wing trophy!9to5Macs TakeUnlike many Apple TV+ shows, which tend to come and go without much marketing fanfare, Apple has gone all-out with Severance. First there was the Grand Central stunt, then the website takeover, Tim C. video, and recently the free ebook and audiobook for The You You Are.It doesnt hurt that the shows first season was a big hit, but I really hope we see more fun marketing efforts from TV+ in the futureSeverance has definitely benefited from it.Apple TV+ isavailable for $9.99 per monthand features hit TV shows and movies likeTed Lasso,Severance,The Morning Show,Silo, andShrinking.Best Apple TV and home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Sonos has had a very bad past year. But under a new interim CEO, the company is reportedly planning to launch a major new hardware product soon: an Apple TV 4K competitor that could cost between $200 and $400. Its codename: Pinewood.New Sonos TV streaming box expected in the coming monthsChris Welch writes at The Verge:Sonos is planning to take a big swing in a new product category: its getting into video for the first time. In the coming months, Sonos will release a streaming player that sources tell me could cost between $200 and $400 a truly staggering price for its category.[]Sonos plans to combine content from numerous platforms including Netflix, Max, and Disney Plus under a single, unified software experience. Universal search across streaming accounts will be supported. Weve seen similar efforts to mask the fractured nature of modern entertainment from Sonos soon-to-be rivals. But Im told this is a cornerstone of Pinewoods appeal. Sonos Voice Control will be integrated, and Pinewood will also ship with a physical remote control that includes shortcuts for popular streaming apps.Welch says the new product is deep into development and looks like a black square from the top thats slightly thicker than a deck of cards.Other details on the Pinewood device include:serving as an HDMI switch that you can plug devices like gaming consoles intobeing able to wirelessly transmit lag-free TV audio to the companys soundbars and other Sonos products.enables configuring a surround sound system of other Sonos speakersit has a beautiful interfaceThis sounds like a major, ambitious new product for Sonos. It could potentially have significant impact on the companys futurefor better or for worse.Welchs report stresses that the launch is expected in the months ahead, so we shouldnt have to wait too long for a full unveiling.9to5Macs TakeThe Apple TV 4K for years was criticized for being too expensive, but with the last revision it came down to a more reasonable $129 entry point. Sonos offering a product that could double or even triple that price sounds like a wild risk. But until full details on Pinewood come out, Ill wait to reserve judgment.Are you interested in the Sonos TV streaming box? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV 4K and home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

"This is a matter of life or death."Unelected official Elon Musk continues to make waves throughout the federal government and beyond, siccing his menagerie of Gen Z minionson the Census Bureau and US Treasury.He's also set his sights on the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the $72 billion federal agency responsible for distributing American-funded aid to international communities reeling from the devastation of poverty, malnourishment, disease, and war."This is a matter of life or death," Beatriz Grinsztejn, president of the International AIDS Society, toldThe Guardian after Trump's initial pause of international aid via his January 20 executive order. That pause had already halted supplies to aid groups like Grinsztejn's, which distributes HIV medication and testing supplies to over 20 million people worldwide.That "pause" is now spinning out into something much more permanent. On Sunday, at least 1,000 USAID employees reported being locked out of the agency's software en masse. Following a day of mass confusion, it emerged that Musk and Trump are working to axe USAID entirely exacerbating a crisis in aid funding for an already shocked and overwhelmed international relief effort,and creating the ghoulish possibility of mass international deaths as those relying on the aid are forced to do without."Its the richest person in the world taking away from the poorest people in the world," an anonymous USAID official told Politico. "People will die from this like thousands, if not hundreds of thousands."In concrete terms, programs in danger include the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a widely used USAID-funded initiative which tracks food security in dozens of countries throughout the world. The critical tool has already gone offline following Trump's funding freeze, and is unlikely to rebound given the current trajectory of the agency.USAID is also the functionary that disburses funds to war-torn regions like eastern Ukraine, which received over $16 billion in federal aid in 2023, or other countries where the Pentagon seeks to assert its footprint, such as Afghanistan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and occupied Palestine(though Israel is currently slated to continue receiving military aid from the Trump admin.)News of Musk's plan to kibosh USAID was shortly followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's announcement that the State Department has seized control of the agency a de facto takeover not unlike those seen in the Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Office of Personnel Management, or Office of Management and Budget.Together, the moves harken back to Musk's austerity playbook in his business ventures like Twitter: swoop in, clean house, tell the remaining workers to "buckle down," and profit before the previously functional institution crumbles. Only in this case, USAID isn't a social media company or tech startup with deep-pocketed investors, but a humanitarian relief agency with human lives hanging in the balance.More on DOGE: Elon Musk Says DOGE Will Now Shut Down Government Payments He Doesn't LikeShare This Article

After billionaire Elon Musk performed not one but two Nazi salutes at president Donald Trump's inauguration, made appalling jokes about the Holocaust, and threw his weight behind Germany's far-right political party, Jewish leaders are pushing advertisers to drop Musk's in-shambles social network X-formerly-Twitter.As the Washington Post reports, more than 160 rabbis and activists have published a public letter calling the world's richest man an "urgent danger to Jews" and "one of the leading purveyors of antisemitism in the world.""When the worlds richest man combines political power with a platform that can mobilize hate, the danger becomes immediate and lethal," the letter reads. "We face a stark choice: stand up now or watch as hate spreads unchecked."The letter highlights Musk's worrying embrace of white supremacist and antisemitic beliefs, which have seemingly been sharpened by his own social media platform.Musk has a track record of antisemitism and racial animus against other groups. In 2023, Jewish leaders wrote a strikingly similar letter to X advertisers after Musk outright called a deeply antisemitic tweet the "actual truth."At the time, Musk claimed that he had "no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League," threats that the billionaire never made good on. He also claimed without giving a shred of evidence that the ADL was to blame for 60 percent of ad sales decline at X.Research has shown that his social media platform has succumbed to a tidal wave of hate speech and antisemitism under his leadership, which has proliferated in a near-total absence of content moderation.Advertisers, which have long represented Twitter's main revenue stream, have had an extremely rocky relationship with Musk's hate speech incubator. Many major brands returned to the platform last fall, despite their ads appearing next to posts celebrating Adolf Hitler and other instances of blatant hate speech.However, X-formerly-Twitter's financials are stagnating, as Musk admitted himself in a recently leaked email."Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even," he wrote in a January email, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.Jewish leaders are seeing it as an opportunity to raise awareness."To advertisers including Google, Amazon, and the ADL: Pull your ads now," they warned in their latest letter. "The pressure is working. X's financial difficulties prove it."It's a sad state of affairs when the richest man in the world, who's currently leading a financial coup on the US government, has to be reminded that blatant public hatred could hurt his bottom line.However, it's ultimately up to advertisers whether they can afford to line the pockets of a man who has garnered a reputation for making racist claims and fuelling conspiracy theories.More on Twitter: In Leaked Email, Elon Musk Admits Defeat on TwitterShare This Article