The Super Bowl is one of the worlds most significant single-day sporting events.It attracts over 100 million U.S. viewers and tens of millions of international viewers, making it an entertainment phenomenon. For Eagles fans who are not making the trip to the Superdome in New Orleans, there will be plenty of places to watch in Philadelphiaincluding rowdy bars, living rooms and even home tailgates, all while the city is lit in Eagles green.For me, the Super Bowl is a real-life laboratory. As a sports scientist, neuropsychology professor and the former athletic director at Drexel University in Philadelphia, I investigate how high-performance athletes prepare cognitively and psychologically for a winning performance on game day.When the stakes are at their highest, what can psychology reveal about who is mentally prepared to win the Super Bowl?Tough-minded and open to experienceResearch suggests that super-elite athletes are tough-minded and not easily rattled.Their psychological profiles look similar to those of high-performance solo classical guitarists or fighter pilots. On personality tests, athletes typically score at least average in extroversion, openness and agreeableness, and high in conscientiousness.Professional athletes work incredibly hard and are disciplined, well organized, goal-oriented, reliable, and generally sociable.A new focus in personality research in competitive athletes is on creativity and, specifically, being open to experience, which includes being receptive to new ideas and being flexible.Openness has become increasingly important in the modern blueprint for winning football games. Daniel Memmert, a sports scientist at German Sport University Cologne, calls this tactical creativity. It is a cognitive style that allows one to be imaginative and engage in divergent thinkingwhich is an ability to think flexibly outside of routines and devise multiple solutionseven in real-time competitive situations.Divergent thinking in high-performance sports includes focusing on the task at hand and paying attention to relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information in the athletic arena. The creative athlete knows when and where to look in order to win a play or avoid a costly error.Creative and cool under pressureCreativity is essential in unscripted football playswhen a planned play has not been executed properly, like a fumble or an interception.Intentionally distracting your opponent has become an important part of sports competition. It is why quarterbacks often change the play at the line of scrimmage. But it becomes even more critical during improvised offensive plays when everything is unscripted. In a sport where milliseconds matter, being creative and engaging in something your opponent doesnt expect can be the difference between winning and losing.When the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018, backup quarterback Nick Foles calmly executed a trick play on fourth-and-goal, becoming the first player in history to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl. The play is now called the Philly Special.To engage in tactical creativity, however, an athlete must be relaxed. Thats not easy when millions of people are watching your every move.Brain connectivity at its finestPerformance anxiety is a leading cause of poor athletic performance. Research suggests an athletes competitive anxiety can be cumulative and maybe even be contagious, affecting teammates negatively.That makes the Super Bowl as much a battle of nerves as it is about the physical execution of plays. So, how do professional athletes do it? The athlete practices how to think as much as they practice to play. Training is intentionally hard and uncomfortable to assist with preparing the body and mind.Since emotions and thoughts affect behavior and performance, the concept of emotional self-regulationor intentionally focusing on the present momenthas been introduced into competitive sports. Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and grounding techniques are now integral to the toolkit for high-performance sports.For athletes, it is relatively easy to elevate their emotions to push the ball forward with a play like the Philadelphia brotherly shovean almost unstoppable offensive play used by the Eagles in which the team pushes the quarterback through the opponents defense for a short gain when needed.But calming those emotions to execute a synchronized, attacking, complex passing play is more challenging cognitively.A successful football player must easily transition from being highly aroused to remaining composed on command within seconds.This cognitive efficiency and fluidity requires many hours to master. I am fully aware that while watching the Eagles Jalen Hurts, I am not just observing a great, innovative quarterback; I am witnessing brain connectivity at its finest.Psychology of Eagles fansHow fans experience Super Bowl Sunday is entirely different, psychologically speaking, from the players.To perform at the highest level, the players are process oriented. They attempt to be present in real time and play without fear. On game day, it is advantageous for the competitor to play like a kid, full of joy and confidence.Fans, on the other hand, are results oriented. And they are nervous wrecks, like parents watching their kids compete.One remedy for managing this stress is watching the game with other fans. Philadelphians represent diverse socioeconomic and ethnic groups that often unite through sports. These social connectionswhich Germans, who were among the first settlers in the city, call Gemeinschaftsgefhlare a hallmark of good psychological health.I know I will never forget when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII: the game, the season and the parade.And new research indicates why.According to University of California, Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner, these authentic awe moments are shortcuts to happiness. Football fans might experience awe when a seemingly unpredictable interception or touchdown has significant consequences.In other words, the thrill of the game and the excitement of winning not only unite fans, but they can also transform them into happier versions of themselves.Eric Zillmer is a professor of neuropsychology at Drexel University.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Architecture studio Urko Snchez Architects has created a series of classrooms for a school in Nairobi, Kenya, which are wrapped inwooden logs to blend into their forested surroundings.Situated in clearings within the forest, the development by Urko Snchez Architects contains a series of temporary classrooms designed as a "small village" for the existing Nairobi Waldorf School.Urko Snchez Architects has added a series of classrooms to a school in Nairobi"The main concept was to create a village for children hidden in the forest, fostering a strong connection with nature," the studio told Dezeen."The project prioritised cost-effective and reusable materials like wood, soil, and forest leaves to minimise environmental impact," it added. "Classrooms were dispersed in forest clearings to preserve native trees and avoid disruption."Reusable materials were used to construct the classroomsThe 3,1620-square-metre project comprises several classrooms topped with overhanging wooden roofs, informed by the region's vernacular architecture.Among them is an existing, lofty structure, repurposed to accommodate additional classrooms and services, supported by a framework of tall logs.The structures are topped with overhanging roofsUrko Snchez Architects designed the structures for a 10-year lifespan because of a lease on the site. This led it to use lightweight, cost-effective and reclaimed materials that could be repurposed in the future.This included the use of wooden logs of various heights, which wrap around the base of each classroom, and reclaimed roof tiles, which were repurposed and used to create paths around the site.Read: Andblack Design Studio designs undulating preschool to "foster creativity and play"Polycarbonate sheets encase some of the teaching spaces, creating transparent walls that also help draw light into their interiors.In a bid to offer both a natural aesthetic and promote biodiversity on the site, portions of the polycarbonate walls are filled with layers of reclaimed soil and forest leaves that act as "living walls".Polycarbonate panels were used for some of the walls"The design addressed the temporary 10-year lease by prioritising cost-effective and quick construction methods," the studio said."Recycled materials were creatively repurposed, emphasising sustainability and collaboration," it added. "Children, parents, and teachers participated in the soil filling process, fostering a sense of community."Sheltered corridors wind around the classrooms to provide access to the interiors, which offer children well-lit workspaces finished with earthy tones thanks to the use of natural materials.Natural materials create earthy tones within the classroomsUrko Snchez Architects works out of studios in Madrid and Nairobi. Previous projects by the studio include a concrete compound in Djibouti designed as a home for vulnerable children.Other schools recently featured on Dezeen include an elementary school in northeast Vancouver built from mass timber and a cuboidal primary school in rural Austria designed as a "village within the village".The photography is by Javier Callejas.The post Urko Sanchez Architects prioritises reusable materials for temporary school in Nairobi appeared first on Dezeen.

Why can't we have Super Bowl quality ads all year round?

Nanotube bridge networks grow between the most abundant photosynthetic bacteria in the oceans, suggesting that the world is far more interconnected than anyone realized.

Sometimes, you just want to have a private conversation. If you're talking to someone in person, you can just step into a room or other area where the two of you are alone. But things are a little different if you're chatting online or over texts. Unless your messages are end-to-end encrypted, they could potentially be accessed by malicious actors, the government or your cell service carrier. An easy step everyone can take to better protect themselves is downloading the encrypted messaging app Signal.Signal was released over a decade ago in 2014, and more than 40 million people were using the app for encrypted messaging as of 2022, according to the BBC.The app gained a lot of popularity in January, 2021 after WhatsApp, another encrypted messaging app owned by Facebook's parent company Meta, changed its privacy policy. In the wake of this change, people flocked to Signal, causing a surge of new users and a temporary outage of the app. The app-tracking firm Apptopia reported that Signal was downloaded about 1.3 million times a few days after the policy change.If you're new to Signal, or want to learn about the app without downloading it, here's what you need to know about the encrypted messaging app.What is Signal? SignalSignal is an open-source, encrypted messaging app. It's available on Android and iOS devices, and it's free to download and use. You can voice or video call others through the app, and you can send payments through the app using the cryptocurrency MobileCoin.Is Signal secure?Signal uses end-to-end encryption to protect your messages and calls, which means that only your intended recipient can read your messages and receive your call. That way a third-party or government entity can't intercept your message. But nothing is absolutely secure.In 2023, a group of researchers found a way to figure out a Signal user's location by measuring the time between sending a message and receiving a notification that a message was delivered. The method had an overall accuracy of about 82%, and could be used to spy on someone's location.Does my contact need Signal for the app to work?Yes, you both need to be using Signal for the app to work. You can't use Signal to message WhatsApp, for example.Does Signal send my number to others?Not necessarily. The app doesn't send your phone number to others unless you change the setting so others can see your number. Here's how to change this setting.1. Open Signal.2. Tap your profile in the top-left corner of your screen.3. Tap Settings.4. Tap Privacy.5. Tap Phone Number.Under Who Can See My Number, you can tap either Everybody or Nobody.From this menu you can also let anyone who has your number see you're on Signal or hide that you're on the app. Under Who Can Find Me By Number, tap Everybody or Nobody.Should I use my real name or a nickname for more privacy?You can use your real name or a nickname. According to Signal, your profile -- name and photo attached to your number -- is encrypted, and because of that Signal doesn't know what name or photo you've selected."Your profile information is end-to-end encrypted with a unique profile key that is securely shared via the same Signal Protocol messaging channel that already protects your conversations and calls," Signal wrote online.Keep in mind that using a photo and a last name in your profile are optional. Signal wrote that a first name is required, but that first name could be your name, a nickname, a single character or an emoji.Can I send or receive SMS/MMS messages with Signal?No. Signal used to support SMS/MMS messages in its Android app, but that functionality was removed in 2022. The company wrote at the time that it was removing this capability to prioritize security and privacy, to ensure people don't encounter unexpected messaging bills and to create and clear user experience for all Signal users.Can I use Signal for work or travel?Yes and yes. SignalIf you use Signal for work, just know that every phone must register with a different number in order to work. And if you're traveling, the app uses the internet to message and call others. So as long as you are connected to the internet you can use the app instead of your own cell service and potentially incurring roaming fees.What are safety numbers and are they important?Safety numbers are assigned to one-on-one chats in Signal, and these allow you to verify the security of your calls and messages with a contact. Verifying safety numbers is a good way to make sure you're talking to who you intend to be talking to. Once this number is verified, changes to the number must be manually approved in order to send another message.Signal will let you know when someone changes a safety number. According to Signal, this could just be a person using a new phone or reinstalling Signal, but if you see the safety number changing a lot there could be other issues.Here's how to view and verify a safety number.1. Open Signal.2. Go into a chat.3. Tap on the chat header or the recipient's name across the top of the chat.4. Tap View Safety Number.Then, either scan your contact's QR code that's displayed on their screen, or compare the numeric sequence displayed beneath the QR code. If the sequence matches on both yours and your contact's phones, you can each tap Mark as Verified across the bottom of your screens. If the sequences are different, something is wrong.Does Signal store or sell my data?"Signal is designed to never collect or store any sensitive information," Signal wrote online. SignalAll your data is stored locally on your device, and since everything in the app is end-to-end encrypted, the Signal service can't access that data. And because Signal can't access that data, it can't sell or monetize your data.How do I request and download my account data?1. Open Signal.2. Tap your profile in the top-left corner of your screen.3. Tap Settings.4. Tap Account.5. Tap Your Account Data.You can either export your data as an easy-to-read text file -- Export as TXT -- or a machine-readable file -- Export as JSON. Tap which kind of file you'd like to export your data as then tap Export Report.For more on privacy, check out CNET's best VPN services, best password managers and best antivirus software.

2024 Like nearly everything we buy these days, streaming costs are rising. Netflix recently announced a price hike that, as someone who has yet to watch Squid Game Seasons 2, I have no choice but to roll with. But the last thing I want to do is lose money on subscriptions I'm not even using.In a CNET survey, almost half (48%) of respondents said they've forgotten to cancel a subscription, such as a streaming service, gym membership or grocery service. As a result, they're paying an average of $91 a month for things they don't need or want.Most of us have seen ads for the budgeting app Rocket Money, which claims to help you find unwanted subscriptions and cancel them for you. So I tested it out.The amount it saved me blew my mind. 9.4 Rocket Money Buy at Rocket Money Like Affordable Easy to use Savings goals Credit score and net worth tracking Bill negotiation and cancellation services Don't like Free version is limited No debt playoff planning features No investment tools Fees for bill negotiation Rocket Money saved me over $400 in 15 minutesRocket Money is a budgeting app that monitors your income and expenses, helps you set savings goals and tracks your subscriptions in one place, whether you use the free or paid version. It's also my pick for the best Mint replacement app and recently won CNET's Editors' Choice award. Rocket Money's paid version, which costs $6 to $12 a month, can also find and cancel some subscriptions for you.You can try this service by navigating to the Recurring tab on the app menu. You'll see subscriptions coming due in the next seven days, ones coming due later and how much you spend on these subscriptions in a year.The first thing I noticed was that my subscription to HGTV Magazine, which costs $50 for a year, was up for renewal in four days. Given the enormous pile of back issues I've accumulated but not yet read, canceling this subscription was a no-brainer.Rocket Money gave me two options: The app could cancel this subscription for me, or I could call the number they provided to cancel it myself.I chose to have them do it for me. The app asked for some basic information, including my name, billing address and the reason I wanted to cancel, and then confirmed that they were working on it.The process was fairly painless, but I have one complaint. I didn't know until after I'd submitted my cancellation request that it could take two to seven days for Rocket Money to complete the cancellation -- I found out from the pop-up confirmation I received after submitting. Fortunately, I was able to respond quickly to the email confirmation Rocket sent me, and I received a response within minutes from a customer support rep who said they'd fast-track my cancellation. The next business day, my subscription was canceled.I was hooked. What else was I spending money on without realizing it? I reviewed my other subscriptions and identified a handful I no longer needed:HP Instant Ink: $4.34 per month (for a printer I don't even have anymore)New York Times Digital: $4 per month (the number of free articles I get is usually enough for me)WallStreet Journal: $4 per month (same as above)Pandora: $10 per month (a recent switch to Amazon Prime Unlimited made this service unnecessary)Spotify: $10 per month (same as above)I'll admit I barely noticed these small amounts when they hit my bank account each month. I'd grouped them under "Miscellaneous" in my budget and never really thought about them since that category tended to stay within my spending goals. But viewing them all grouped together, it was easy to see how quickly they could drain my budget.By canceling these subscriptions, I saved myself $32.32 per month going forward, for a total annual savings of $387.84. Add that to the savings on my HGTV Magazine subscription, and that's an extra $437.81 in my pocket annually.What's nice is that, even though I only installed the app a few months ago, Rocket Money pulled in subscriptions from years past, allowing me to catch ones that were coming due even though I hadn't paid for them since installing the app.In total, reviewing my subscriptions and having Rocket Money cancel six of them took me about 15 minutes. Not bad to get over $400 in savings.Rocket Money has a free versionRocket Money's free version only shows subscriptionsit won't cancel them for you. To access the cancellation service, you'll need the paid version, which costs $6 to $12 per month. You choose your amount, and you'll enjoy the same features regardless of the amount.Since I already have Rocket Premium, this wasn't an issue for me. But if you don't want to pay extra for the convenience of having Rocket cancel your subscriptions for you, you could just as easily use the free version to identify your subscriptions and then cancel them yourself.You can also try using Rocket's bill negotiation service, which can help lower your monthly costs, but you'll pay 30% to 60% of your first year's savings if it's able to save you money.How to save on subscriptions without the appI used Rocket Money to trim my subscription costs because it's the budgeting app I regularly use anyway. I'd rather save a few minutes, especially if it doesn't cost me anything extra.But of course you can cancel your subscriptions yourself by calling a customer service line or logging into your online account.These tips can also help you maximize your savings:Note your renewal dates. Whenever you sign up for a new service, note when it's due to renew. Then, set a reminder on your calendar for the week before so you can decide if it's worth renewing and cancel if not. If you sign up for a free trial, use a virtual card to make canceling a breeze.Review your budget regularly. Going over your budget weekly can help you spot subscription charges that have already hit your account and cancel them before they cost you more. But don't just take a cursory glance -- look at each transaction, even the minor ones. I was keeping a general eye on my spending, but I wasn't always doing it line by line to evaluate if each expense was truly worth it.Rotate your streaming services. You can only watch so much content in a month. One of the easiest ways I've found to keep my subscription costs down is to only subscribe to one streaming service at a time. For example, when one of the shows I love dropped its new season on HBO's Max, I canceled my Netflix subscription and signed up for a month of Max. I watched everything that interested me on Max before the month was up, then I canceled it and moved on to another service.Take advantage of complimentary subscriptions. Some subscriptions give you free access to other services. For instance, Walmart Plus members get a free Paramount Plus subscription. Amazon Prime membership comes with perks like a free Amazon Music subscription and a free year of Grubhub Plus. Take a look at your existing subscriptions to see if they offer any free perks you can take advantage of.Visit your local library. Many library systems offer free access to things like newspapers, magazines and more. Check out your local library to see what you can enjoy for free.Threaten to cancel. Sometimes, you can score a discount by calling customer service and saying you'd like to cancel your subscription. It won't always work, but it can't hurt to try.More ways to save on subscriptions

Monster Hunter Wilds beta set to get additional day following global PSN outageSweet Wild o'Mine.Image credit: Capcom / Eurogamer News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 9, 2025 Following the lengthy PSN outage this weekend, Capcom has assured PS5 players that it will hold an additional Monster Hunters Wild open beta test "at a future date".With only two open beta tests planned for Monster Hunter Wilds ahead of its release at the end of this month, PS5 players have not only missed out on playtime over the weekend, but also participation bonuses. Capcom also hasn't been able to adequately test its systems and servers, either.Monster Hunter Wilds - Into the Iceshard Cliffs trailer.Watch on YouTube"PS5 hunters, thanks for your patience and understanding during this weekends PSN service issues," Capcom said in a statement posted to social media earlier today."To account for reduced [open beta test 2] play time due to the outage, we are considering running OBT2 for an additional 24 hours at a future date. Exact details and timing are TBD, so please stay tuned." To see this content please enable targeting cookies.As yet, Capcom hasn't specified when the additional beta test will run, but we'll keep you posted.The current beta test kicked off at 3am UK time on 7th February (7pm 6th February PT) and will close tomorrow at 3am.The second runs from 13th-16th February at the same times. Cross-platform multiplayer is enabled for both tests, and players can transfer their characters (but not their progress) to the full game. Participants also get a bonus pendant and an item pass that'll unlock in the full release. Additionally, Monster Hunter World and Iceborne owners will receive Palico equipment and a Hunter Profile name plate if they pick up Wilds.Monster Hunter Wilds launches for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 28th February.

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 The PS Plus February 2025 Essential games are available to claim right now, and theres only a little longer left to wait for the Extra and Premium additions to be revealed. These additions are highly-anticipated along with the upcoming new releases of Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered and Monster Hunter Wilds. Here you will find the reveal date for the PS Plus February 2025 Extra and Premium games, along with possible leaks, 8 games leaving, and what we know about State of Play.PS Plus Extra and Premium February 2025 games reveal dateThereveal date for the PS Plus Extra and Premium February 2025 games is February 12th. Sony always reveals the Extra and Premium games on a Wednesday one week after the release of the Essentials. The February 2025 Essentials were given away on February 4th, so Sonys announcement should occur as expected provided they stick to the usual formula.Once the additions have been revealed, they should come out to play on February 18th. As for the March 2025 Essentials, they are expected to be identified on February 26th with an official launch confirmed for March 4th. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. Make sure to grab the current Essential giveaways before the replacements arrive in March. The current Essential selection includes the co-operative bank robbing experience, Payday 3. There is also the comedy musings of Rick and Morty with High on Life, as well as good old Pac-Man in Pac-Man World Re-Pac.PS Plus Extra and Premium February 2025 games leakThere is a possible leak for the PS Plus February 2025 Extra and Premium games that should be taken with a heavy grain of salt. Shared on the GamingLeaksAndRumors subreddit, the leak originates from 4chan, and it claims there will be the addition of Ape Escape 2 and 3 for Premium. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Ape Escape 2 already exists on Premium, but the leak claims the existing version will be delisted and a new version running on PS2 emulator will be added. The leak also claims that there will be more news regarding Ape Escape, and that Sony is also doubling down on PS Plus classic games.Theres no mention of what Sony doubling down means, but we have recently learned of the most highly-requested classics players want for the Premium tier.Games leavingBelow are all 8 games leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium on February 18th:Tales of Arise (Extra)The Outer Worlds Spacers Choice Edition (Extra)Tales of Zestiria (Extra)Outriders (Extra)Scarlet Nexus (Extra)Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition (Extra)Tales of Symphonia Remastered (Premium)Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition (Premium)All the above come courtesy of TrueTrophies. Its a devastating list of departures if youre a fan of the legendary Tales JRPG series, and its also a shame to see the excellent Outer Worlds leave, especially just as Avowed releases for Xbox Game Pass on the same day.State of Play February 2025There are also leaks regarding a State of Play for February 2025. Sony hasnt confirmed an SoP exhibition as of writing, but prominent leaker, NateTheHate, alluded to one happening during Valentines week, which is February 10th 14th.Again, Sony hasnt announced an event so its just a leak. However, NateTheHate has been accurate about a lot of leaks in the past, and recently they are most credited for accurately leaking reveal details for the Nintendo Switch 2.Assuming there is a State of Play, fans can probably expect to see Death Stranding 2, as well as possibly Ghost of Yotei, as both are earmarked for 2025 releases. Theres also the likelihood of Metal Gear Solid Delta after its release date announcement, and its possible we could also see Bungies Marathon following pre-order leaks.In more gaming news, Take-Two has confirmed GTA 6 is still on course for a Fall 2025 release, but theres still the risk of a delay.Related TopicsPS Plus Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Donald Trump fired National Archives director Colleen Shogan Friday night, she said in a LinkedIn post and confirmed to 404 Media."It was an honor and privilege to serve as the 11th Archivist of the United States," Shogan told 404 Media. "I did so with integrity every day."Earlier on LinkedIn, Shogan wrote: This evening, President Trump fired me, Shogan wrote. No cause or reason was cited. It has been an honor serving as the 11th Archivist of the United States. I have zero regrets - I absolutely did my best every day for the National Archives and the American people.Earlier this week, ABC News reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been serving as the acting Archivist of the United States since shortly after President Trumps inauguration. Archives employees told me Thursday that there was no indication Rubio was involved in the Archives in any way, and Shogan gave an all-hands meeting at the National Archives Tuesday in which she said she had been working with the administration. At the time, National Archives and Records Administration officials told workers that they had not been approached by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, which has been gutting federal agencies.It remains unclear who is going to run the agency, which is in charge of record keeping for the entire federal government.This is a particularly important role considering that large parts of the federal government are currently being purged or shut down, and there is uncertainty about what will happen to their records."At the direction of@realDonaldTrumpthe Archivist of the United States has been dismissed tonight," Sergio Gor, the director of the Presidential Personnel Office, tweeted. "We thank Colleen Shogan for her service."A spokesperson for NARA declined to comment.Jason is a cofounder of 404 Media. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Motherboard. He loves the Freedom of Information Act and surfing.More from Jason Koebler

Poker Face"I think its healthier for the game that I keep my cards close to my chest" - The dev behind Balatro on what comes next after hitting 5 million copies sold"Im just trying to be responsible right now with anything."Image credit: LocalThunk News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 9, 2025 Balatro has been a mega hit, having recently reached the 5 million copies sold mark, and for now its lead developer isn't rushing to move on.We all know that Balatro is one of the best games of 2024, and at the end of last month it had managed to reach 5 million copies sold, a pretty ridiculous number for most games. Now, speaking to Bloomberg, developer LocalThunk shared what the success has felt like, and what comes next. "Its been a lot of stress, but very fulfilling, being able to walk on something that I love all day, every day, as long as I want," LocalThunk said. "Wed been living below our means anyway when I had that IT job, so our lifestyle hasnt changed all that much. I travel a little more so I can visit friends. Im just trying to be responsible right now with anything. I still have a job to do."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. All of you Balatro-heads will also be quite happy to hear that a 1.1 version of Balatro is on the way too, which will apparently include some new features, though LocalThunk didn't want to go into details too heavily. "Im not going to get into exactly whats going to be in it, because that also means I cant pivot if something new doesnt work. I think its healthier for the game that I keep my cards close to my chest, then give you the best version of whatever this new content update is."A couple of small details that he did share, though, is that the confusing Matador Joker will be getting an overhaul, and that the blue stake challenge modifier will be seeing some kind of change too (alongside a whole bunch of other tweaks and such). After that, though, LocalThunk isn't too sure what comes next; "I get obsessed with something for a long time," he said. "I dont have any imminent game ideas I want to make. I have thought of other game ideas in the past, but every time my mind goes down that road, I immediately think, You cant do that right now, youre in the middle of something else, which I think has served me very well."I think considering the amount of hours most people have and will continue to put into Balatro means that that's just fine. Though if you are looking for something new, you could always play some of LocalThunk's favourite games from 2024.