This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Evil Housekeeper problemDan Hon is principal of Very Little Gravitas, where he helps turn around and modernize large and complex government services and products.In trying to make sense of the wrecking ball that is Elon Musk and President Trumps DOGE, it may be helpful to think about the Evil Housekeeper Problem. Its a principle of computer security roughly stating that once someone is in your hotel room with your laptop, all bets are off.Its incredibly hard to protect a system from someonein this case, the evil housekeeper, DOGEwho has made their way inside and wants to wreck it.This administration is on the record as wanting to outright delete entire departments. But, if you cant delete a department, then why not just break it until it doesnt work? Thats why what DOGE is currently doing is such a massive, terrifying problem.Read the full story.Meta has an AI for brain typing, but its stuck in the labBack in 2017, Facebookunveiledplans for a brain-reading hat that you could use to text just by thinking. Were working on a system that will let you type straight from your brain, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared in a post that year.Now the company, since renamed Meta, has actually done it. Except it weighs a half a ton, costs $2 million, and wont ever leave the lab. Still, its pretty cool.Read our story to learn why.Antonio RegaladoHow the tiny microbes in your mouth could be putting your health at riskJessica HamzelouThis week Ive been working on a piece about teeth. Well, sort of teeth. Specifically, lab-grown bioengineered teeth. Researchershave created these teethwith a mixture of human and pig tooth cells and grown them in the jaws of living mini pigs.Part of the reason for doing this is that although dental implants can work well, theyre not perfect. They dont attach to bones and gums in the same way that real teeth do. And around 20% of people who get implants end up developing an infection called peri-implantitis, which can lead to bone loss.It is all down to the microbes that grow on them. Theres a complex community of microbes living in our mouths, and disruptions can lead to infection. But these organisms dont just affect our mouths; they also seem to be linked to a growing number of disorders that can affect our bodies and brains.If youre curious, read on.This story is from The Checkup, MIT Technology Reviews weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday,sign up here.The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 DOGE staffers are feeding sensitive federal data to AI systemsIts just one of many alarming security lapses at this point. (WP$)+The courts are slamming the brakes on some of Trumps executive orders. (NBC)+The trauma and anguish this is all causing is a feature, not a bug. (New Yorker$)+And its really got nothing to do with saving money either. (Vox)2 Thousands of sick people worldwide are being abandoned mid-trialDue to the US abruptly withdrawing funding via USAID. (NYT$)3 Last month was the hottest January on recordWhich was a shock, as scientists expected the La Nia weather cycle to cool things down. (FT$)4 DeepSeek is sending sensitive data over unencrypted channelsThis really doesnt look good. (Ars Technica)+US lawmakers are pushing to ban DeepSeek from government-owned devices. (WSJ$)+DeepSeek might not be such good news for energy after all.(MIT Technology Review)5 Google had to re-edit a Super Bowl advert for its AI toolAfter yup, you guessed it, the AI spewed out factually inaccurate stuff (about cheese.) (BBC)+OpenAI is making its TV advertising debut at the Super Bowl.(Quartz$)6 US shoppers are being charged $50 or more to get packages from ChinaThe new tariffs seem to be throwing e-commerce, shipping and US border services into disarray. (Wired$)7 US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportationsSeems you dont need to change reality these days. You can just change search engine results. (The Guardian)8 This is what Apples future home robot might be likeIt might even befun. (The Verge)+Will we ever really trust humanoid robots enough to welcome them into our homes?(MIT Technology Review)9 An asteroid has a 1.9% chance of hitting Earth in 2032Well that would be something for us all to look forward to. (Ars Technica)10 Intentionally bad conservative girl make-up videos are all over TikTokIts giving drained, its giving dusty. (Fast Company)Quote of the dayJust for the record, I was racist before it was cool.What Marko Elez, one of Musks 25-year-old DOGE acolytes, tweeted last July, theWall Street Journalreports (he has since resigned.)The big storyIs the digital dollar dead?STEPHANIE ARNETT/MITTRJuly 2023In 2020, digital currencies were one of the hottest topics in town. China was well on its way to launching its own central bank digital currency, or CBDC, and many other countries launched CBDC research projects, including the US.How things change. Three years later, the digital dollareven though it doesnt existhas become political red meat, as some politicians label it a dystopian tool for surveillance. And late last year, the Boston Fed quietly stopped working on its CBDC project. So is the dream of the digital dollar dead?Read the full story.Mike OrcuttWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ Want to cook the perfect boiled egg? First,set aside half an hour+ Well thats a side to Elvis Presley Idcertainly never heard about before.+ Kudos to Electric Six for making (surely) one of the cheapestmusic videosof all time.+ Heres a fun challenge for the weekend:let yourself get bored. Go on, I dare you.

Back in 2017, Facebook unveiled plans for a brain-reading hat that you could use to text just by thinking. Were working on a system that will let you type straight from your brain, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared in a post that year.Now the company, since renamed Meta, has actually done it. Except it weighs a half a ton, costs $2 million, and wont ever leave the lab.Still, its pretty cool that neuroscience and AI researchers working for Meta have managed to analyze peoples brains as they type and determine what keys they are pressing, just from their thoughts.The research, described in two papers posted by the company (here and here), as well as a blog post, is particularly impressive because the thoughts of the subjects were measured from outside their skulls using a magnetic scanner, and then processed using a deep neural network.As weve seen time and again, deep neural networks can uncover remarkable insights when paired with robust data, says Sumner Norman, founder of Forest Neurotech, who wasnt involved in the research but credits Meta with going to great lengths to collect high-quality data.According to Jean-Rmi King, leader of Metas Brain & AI research team, the system is able to determine what letter a skilled typist has pressed as much as 80% of the time, an accuracy high enough to reconstruct full sentences from the brain signals.Facebooks original quest for a consumer brain-reading cap or headband ran into technical obstacles, and after four years, the company scrapped the idea.But Meta never stopped supporting basic research on neuroscience, something it now sees as an important pathway to more powerful AIs that learn and reason like humans. King says his group, based in Paris, is specifically tasked with figuring out the principles of intelligence from the human brain.Trying to understand the precise architecture or principles of the human brain could be a way to inform the development of machine intelligence, says King. Thats the path.The typing system is definitely not a commercial product, nor is it on the way to becoming one. The magnetoencephalography scanner used in the new research collects magnetic signals produced in the cortex as brain neurons fire. But it is large and expensive and needs to be operated in a shielded room, since Earths magnetic field is a trillion times stronger than the one in your brain.Norman likens the device to an MRI machine tipped on its side and suspended above the users head.Whats more, says King, the second a subjects head moves, the signal is lost. Our effort is not at all toward products, he says. In fact, my message is always to say I dont think there is a path for products because its too difficult.The typing project was carried out with 35 volunteers at a research site in Spain, the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain, and Language. Each spent around 20 hours inside the scanner typing phrases like el procesador ejecuta la instruccin (the processor executes the instruction) while their brain signals were fed into a deep-learning system that Meta is calling Brain2Qwerty, in a reference to the layout of letters on a keyboard.The job of that deep-learning system is to figure out which brain signals mean someone is typing an a, which mean z, and so on. Eventually, after it sees an individual volunteer type several thousand characters, the model can guess what key people were actually pressing on.In the first preprint, Meta researchers report that the average error rate was about 32%or nearly one out of three letters wrong. Still, according to Meta, its results are most accurate yet for brain typing using a full alphabet keyboard and signals collected outside the skull.Research on brain reading has been advancing quickly, although the most effective approaches use electrodes implanted into the brain, or directly on its surface. These are known as invasive brain computer interfaces. Although they require brain surgery, they can very accurately gather electrical information from small groups of neurons.In 2023, for instance, a person who lost his voice from ALS was able to speak via brain-reading software connected to a voice synthesizer, and did so at nearly a normal rate. Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is testing its own brain implant that gives paralyzed people control over a cursor.Meta says its own efforts remain oriented toward basic research into the nature of intelligence.And that is where the big magnetic scanner can help. Even though it isnt practical for patients and doesnt measure individual neurons, it is able to look at the whole brain, broadly, and all at once.The Meta scientists say that in a second research effort, using the same typing data, they used this broader view to amass evidence that the brain produces language information in a top-down fashion, with an initial signal for a sentence kicking off separate signals for words, syllables, and finally typed letters.The core claim is that the brain structures language production hierarchically, says Norman. Thats not a new idea, but Metas report highlights how these different levels interact as a system, says Norman.Those types of insights could eventually shape the design of artificial-intelligence systems. Some of these, like chatbots, already rely extensively on language in order to process information and reason, just as people do.Language has become a foundation of AI, King says. So the computational principles that allow the brain, or any system, to acquire such ability is the key motivation behind this work.Correction: Meta posted two papers describing its brain-typing results on its website. An earlier version of this story incorrectly said they had been published at arXiv.org.

A back end change to the Mac App Store appears to have shut out users of macOS Sierra and older versions, blocking not just purchases, but also downloads of software already bought.Apple's macOS Sierra came out in 2016While users of the current macOS Sequoia have recently benefited from Mac App Store changes, it's being reported that users on 2016's macOS Sierra are no longer able to use the store at all.As first spotted by blogger Michael Tsai, macOS 10.12.6 Sierra users are now just getting an error message when the attempt to sign in. It's not certain whether it is affecting all or only some macOS Sierra users, but reports are spreading on Apple support forums and social media. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Chart-topping AI iPhone app DeepSeek has been found to be sending data to Chinese-owned services, as well as collecting extensive user data that is held and sent unencrypted.DeepSeek logoDeepSeek is a generative AI app, similar to ChatGPT, which launched in January 2025 and practically immediately went to the top of the US App Store charts. That was despite the DeepSeek Chinese AI startup company being found to have a major security lapse."[DeepSeek is] not equipped or willing to provide basic security protections of your data and identity," said Andrew Hoog, co-founder of security firm NowSecure told Ars Techica in a statement. "There are fundamental security practices that are not being observed, either intentionally or unintentionally. In the end, it puts your and your company's data and identity at risk." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The Boston Zoning Commission has approved an amendment to the citys zoning code to incorporate Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Zoning, becoming the first city in the U.S. to require new buildings to achieve net zero carbon emissions standards upon opening. The new policy introduces decarbonization requirements for large development projects, with Mayor Michelle Wus office noting that under NZC, most new large buildings permitted and delivered will emit net zero carbon emissions from the day they open.With buildings accounting for approximately 71% of Bostons carbon emissions, the NZC Zoning policy aims to reduce emissions by promoting energy efficiency, increasing electrification, and shifting to renewable energy sources. The new standard applies to projects filed after July 1, 2025, that include at least 15 residential units, a minimum of 20,000 square feet, or additions exceeding 50,000 square feet. Developers must demonstrate compliance during the citys Article 80 Development Review...

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to approve the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History - La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan. The Weiss/Manfredi and Gruen Associates scheme consists of a 13-acre campus located near LACMA inside Hancock Park.Under the plans, the Page Museum will be renovated within its existing footprint of 63,200 square feet, including the reorganization and enlargement of the museums collection space. Meanwhile, a new museum building of approximately 40,000 square feet will be constructed to the north and west of the Page Museum.Related on Archinect: LA's La Brea Tar Pits project picks Kossmanndejong to lead exhibition design.Image: Weiss/Manfredi, courtesy NHMLACThe existing entrance to the northwest corner of West 6th Street and the LACMA service drive will be renovated with a shaded canopy and a new welcome pavilion, while pedestrian pathways across the site will be reconfigured. The tar pits site will also be overhauled to establish th...

Calling all architects, landscape architects and interior designers: Architizer's A+Awards allows firms of all sizes to showcase their practice and vie for the title of Worlds Best Architecture Firm. Start an A+Firm Award Application today.Youre sure to have seen it we all have. The person precariously perched to snap the perfect flat lay,their phone raised high like an offering to the gods of Instagram, capturing an overhead shot of a plate thats stone cold. Glasses clinked repeatedly, not in celebration but for a fifth take, as diners choreograph their meals into moments of content. Whether you love it or hate it, it seems as though restaurant-goers are spending just as much time photographing their surroundings as actually enjoying their meals. The spectacle is now very much part of the experience, and with it, the visual appeal of restaurants has become more valuable than ever. Paired with intelligent social media marketing, a space that films and photographs well can be just as successful (at least in the short term) as one that has a flawless menu.Itll come as no surprise then that this emphasis on amplified visual appeal has brought about a change in restaurant design. As chefs and owners try to capture the crowds, offering something unique and unexpected in a time where no design is a new design, themed restaurants are back in a big way. No, were not talking about Hard Rock Cafe or Bubba Gump Shrimp. Todays version is more immersive storytelling than plastic props. Spaces that take restaurant design to another level, combining visual narrative with culinary excellence. But as the genre takes hold, the question remains: are themed restaurants a valuable dining experience, or is it all just a carefully staged illusion? A gimmick for likes?Manhattan Bar by Distillery Studio, Singapore | Photo by EkyapThemed restaurants are not a modern invention by any stretch of the imagination. Their roots can be traced back to the 19th century, particularly in Paris, in venues like the Caf du Bagne. The restaurant was established in 1885 and featured decor that was inspired by prisons, offering its patrons a uniquely immersive and voyeuristic experience. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, themed dining experiences flourished globally. In the United States, beefsteak dungeons became popular. Men put on butchers aprons and threw aside the illusion of civilization as they sat uncomfortably on boxes in dingy cellars, drinking beer and eating steaks without silverware or napkins. Popular venue Healys in New York was one such place. It had three rooms with varied themes: the Dungeon, the Jungle Room and the Log Cabin Room. The Log Cabin Room, probably the most civilized space of the three, was furnished with long tables and chairs and complete with tablecloths and napkins and while the guests ate, someone read aloud humorous fake telegrams to curate a theatrical dining experience.Yet, if youve ever been to a successfully themed restaurant, youll know that it begins and ends with its design. Every element from the lighting to the ceiling heights, even the table setting has to support the story. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant thats a masterclass in themed dining. The backdrop of the ten-person dining room isnt static it changes through carefully timed projections that bring each course to life. One dish might transport you to a serene ocean setting, while the next places you in a bustling cityscape. The experience doesnt stop at visuals; every course is accompanied by sounds, music and scents that provide context to the flavors on the plate. The restaurants secret location adds another layer of intrigue, setting the tone for an evening designed to straddle the border of dining and performance art. Tsukimi by Post Company, Manhattan, New York City, New York | Photo by Read McKendreeNot all themed spaces achieve this balance. Many fall into the trap of prioritizing style over substance, resulting in spaces that feel overly choreographed and devoid of interpretation. The danger lies in an over-reliance on control when every detail feels so meticulously planned that theres no room for the unexpected moments that make dining memorable. Great-themed restaurants succeed because they allow for a degree of unpredictability and opinion, a chance for the theme to evolve naturally and uniquely to each diner through interaction, conversation, or the environment itself. Without this, themed spaces risk becoming static a set piece rather than a living, breathing experience. Its the relationship between structure and spontaneity that separates a memorable restaurant from one that feels like a childrens party.Themes in restaurants are not neutral. They tell stories about identity, culture and aspiration not just of the space but also of its patrons. Consider the throngs of Art Deco-inspired bars and restaurants, with their tiny cocktails, jewel tones and geometric motifs. Appealing to a contemporary longing for glamour, stability, and craftsmanship. But nostalgia can be a double-edged sword. While it evokes emotion, it can also veer into kitsch, reducing histories to surface-level aesthetics and raising questions about the legitimacy of the design style and its worth. Some might argue that to replicate it is to cheapen it, while others see it as an opportunity to bring a style and a history to a new audience who previously might not have had access to it.A big consideration comes in the form of cultural appropriation; many themed restaurants borrow from global cultures, and so the question of authenticity becomes unavoidable. Some succeed in honoring the traditions they represent. Take Tsukimi, for instance a restaurant that demonstrates how cultural themes can be celebrated with sophistication and authenticity. Named after the Japanese tradition of moon viewing, the restaurant designed by Studio Tack reflects the poetic essence of this practice with subtle yet deliberate nods to its inspiration: crescent-shaped archways, circular mirrors, and warm lighting reminiscent of moonlight. Cultural storytelling is embedded throughout the menu and interior design the glazed counter that mimics the reflection of the moon on water is special indeed. Tsukimi creates an immersive experience that feels thoughtful and deeply rooted in its cultural origins rather than simply decorative.Tin Building by Jean-Georges with LObservatoire International, New York City, New York | Photo by Nicole FranzenBut for every Tsukimi, theres another that treats cultural motifs as props. When not approached sensitively, spaces that take on this challenge can be hollow, soulless, and can wander into insulting very quickly. These designs commodify cultural symbols without understanding or respecting their deeper meanings, creating experiences that lack cultural awareness.Mostly, the downfall of a themed restaurant is a failure to connect their culinary offerings with their design. A restaurant with a coastal theme serving generic fusion cuisine or a saloon bar offering sushi not only creates a visual disconnect but also undermines the believability of the experience. Often, the failure runs deeper than mismatched aesthetics too. The most successful restaurants dont just match their menus to their decor. A seafood restaurant using scalloped tiles is a bit obvious for todays design-savvy diner. Building an emotional connection with patrons is more valuable and lasting. This could mean creating a sense of place, respecting local heritage, nostalgia, or fashioning complete escapism. The rise of speakeasies reflects this trend, too. These directions feel more authentic rather than contrived. When a themed restaurant fails to deliver, it feels off, leaving diners with the impression that the interior design is simply a costume, not a fully realized concept.Themed restaurants walk a fine line between storytelling and spectacle. When executed with care, they have the power to transport and educate diners, creating spaces that elevate the act of eating into something extraordinary. But when themes are reduced to superficial aesthetics, they risk becoming little more than gimmicks that undermine both the design and the culinary experience.Calling all architects, landscape architects and interior designers: Architizer's A+Awards allows firms of all sizes to showcase their practice and vie for the title of Worlds Best Architecture Firm. Start an A+Firm Award Application today.The post Appetite for Illusion: Are Themed Restaurants Gourmet or Gimmick? appeared first on Journal.

Over several years, Falcoms Trails series has faced a recurring danger of jumping the shark. The most notable example is from the finale of Cold Steel 4 and how it proved just how impermanent some consequences could be. Then again, the developer did bring things back with Trails through Reverie, which offered a much-needed epilogue to the Erebonian saga while setting up threads elsewhere. This culminated in the fresh start of Trails through Daybreak, which ventured to the Calvard Republic for the first time in the series.New characters with different lifestyles and luxuries yet beset by their own dark pasts and worries accompanied an all-encompassing underworld, corruption, red tape, and new threats. The new engine, with its sleeker visuals and the combat changes, didnt hurt either."Without getting into too many spoilers, the story also introduces a time-looping element, where players can return to previous plot points and make different decisions."Much of that carries over into The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak 2, though the urgency of the series overall plot feels diminished. The characters and their developments still shine while the combat feels sleek and the pacing brisk, but be prepared for a story that will inspire a fair number of huh?s without contributing much to the bigger picture.Occurring roughly a year after the first games events, Arkride Solutions is seemingly on more comfortable footing. That is until Elaine of the Bracer Guild informs Van of a mysterious crimson beast rampaging through Edith, committing massacres seemingly at random. Its resemblance to the Grendel is far from a coincidence and thus, Van and Elaine team up to track it down.Of course, the crimson beast known as Grendel Zolga and its identity is only one of the core mysteries permeating the sequel. What is it after? Who is the accompanying AI? Theres also the matter of Almatas legacy, an unknown item or treasure of sorts that remained after the organizations downfall. And darn it if there isnt a mysteriously enigmatic masked individual to deal with, Ouroboros members and their subordinates, or even more newcomers to the cast.Without getting into too many spoilers, the story also introduces a time-looping element, where players can return to previous plot points and make different decisions. Theres even a visual timeline highlighting the branching nodes. As novel as this is for the series and as excited as I felt, having enjoyed visual novels like Raging Loop the time-looping doesnt really work in the same way. Its a plot contrivance that becomes severely overdone in some of the worst ways while diminishing some of the bigger stakes."Theres a certain warmth and familiarity in reuniting with beloved allies, aided by the (mostly) natural flow of the writing and conversations."Even without it, the story proves problematic in other ways. It wouldnt be that big of a deal if it furthered the series overall narrative, but thats sadly not the case. However, not everything in Trails through Daybreak 2 is completely throwaway, thanks to the characters. Theres a certain warmth and familiarity in reuniting with beloved allies, aided by the (mostly) natural flow of the writing and conversations.Hearing Van banter with just about anyone is a treat, and actor Damian Haas does an even better job this time around, shifting between sarcasm and concern without skipping a beat. Amanda Lee is also great as Agns, balancing the cutesy and serious with equal aplomb.Several other examples include Skyler Davenport as Mare (which sounds even more eerily like March 7th than before), Brittany Cox as Judith the list goes on. Even Swin and Nadia feel more compelling than ever, even if some interactions can overplay the latters quirks. Its a shame that their talents feel somewhat wasted in whats essentially a filler arc.Those who can vibe with the sequels atmosphere will find plenty to keep them busy. The story is split between two routes and parties across different locations that eventually converge. You take up various activities like a new card game, fishing, and hacking trials. Aside from the lame tailing mini-game, side quests present a few interesting tales and interactions, even if some can veer into absurdity. The LGC Alignment also returns, though its far less important than the previous game and ends up feeling superfluous."Though the Garten itself can underwhelm, with the limited objective variety and familiar layouts, it is a fun addition, especially for combat lovers."Above all, theres the Mrchen Garten. The latter is a virtual space which has suddenly been taken over by an unknown individual for unknown reasons. Its thus up to Van and the crew to take it back (at the behest of the Marduk Company, of course). The Garten consists of various floors with branching routes that you can select. Each area has different objectives, like smashing X number of objects or defeating Y number of medium-sized foes before you get a reward and the way forward opens.If you want to stick around and fully clear the floor while exploring for treasure, thats also possible. The final node culminates in a boss, and while I would have liked the choices of nodes to factor in a bit more, these encounters can get genuinely challenging if you waltz in unprepared.Completing runs in the Garten provides Shard Tokens, which can be spent on the Mystic Cube. Its a gacha-style system not unlike that seen in Trails into Reverie (but without the prospect of additional unlockable characters). You can still earn Sepith and Quartz alongside unlockables like alternate outfits, hairstyles and BGM to play on different occasions in the Garten.Skill Gems are also doled out from the Cube, and during exploring for powering up different characters Crafts within the activity and even unlock stat bonuses within separate tiers. Though the Garten itself can underwhelm, with the limited objective variety and familiar layouts, it is a fun addition, especially for combat lovers."And yet, Trails through Daybreak 2 doesnt feel like more than the sum of its partsIt could have been so much more narratively, cheap gimmicks notwithstanding."Speaking of, battles in Trails through Daybreak 2 follow many of the same tenets as its predecessor. Attack enemies on the field in real-time and stun them, then activate Shards to begin turn-based combat. Attack weaknesses with Arts, unleash Crafts, boost to increase damage (and unlock S-Crafts for use), stand near allies to activate follow-ups with the SCLM, etc. Field battles allow for wielding Quick Arts and swapping to another character after dodging an enemys attack for a counter-blow.It does add some more variety, especially when dealing with weaker enemies. There are also EX Chains, which can activate fancy double-team attacks where two characters unleash their Crafts. Overall, its a solid combat system, even if it can get repetitive in terms of tactics, and the Quick Arts dont feel nearly as impactful as Id like.Presentation-wise, the visuals suffer a few of the same issues as its predecessor on PS5. Anti-aliasing at a distance doesnt look too sharp, and there is noticeable pop-in. Performance is improved, though some dips are noticeable during the more over-the-top S-Crafts. The art direction remains solid, especially the character models, and its backed by some pretty good music. The moody tones while roaming the streets of Edith, fast-paced beats and the violin play during combat it all comes together pretty well.And yet, Trails through Daybreak 2 doesnt feel like more than the sum of its parts. If youre a fan and you must be to keep track of everything thats happened thus far, even with the multitudes of recaps the gameplay, characterization, presentation, and side content can be enjoyable. It just could have been so much more narratively, cheap gimmicks notwithstanding.This game was reviewed on the PS5.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has spoken about the planned Fall 2025 release window for Grand Theft Auto 6, and the publisher is going to handle its release. In a recent earnings call, Zelnick spoke about how, despite the potential success of GTA 6, the studio cant afford to get arrogant about it.During the Q&A session of the call, Zelnick spoke about how, rather than being arrogant about GTA 6 being a massive upcoming release, Take-Two is instead cautious, and even scared of what competition in the wider gaming industry will be doing.We believe that arrogance is the enemy of continued success, Zelnick said in the Q&A session of the Take-Two Interactive earnings call. We run scared. Were looking over our shoulder. Our competitors are not asleep. And so what do we do about that? We try to be the most creative, the most innovative, and the most efficient company in the entertainment industry. And Rockstar Games in particular seeks perfection in everything they do. And we believe that if we do that right, and we focus on delivering for consumers, thats our best opportunity to succeed.This follows Zelnicks earlier statements from the earnings call talking about how GTA 6 is still on track for release in Fall 2025. In another interview, however, he did mention that while development may be currently going according to schedule, slippages can happen. Zelnick also similarly spoke about being aware that competition from the industry wouldnt be asleep.Answering a question about how GTA 6 might manage to engage multiple generations of players, Zelnick also spoke about understanding how to market GTA 6 to the ideal audience. Mentioning having an extraordinary corporate consumer database with more than 1 million records, Zelnick spoke about being mindful of who is already engaged with the GTA franchise, and how new players can be brought to the upcoming title.Were mindful of those who we believe will be interested in the title going forward and we can tailor our marketing accordingly, said Zelnick. But we genuinely dont spend a lot of time thinking about well is this going to be x number of units or y number of units because that doesnt change anything that we can do. We focus on what we can affect and we let the outcomes take care of themselves. And Im sorry, I said 1 million consumer records. I meant 1 billion [ph]. I was only off by 3 digits.Industry analysts have also been talking about the potential success of GTA 6, and how its release has the potential to change the industry as a whole. Epyllion analyst Matthew Ball, for instance, believes that it could be one of the first titles to be priced at $100 for its base edition. Other analysts, however, believe that this is unlikely, and that Take-Two and Rockstar would have more to lose than gain by charging such a high price, and thus raising the barrier of entry for new players.Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently in development for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. There is no word yet on a PC release.

Capcom shuts down Resident Evil multiplayer spin-offResident Evil Re:Verse servers to shut down on June 29, 2025Image credit: Capcom News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Feb. 7, 2025 Capcom is shutting down its survival multiplayer Resident Evil Re:Verse.From March 3, 2025, the game and its DLC will be removed from online stores and will no longer be bundled with Resident Evil Village.Customers that acquired a download code for the title before this date or have already used a code to acquire the game will still be able to play it until the servers are shut down on June 29.Once the service ends, players who bought a premium pass for the game will no longer receive benefits."Resident Evil Re:Verse was developed in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Resident Evil series, and your overwhelming support for the game has far exceeded our expectation since the time of release," Capcom said."Now that we've reached a new turning point for the series, we feel that Resident Evil Re:Verse has served its original, celebratory purpose admirably."It concluded: "We are incredibly grateful for your warm support for Resident Evil Re:Verse, and deeply apologise for bringing you this disappointing news."The six-player online multiplayer originally launched in October 2022 after being delayed for almost a year and half.