Crytek cuts 15% of workforce, Crysis 4 put on holdAround 60 employees made redundant following layoffsImage credit: Crytek News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Feb. 12, 2025 German developer Crytek has announced it is cutting its workforce by 15%, affecting around 60 employees on its development and shared services teams.In a statement shared on social media, the studio also announced that Crysis 4 has been put on hold as a result of the decision."This has not been an easy decision to make, as we deeply appreciate the hard work of our talented teams," the firm wrote."After putting the development of the next Crysis game on hold in Q3 2024, we have been trying to shift developers over to Hunt: Showdown 1896."While Hunt: Showdown 1896 is still growing, Crytek cannot continue as before and remain financially sustainable. Even after ongoing efforts to reduce costs and cut operating expenses, we have determined that layoffs are inevitable to move forward."It concluded: "We firmly believe in the future of Crytek. With Hunt: Showdown 1896, we have a very strong gaming service and remain fully committed to its operation."

Chris Kerr, News EditorFebruary 12, 20252 Min ReadImage via JumpshipJumpship co-founder Dino Patti has reacquired the studio from Thunderful.Thunderful shared the news in an investor update and explained it has transferred all shares in the studio to Dino Patti Holding ApSa company owned by Patti.The conglomerate also confirmed it has entered into a settlement agreement with Patti and other Jumpship leaders to settle any potential claims relating to an additional purchase consideration of up to roughly 21 million ($26 million).The transaction will require Thunderful to pay around 750,000 (929,000) to Jumpship Limited to cover expected winding-up costs. It will also waive all loans provided to Jumpship, which amounted to 1.3 million ($1.61 million) as of December 19, 2024.Thunderful said the deal is part of its previously announced cost savings program, which has resulted in other divestments, project cancellations, and mass layoffs.Somerville studio jumps ship with Thunderful moving away from internal developmentThunderful acquired Jumpship in 2022 for an undisclosed fee. The deal was announced on the same day the studio launched its debut title, Somerville.At the time, Thunderful said the move would help it build "strong internal IPs" and pledged to work with Jumpship to create "impactful narrative experiences."Now, just over two years later, Thunderful is attempting to reduce costs and focus on third-party publishing after admitting it made some "over-investments" in recent years.In a post on Linkedin, Patti (who you might also know as the co-founder of Limbo developer Playdead) said Jumpship is back under his control but needs rebooting completely."After Thunderful's acquisition in 2022 and recent changes, I've now reacquired the studio. Unfortunately, the company is now empty of employees, so the road ahead will be entirely different," he added. "But with every challenge comes an opportunityits always about moving forward with a bold and bright vision."Patti said he intends to take the studio in a "completely new direction" and promised to share more details soon.About the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Adobes text- and image-to-video AI generator has been released for anyone to try online. Generate Video is available starting today in public beta following a limited early access testing period last year. The beta tool can be accessed via the re-designed Firefly web app, alongside new image generation and translation capabilities, and AI credit subscription tiers for creators.Adobe started launching tools powered by its generative AI Firefly Video Model in October, starting with the Generative Extend tool in beta for Premiere Pro that can be used to extend the end or beginning of footage. The Generate Video tool rolling out today over two months after OpenAI launched its own text-to-video generator, Sora adds some minor improvements since it was first teased in September.Generate Video consists of two features: Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video. As those names imply, Text-to-Video allows users to generate footage using text description, while Image-to-Video lets you add a reference image alongside the prompt to provide a starting point for the video. Generate Video includes various options that refine or guide the results, such as simulating styles, camera angles, motion, and shooting distances.The Image-to-Video feature lets you add a starting point for the generated video to reference alongside text prompts. GIF: AdobeVideo is now output in 1080p at 24 frames per second, up from the original 720p quality. Both Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video take 90 seconds or longer to generate clips at a maximum length of five seconds shorter than the 20-second duration available to Sora users. Adobe says its also working on both a faster, lower-resolution ideation model and a 4K model, which are coming soon.Adobe has also updated the Firefly web app that hosts many of its generative AI tools. Alongside sporting a new UI, it now integrates with Creative Cloud apps including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Express, making it easier to move and edit AI-generated assets. And because Firefly is trained on public domain and licensed content, its safe for commercial use. Adobe even describes its Generate Video tool as production-ready to entice users who want to use AI-generated videos in films without the risk of violating copyright protections.Adobe faces growing competition in the AI video market. In addition to Sora, Google is testing the second generation of its Veo AI video model, which looks more impressive than OpenAIs model judging by early demo examples. ByteDance and Pika Labs have also recently announced new video-focused generative AI tools. Adobes main advantage is Fireflys commercial viability, but it will still need to keep up with the quality and features its competitors are offering.Two additional tools will also be available in public beta on the Firefly web app starting today but these arent free to use. Scene to Image lets users create their own references for AI-generated images using built-in 3D and sketching features seemingly built on the Project Scenic experiment that Adobe announced in October. The Translate Audio and Video tool is pretty self-explanatory, allowing users to translate and dub audio into over 20 languages while preserving the original speakers voice.Adobe is launching two new Firefly subscription plans which provide credits that can be spent to use Adobes Firefly models. Firefly Standard starts at $9.99 per month for 2,000 video/audio credits and provides up to 20 five-second 1080p video generations. The pricier Firefly Pro plan starts at $29.99 for 7,000 credits and up to 70 five-second 1080p video generations. A notable perk is that both plans include unlimited access to Firefly imaging and vector features.See More:

PinnedJun 22, 2024Ash ParrishEven Elden Rings game director knows Erdtree is too hardImage: Bandai NamcoAs I work my way through Shadow of the Erdtree, the new DLC for Elden Ring, I cant help but think that game director Hidetaka Miyazaki is trolling the shit outta me.Speaking with him at Summer Game Fest two weeks ago, Miyazaki said that Erdtree is by far the biggest in scale in volume than any other FromSoftware DLC before it. But he also said Erdtree is about the same volume as the Limgrave part of the base game, the starting area of Elden Ring, containing slightly more content. Read Article >Today, 20 minutes agoAsh ParrishElden Ring Nightreign takes a big swing at a bigger audienceImage: FromSoftwareIts inaccurate and reductive to call Elden Ring Nightreign a Dark Souls take on Fortnite. And yet, if pressed for an extremely brief elevator pitch say, the kind youd give to your friends who are curious about soulsborne games but are put off by all the discussions of their difficulty its about as best as you could do. In my hands-on time with the game, I was compelled to ask my team at the outset of our very first run, Well where we droppin boys? as we flew over the map in the claws of spectral birds. The similarity to Fortnite and other battle royale games was so striking, the reference simply had to be made. But once we got on the ground, Fortnite took a big ol backseat and Elden Ring reemerged as the foremost game Nightreign compares to.Nightreign strips out the combat and visual aesthetics of Elden Ring and lays them over gameplay that combines multiplayer battle royale action with roguelike live, die, repeat mechanics. Matches will take place over three days. During daylight, players will assault a Limgrave-like map (called Limveld), either solo or in teams of three, beating regular enemies and mini-bosses for powerful weapons, accessories, and runes to level up their characters. As daylight turns to night, a destructive, HP-draining storm called Nights Tide shrinks the map, forcing the players to a tiny arena where theyll face a major boss. Defeat the boss to begin the next day, when the cycle repeats and the match ends by defeating the final boss on the third night.Read Article >Nov 14, 2024Ash ParrishLo-fi beats to chill / Waterfowl Dance to.If video game soundtracks are what you use to get through the workday, then FromSoftware has a gift for you. The soundtrack for Shadow of the Erdtree is now streaming in all the regular (and not so regular) places including Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, something called Deezer, and more.ELDEN RING SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK[lnk.to]Sep 11, 2024Ash ParrishShadow of the Nerf-tree.Bandai Namco has released a new patch for Shadow of the Erdtree. The majority of the patch notes contains the usual bug fixes and weapon tweaks with one very notable exception: the DLCs final boss has been seriously nerfed. This is good news for all the players struggling with a fight thats generally perceived as the hardest in the game if not in all of FromSoftwares history.Elden Ring Patch Notes Version 1.14[Bandai Namco Europe]Jul 4, 2024Ash ParrishHow am I supposed to beat Messmer now?I knew this was coming, I just didnt expect it so soon. FromSoftware has released a patch for Shadow of the Erdtree. Among the casualties...I mean bug fixes is a nerf to super busted but super satisfying perfume bottle build that basically turned anyone who used it into a walking nuke. How dare you FromSoftware, over a long holiday weekend no less?!Jul 2, 2024Ash ParrishShadow of the Erdtrees new perfume weapons are seriously broken and seriously funImage: Bandai NamcoImagine if those aggressive salespeople at the Macys perfume counter were shoving napalm in your face instead of Chanel No. 5: thats what it feels like playing with the new perfume bottle weapons in Shadow of the Erdtree.The early days after any Souls game release are always some of the best. The speedrunners and content creators have found the best / most busted builds, while the developers havent had the time to nerf them yet. People post all kinds of wild videos of bosses melting within seconds, going down so fast they dont even have time to trigger their second or third phases. It happened in vanilla Elden Ring with Hoarfrost Stomp, and its happening again with Erdtrees perfume bottles.Read Article >Jul 1, 2024Jay PetersGeorge R.R. Martin on a potential Elden Ring adaptation:Oh, and about those rumors you may have heard about a feature film or television series based on ELDEN RING I have nothing to say. Not a word, nope, not a thing, I know nothing, you never heard a peep from me, mum mum mum. What rumor?Lose One, Win One[Not a Blog]Jun 26, 2024Ash ParrishErdtree gets a little easier with new Elden Ring updateImage: FromSoftwareShadow of the Erdtree is gonna get easier. Bandai Namco has seemingly heard the great hue and cry from reviewers and players alike that Erdtree is far too difficult. In response, the publisher is implementing a calibration update that will reduce the level of difficulty by making players stronger. According to the patch notes for this update:The key to understanding this update is the Scadutree Fragments. They are DLC-specific upgrade materials that increase a players attack and defense. The fragments are scattered throughout the map, requiring considerable exploration to find, but the increased power they grant makes them a high-priority resource.Read Article >Jun 21, 2024Andrew WebsterLive-action turtle pope.Its Shadow of the Erdtree day, and Bandai Namco has released a new live-action trailer for the Elden Ring expansion. Crucially, the short video shows what Miriel, Pastor of Vows would look like IRL. He, too, apologizes for the unseemly state of affairs.Jun 20, 2024Ash ParrishHere are some small but helpful tips for starting Shadow of the ErdtreeImage: FromSoftwareBefore Shadow of the Erdtree finally goes live, Bandai Namco has implemented a patch that adds a couple of small features and updates just in time for the DLCs launch in a few short hours. FromSoftware also shared a new launch trailer to herald the DLCs arrival, but its chockful of spoilers, so beware. The update isnt particularly earth-shattering, but it does include some things worth keeping in mind before all you Tarnished get your head beat in by the vicious monsters patrolling the Shadow Lands.Firstly, we get new hair options! I was pretty down on Elden Rings character creator for its lack of Black hairstyles. It just didnt make sense that the character creator was so robust and detailed but lacked hairstyles that represent a good chunk of the human population. There are five new styles to choose from, with two of them being dreadlocks. I chose the loose loc option so my Tarnished can finally get rid of her abhorrent pigtails. Im not sure if the white hairs option was present in the base game or a new addition with this patch, but I really like how it adds gray to my locs, reminding me of when I started picking out errant gray hairs when I had locs.Read Article >Jun 20, 2024Jay PetersElden Ring has an issue on Steam Deck right now.Leaving your Steam Deck inactive for more than 5 minutes may stop the game from accepting inputs, according to the Elden Ring X account. A hotfix is in the works. Some users are also unexpectedly seeing an inappropriate activity detected warning when they try to play.Not great timing given the new update and Shadow of the Erdtrees imminent launch!Jun 18, 2024Ash ParrishShadow of the Erdtree reintroduced me to Elden Ring by kicking my assImage: FromSoftwareIn my first moments with Shadow of the Erdtree, I found myself in a graveyard dotted with incorporeal gravestones and puddles of glowing blood. By the time I remembered what those bloodstains meant and the imminent danger I was in, I was ripped to shreds by a man I did not see or hear coming, leaving behind a new little blood puddle to mark the occasion.I have not stopped grinning since. Read Article >Jun 14, 2024Jay PetersGreat haircut, Tarnished.Elden Ring is getting an update on June 20th one day ahead of the release of Shadow of the Erdtree that adds five new hairstyles and a bunch of other handy new features. You can read more about whats coming on X.The Elden Ring X account also shared the global release schedule for the expansion and updated minimum and recommended PC specs.Jun 12, 2024Ash ParrishAnd most of em still havent beaten Mohg.To prepare us for Shadow of the Erdtree FromSoftware has released a The Journey So Far video. The company has also announced that Elden Ring itself has sold 25 million copies. But honestly, considering that in order to even access Shadow you need to beat Shardbearer Mohg a feat only 38% of Steam players have achieved FromSoftware would have been better off releasing a How to beat Mohg video.May 21, 2024Ash ParrishElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtrees new trailer is a dramatic call to armsWith only a month until release day, theres a new story trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree, and the Elden Ring lore hounds have their work cut out for them.FromSoftware has been slowly teasing Shadow of the Erdtree and its story beats ever since the gameplay trailer was released back in February. All we knew then was the DLC would take place in the Land of Shadow and feature a bunch of new horrors straight from the slightly warped imagination of game director Hidetaka Miyazaki.Read Article >May 21, 2024Ash ParrishThe Shadow of the Erdtree looms.Bandai Namco has announced that it will debut the story trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree today at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT. Theres exactly one month until the highly anticipated DLC to 2022s Game of the Year finally launches and there are a whole lot of messed up lil dudes FromSoftware has to show off between then and now.May 17, 2024Ash ParrishFromSoftware just debuted their bloodiest monster yet.FromSoftwares monster designs have really nailed the inherent horror of living in ambulatory sentient meat sacs and this new one from Shadow of the Erdtree is just...That is a uterus, yall and if it means Shadow of the Erdtree will tread the transformative horrors of childbirth like Bloodborne did, I am so on board. I cannot wait for June 21st, my uterus is ready.Image: Bandai NamcoApr 1, 2024Richard LawlerApril Fools 2024: Elden Ring expansion.They didnt say DLC (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree wont be here until June 21st); they said expansion. And they delivered.Feb 21, 2024Ash ParrishWhile you were studying the Erdtree, I studied the blade.They got some Sekiro in my Elden Ring.Tamoor Hussain from GameSpot noticed that the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has incorporated elements from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In a part of the new trailer, it looks like a monster (or a Tarnished, cant tell) is doing some flippy-dippy martial arts nonsense. Turns out its a move taken from one of the mini-bosses in Sekiro. Every FromSoftware game incorporates elements from its siblings and its neat to see those influences proliferate throughout.I cant wait for this DLC to ruin me.Feb 21, 2024Ash ParrishElden Rings Shadow of the Erdtree trailer is full of new ways to dieWake up, Tarnished. Its time to visit the Shadow of the Erdtree.In Shadow, it looks like were going to a darker part of the Lands Between, and of course, there are all sorts of new lil freaks to fight. But the biggest news is that the DLCs main antagonist appears to be Miquella, the twin brother of Malenia, meaning Let me solo her might have to change his name soon.Read Article >Feb 21, 2024Ash ParrishIm at the combination Nintendo Direct / Elden Ring DLC trailer announcement.The first of todays big video game announcement events is the Nintendo Direct happening at 9 AM ET. Then, shortly after what Nintendo says will be a 25-minute presentation, FromSoftware will release the first trailer for Elden Rings first DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree at 10 AM ET.Its gonna be a big day.Feb 20, 2024Richard LawlerGet your first look at Elden Rings Shadow of the Erdtree expansion on Wednesday morning.Its been almost a year since FromSoftware announced it was working on DLC for the 2022 hit Elden Ring, and now we have a date and time for the first Shadow of the Erdtree gameplay reveal trailer: February 21st, 10 AM ET / 7AM PT / 4PM CET.The 3-minute presentation will be available on YouTube with subtitles in your preferred language.Image: FromSoftware (X)Jul 12, 2023Ash ParrishTarnished on Tour.Bandai Namco has announced that its launching an Elden Ring concert tour. Dubbed a symphonic adventure, the concert will feature a live orchestra and choir synced up to visuals and sound effects from the game. The tour starts in Paris with tickets to go on sale at 10 AM EST tomorrow.Oct 13, 2022Ash ParrishHuge Elden Ring update will seemingly make players a lot harder to killImage: FromSoftwareElden Ring, the game that feels like it was released several years ago but was in fact launched just this February, has announced a massive update. According to Bandai Namco on the games website, the patch intends to encourage more versatility in terms of gameplay if encourage also means make you a nigh unkillable god in single player. A lot of weapons and spells were buffed, very few things were nerfed, and it seems like its going to get a lot harder to kill your friends in PVP. The patch notes are indeed massive, but Ive picked out a few highlights.Glintstone Pebble / Shard Spiral: increased attack powerRead Article >Apr 4, 2022Adi RobertsonAll hail Elden Rings ever-growing mapOne of Elden Rings most polarizing features is its willingness to withhold information. While its less arcane than earlier FromSoftware titles like Dark Souls, the game constantly hands you items, quests, and mechanics with very little explanation. But after 130 hours and counting in the Lands Between, Im in love with how well it sometimes deploys that obscurity. And theres no better example than Elden Rings map, which has transcended a simple open-world convention to become one of my very favorite pieces of the game.If youre still in the early areas of Elden Ring, you might want to skip this post because Im going to talk about a mechanic that relies on mystery. But if youve played a bit of the game, you might know what Im talking about. Elden Rings map offers a constant give-and-take of showing players new spaces to explore, then pulling back a curtain to more places that they didnt even realize could exist. It withholds information only to reveal it in a way thats delightful, satisfying, and entirely in keeping with the worlds vast scope. Its not just an interface element its a meta-game in its own right.Read Article >Mar 15, 2022Ash ParrishElden Ring speedrunners race to the bottomImage: Bandai NamcoElden Ring is just so massive and its bosses are so tough that the average player will probably take over 60 hours to beat it. But speedrunners, assisted by some traditional speedrunning tricks and the games own open design, have somehow managed to beat the sprawling game in under 30 minutes.For a speedrunning enthusiast, the first days of a games release are extremely exciting. New techniques and optimizations are constantly being discovered, as boss behaviors and the runners own luck work with or against them, making almost every run a possible world record. While every runner is ostensibly competing against the clock, two runners have emerged in the Elden Ring speed community, each racing to post lower and lower times.Read Article >

In many modern Python applications, especially those that handle incoming data (e.g., JSON payloads from an API), ensuring that the data is valid, complete, and properly typed is crucial. Pydantic is a powerful library that allows you to define models for your data using standard Python-type hints and then automatically validate any incoming data against these models. In this example, well showcase how to model a typical use case: a user placing an order for products. Well use Pydantic to define User, Product, and Order models, ensuring that data like emails, prices, quantities, and user details adhere to our specified constraints.Step 1: Install Dependenciespip install pydanticpip install pydantic[email]Use pip install pydantic to install the core library, enabling data validation with Python-type hints. Also, run pip install pydantic[email] for built-in email validation features.Step 2: Define the Pydantic Models (User, Product, and Order)from typing import List, Optionalfrom pydantic import BaseModel, Field, EmailStr, conint, ValidationError# Define the modelsclass User(BaseModel): name: str = Field(..., min_length=1, max_length=50, description="User's full name") email: EmailStr = Field(..., description="User's email address, validated by Pydantic") age: Optional[conint(ge=0, le=120)] = Field(None, description="Optional age with a realistic range") phone_number: Optional[str] = Field(None, pattern=r'^\+?[1-9]\d{1,14}$', description="Optional phone number, E.164 format")class Product(BaseModel): name: str = Field(..., min_length=1, max_length=100) price: float = Field(..., gt=0, description="Price must be greater than zero") quantity: conint(gt=0) = Field(..., description="Quantity must be greater than zero")class Order(BaseModel): order_id: int = Field(..., gt=0, description="Order ID must be a positive integer") user: User products: List[Product] = Field(..., description="A list of products in the order") # Computed property @property def total_cost(self) -> float: return sum(product.price * product.quantity for product in self.products)Through the above code, these three Pydantic models, User, Product, and Order, provide a structured, validated approach to managing application data. The user enforces constraints for name, email, optional age, and an optional phone number matching a pattern. The product ensures a valid name length, a positive price, and a non-zero quantity. Finally, the Order ties the user and products together while computing the total cost of the order.Step 3: Implement Validation in the main() Functiondef main(): # Example of a valid user dictionary user_data = { "name": "Jane Doe", "email": "jane.doe@example.com", "age": 30, "phone_number": "+1234567890" } # Example of product data products_data = [ {"name": "Keyboard", "price": 49.99, "quantity": 1}, {"name": "Mouse", "price": 19.99, "quantity": 2} ] # Combine user and products in an order order_data = { "order_id": 101, "user": user_data, "products": products_data } try: # Instantiate models to trigger validation valid_user = User(**user_data) print("User Model:", valid_user) valid_products = [Product(**pd) for pd in products_data] print("Product Models:", valid_products) valid_order = Order(**order_data) print("Order Model:", valid_order) print(f"Total cost of the order: {valid_order.total_cost}") except ValidationError as e: print("Validation Error:", e)Now, this main() function simulates receiving data for a user and multiple products, then creates and validates the corresponding User, Product, and Order instances. It demonstrates how Pydantic raises a ValidationError if any data fails validation and prints out validated models and the computed total cost otherwise.Step 4: Execute the Program# Run the main() functionmain()We call main() to execute the demonstration, which validates our example user, product, and order data. After running the function, it prints out the validated models and any errors if the data fails validation.OutputUser Model: name='Jane Doe' email='jane.doe@example.com' age=30 phone_number='+1234567890' Product Models: [Product(name='Keyboard', price=49.99, quantity=1), Product(name='Mouse', price=19.99, quantity=2)] Order Model: order_id=101 user=User(name='Jane Doe', email='jane.doe@example.com', age=30, phone_number='+1234567890') products=[Product(name='Keyboard', price=49.99, quantity=1), Product(name='Mouse', price=19.99, quantity=2)] Total cost of the order: 89.97The output for the code will be as above.In this example, we demonstrated how Pydantic can define and validate data models for a User, Product, and Order within a real-world workflow. Pydantic ensures that any data fed into these models is correct by specifying field types, constraints, and custom validations. This helps you catch errors early, simplify your code logic, and boost reliability in data-intensive applications.Here is the Colab Notebook for the above project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our75k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/OpenAI Introduces Competitive Programming with Large Reasoning ModelsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Shanghai AI Lab Releases OREAL-7B and OREAL-32B: Advancing Mathematical Reasoning with Outcome Reward-Based Reinforcement LearningAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Zyphra Introduces the Beta Release of Zonos: A Highly Expressive TTS Model with High Fidelity Voice CloningAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Tutorial to Fine-Tuning Mistral 7B with QLoRA Using Axolotl for Efficient LLM Training [Recommended] Join Our Telegram Channel

From the classic Incredible Hulk TV series to the network hits Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. all the way through the violent Netflix street level shows that introduced characters like Daredevil and Luke Cage to streaming audiences, Marvel Comics have long inspired small screen adaptations. Previous attempts to connect the live action TV shows to the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe have often stumbled and stalled who remembers Runaways and Cloak and Dagger? but in 2021 Marvel Studios embarked on a new era. This watershed moment began with the Mouse House stacking their flagship streaming service Disney+ with new series that were deeply interconnected to the multi-billion dollar film franchise for which Marvel Studios is best known. With the charming Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man swinging onto our screens as the 13th Disney+ Marvel show in just four years, we thought it was the perfect time to look back on the Marvel Studios television that came before. Like the Avengers eating shawarma in the ruins of New York, the Marvel experts here at IGN came together and chopped it up, each ranking all 12 of the Disney+ Marvel TV shows so far and aggregrating that ranking. Stay tuned for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Mans addition after the series is over.Every Marvel TV Show in the Disney+ Era Ranked12. Secret Invasion Disney+It feels extremely strange to be writing about the fact we got a Secret Invasion series and it was so bad that it was pretty much unanimous across the voting board that it was the worst series that Marvel TV has made yet. From the comic book perspective Secret Invasion stands as one of the most important and game-changing events in Marvel Comics history, but this show wasn't bothered about any of that. Director Ali Selim regularly talked about how he hadn't read the comics and didn't think he needed them to tell a good story. The MCU has proven that when creators have a vision those changes can bring vibrant new takes on iconic stories, but Secret Invasion simply didn't have the range. Trying to recreate the cold war inspired espionage tone of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Secret Invasion focused on Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) attempting to take down a Skrull invasion. But slow storytelling, an AI-made opening, the unceremonious fridging of a beloved female character, and an extremely weird new superpowered character that we'll likely never see again left this one at the bottom of the barrel of the MCU television series on Disney+. 11. EchoDisney+The quality leap from Secret Invasion is a pretty big one, so despite the fact that Echo ended up in our 11th place spot, it wasn't anywhere closely as maligned as our bottom scorer. Alaqua Cox returned from Hawkeye as the deaf Cheyenne superhero Echo in this intimate action-packed story about her life as she heads back to the reservation trying to balance her powers, her past, and her relationship with the man who raised her, Daredevil villain and nefarious bad guy, Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio). Like many of the later waves of Marvel Studios TV, Echo was chopped and changed with a shortened run of episodes that left some fans feeling unsatisfied. Despite that there are some killer action sequences including a radical fight against Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) himself that opened the series on a high note. It was also a groundbreaking series showcasing a predominantly indigenous cast of creatives both on and off the screen. While it may not have had the impact of some of our higher ranked shows it's still worth a watch and stands as a unique, emotionally charged, and interesting entry into the MCU. 10. Moon KnightDisney+You might be shocked to see this Oscar Isaac star vehicle so low in our ranking, but this series just didn't move the needle enough with our voters to climb to loftier heights. The multiple personalities of Marc Spector populate this dark antihero story with mystery and mayhem as the titular antihero struggles to maintain his sanity amid flurries of fisticuffs. This surrealist series mixes elements of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Indiana Jones, and Marvel's own X-Men-inspired series from the Fox era, Legion. As with most Marvel shows produced both before and during the current Disney+ regime the storytellers made sure to introduce a new hero in the form of Scarlet Scarab (May Calamawy), who became a series standout character by the end. Along with F. Murray Abraham as the voice of Khonshu and Ethan Hawke as the villainous Dr. Arthur Harrow, Moon Knight sported a strong cast but simply couldn't fight its way to the top of our list or a second season. 9. The Falcon and the Winter SoldierDisney+While it should have been a soaring hit, The Falcon & the Winter Soldier struggled to lift off. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan returned from the Marvel films as the title characters of the series, and fans responded positively to their on-screen chemistry, but this second ever Marvel TV show released on Disney+ was dragged down by murky morals, a heavy reliance on the Blip timeline, and an emphasis on espionage instead of high-flying action.Interestingly, this was the first TV show to be developed by Marvel Studios and for a time it was slated to be the first one released as well. However, the COVID pandemic shuffled around the release schedule and eventually WandaVision took the debut slot. It's hard to say how much the eventual quality of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was changed by the worldwide health crisis, but the production was no doubt impacted, halting from March 2020 until August of that year. Regardless of the outcome, many narrative aspects of this show have become essential to understanding the current state of the MCU, most notably this year's Thunderbolts* film.Rank the Marvel TV shows of the Disney+ era yourself with the Tier List tool below!8. What If...?Disney+Only just edging past The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, What If...? is most notable for its first season which introduced fans to wild alt-universe versions of their fave MCU heroes. Loosely inspired by the classic Marvel anthology series of the same name, over three seasons the show has gone across the multiverse, following heroes like T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and more. While your mileage may vary on all the episodes, most fans have a favorite. Whether it was Doctor Strange destroying his universe to reconnect with Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) or Marvel Zombies finally adapted to screen or perhaps the new Mohawk hero, Kahhori, who was so popular she made the rare jump from the TV to the comics there really is an episode for everyone. It's also notable as the first entry from Marvel Studios' burgeoning Marvel Animation group, which would go onto bring X-Men '97 to the screen as well as Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and the upcoming Eyes of Wakanda series from Ryan Coogler. 7. She Hulk: Attorney at LawDisney+She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and its oddly prophetic sense of humor got it pretty close to the top half of our list. Though it did share some of the same production issues as the later stage Disney+ TV series, this hilarious meta Marvel still outshone any troubles it may have gone through. Jennifer Walters finally made it to live-action brought to life by Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany, and the green-skinned gal was just as badass, quippy, and fourth-wall-breaking as her comic book counterpart. One of the longer Marvel Disney+ TV shows at least so far as episode count is concerned given its thirty-minute entries She-Hulk also broke new ground with its genre-defying finale that smashed its way out expectations to bring the trailblazing fourth-wall-breaking comic tradition to the screen. The series is also notable as one of the shows with the most deep-cut and varied Marvel character cameos and appearances in it from mutants to the Wrecking Crew, Porcupine to Aguila. And, of course, Daredevil fans got a hearty dose of Matt Murdock as Jens boyfriend? Bootycall? Theyre probably not labeling it.6. Agatha All AlongDisney+The most recent live-action MCU series from Disney+ delivered a delightfully dark and hilarious story while becoming an instant and memeable hit. Created by WandaVision head honcho Jac Schaeffer, the series follows Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) coming out of the televisual trance she was put into by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and heading down the Witches Road with a new coven. With a stacked cast of brilliant women including the legendary Patti LuPone, Agatha All Along built on the fantastic work of WandaVision while introducing a key new character who will likely go on to change the shape of the franchise. Despite being one of the newer entries to the MCU it also stands as one of the most unique and interesting, which explains how it climbed so high in our ranking. 5. Ms. MarvelDisney+In easily the best bit of casting in the MCU since Robert Downey Jr. stepped into Tony Stark's Iron Man armor, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel felt every bit as natural and revolutionary as the one-time bad boy who led the MCU to Hollywood-changing heights. The joyous premiere episodes of Ms. Marvel were like a breath of fresh air with a new younger look and a slice of life feel, and that vibrant new take on the MCU launched Ms. Marvel into our top five. The series has a political and historical resonance that speaks to the ability of superhero stories to reflect the realities of our real world as well as entertain us. Vellani quickly jumped from the small screen to the big screen with her infectious energy being just as appealing in The Marvels as it was in her titular debut. So if you still haven't checked out this charming and fun entry into the Marvel canon, it's high time. 4. X-Men '97Disney+One of the most anticipated and widely acclaimed Disney+ series so far was this direct sequel to the beloved 90s X-Men: The Animated Series. While fans were excited to return to that nostalgic world, X-Men '97 became a breakout hit with a weekly release schedule that allowed theories and word of mouth to take hold. Speaking to a wide audience both familiar with the original Saturday morning cartoon and new to the lore, X-Men '97 was a phenomenon in the summer of 2024. It certainly didn't hurt that the show's sophisticated storytelling managed to distill classic X-Men comic book arcs into individual episodes that sped through Chris Claremont's long-gestating plot points without sacrificing meaningful character development.The devastating impact of X-Men '97's standout episode the midseason shocker, "Remember It" combined with Channing Tatum's performance in Deadpool & Wolverine to reinstate Gambit as a core member of the mutant strikeforce. The animators' fondness for the Ragin' Cajun and the voice acting of A.J. LoCascio made the pink-powered playboy a fan favorite again for the first time since the 90s. Season 2 may be at least a year away, but the effects of this brilliant animated series can be felt in the current state of Marvel's publishing line, with Gambit featured in the current Uncanny X-Men series. So hop over to the comics to sate your appetite for more mutant action until the next episodes drop. 3. HawkeyeDisney+A literal Christmas present, this holiday set series came wrapped in a bow, blessing Disney+ viewers with a truly great entry. Centering on Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) as he deals with trying to acclimatize to life outside of the Avengers, this series took heavily from the beloved Matt Fraction and David Aja Hawkeye run that saw Clint team up with Kate Bishop on a ground level romp through New York. Hawkeye the younger was brought to life on screen by the brilliant Hailee Steinfeld, who introduced a reimagined Kate who was inspired to become a hero after the Chitauri Invasion of New York. Somehow combining the cheer of Home Alone with the grit of street level superhero stories, this has become a firm holiday favorite among Marvel lovers. It was also the first time we saw Vincent D'Onofrio return as Kingpin, making (at least parts of) the Netflix Marvel shows MCU canon. There were also memorable moments for soon-to-be Thunderbolts member Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and a big reveal about Clint's loving wife Laura (Linda Cardellini). Hawkeye is one of the series that feels like its been most impactful to the wider MCU and we can still feel its fingerprints on the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again, Thunderbolts*, and the long-discussed but yet-to-be-official Young Avengers. 2. LokiDisney+Loki ended up being something really special. This esoteric and emotionally driven show was never afraid to take big swings, which makes sense seeing as the first one was that it had to find an inventive way to resurrect one of the most popular MCU characters of all time in Tom Hiddleston's Loki. His death at the hands of Thanos in Infinity War was one of the franchise's most emotional moments, so the show had to deliver something worthy of its complicated protagonist. Thanks to the timey wimey shenanigans of the Time Variance Authority, Loki managed to bring back multiple iterations of the anti-hero, posing existential questions of the nature of self and heroism while also introducing a new MCU legend in Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson). With gorgeous visuals, impactful storytelling, and relationships that everyone rooted for, Loki probably stands alongside Hawkeye as one of the wider appeal series from the roster that managed to hook viewers who might not have watched Marvel otherwise. 1. WandaVisionDisney+The original and still the best. WandaVision rose to the top with near consistent number one rankings to no ones surprise. Unexpected, meta, and utterly unique, this superhero series was a breakout hit despite its unusual metatextual framing. A love letter to the history of American television that was also an emotionally devastating exploration of grief and romance, there was nothing like WandaVision then and there hasn't been since. Grief, motherhood, loss, love, and how those can all manifest when you're a superpowered witch dealing with massive amounts of trauma may seem like a reach for a TV series to launch the MCU, but WandaVision managed to pull it off despite The Falcon and the Winter Soldier being the originally intended launch series. As Wanda navigated a surreal Easter egg filled TV dreamscape, viewers were quickly sucked into the dramatic, melancholy, and often hilarious life of Wanda, Vision (Paul Bettany), and their two children. WandaVision made a statement that Disney+ was here and ready to shake things up. Whether or not the streamer and its MCU programming have lived up to the hype is still up for discussion, but almost half a decade later WandaVision's legacy is still unquestionable. Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more.

Over 70 years have passed since the events of Killing Floor 2, and the Horzine Corporation continues finding new ways to make our lives miserable. Few things are worse than the relentless pursuit of Zeds, especially now they've been augmented into something worse, yet Killing Floor 3 refines the existing formula to deliver a significant leap over its predecessor. What's here so far feels flashier, stylish, and it's shaping up to be a bloody good time.Going hands-on before next week's closed beta test, I was joined by fellow critics and Tripwire's staff for some intense co-op matches. The Stronghold leaves a good first impression as your new base, letting you access facilities while exploring. It's a more immersive approach that doesn't place everything behind menus, though that remains an option for quick convenience. Once you're ready, choose your location and prepare to head out.Killing Floor 3 - Screenshots and SpecialistsSurvival remains your main goal, and the six specialists provide an appealing range of play styles to suit different tastes. Blasting through Zeds with a shotgun as the Engineer feels great, as does slicing them into finer pieces as the Ninja. I personally prefer giving Zeds a quick cremation with Firebug, each character has compelling perks and versatile loadouts at the start.Blasting through Zeds with a shotgun as the Engineer feels great, as does slicing them into finer pieces as the Ninja.Killing Floor 3 offers great evolutionary changes over Killing Floor 2, though it doesn't change the fact that defeating zombie waves is an idea done to the absolute death. You're still clearing through waves as they appear across a series of well-designed expansive maps, while stocking up on goods between missions from trading stations feels cleaner and more streamlined. The core idea remains intact while boasting significantly improved visuals, boosted further by welcome user interface changes.PlayTripwire's brought back the Massive Evisceration and Trauma system, or M.E.A.T., for added visual flair to these enjoyably brutal kills. Special abilities are useful in a pinch when Zeds suddenly surround you, though a lengthy cooldown means you can't rely on this too heavily. Dismembering heads and limbs alike soon becomes utter carnage with the suitably excessive blood splatter as you tear down these well varied enemies. Grotesque acid spewing Bloats still haunt these maps, Sirens are terrifying screamers, and who on earth thinks to give these cursed creatures a chainsaw?I'm also enjoying how Killing Floor 3 implements its light narrative through assignment challenges, something Tripwire aims to use for an evolving story. You can safely ignore these if all you want is plow through more hordes, yet giving you optional criteria to hit during a mission provides that little extra for those who'd like it. Granted, the endless hordes can become relatively irritating as you try searching for particular parts, though it's a welcome inclusion regardless.PlayI'm also pleased by the horde balancing depending on your team size; playing with a group of four or playing solo all feels adequately scaled. My big concern is that the action will become stale during longer sessions, so I'm pleased Tripwire's introduced gameplay modifiers that kick in across rounds.Changing criteria like ensuring only crawlers try to attack you ensures these threats remain sufficiently varied.Killing Floor 3Tripwire InteractiveMar 25, 2025There's a lot I've yet to see, so I'm hesitant to make any definitive calls yet on Killing Floor 3. The launch game features seven maps, three difficulty modes, six specialists and different levels for customizing your character, and Tripwire plans post-launch similar to Killing Floor 2. So far, I've only tried three maps and half the specialists, while the store didn't include finalized item pricing.Still, it's a promising start. Plowing through Zed hordes is nothing particularly new, yet Killing Floor 3 feels like it's doing enough to compellingly refresh this familiar format. Whether it can maintain that momentum long-term is another matter, but I'm ready for more when Killing Floor 3 launches on March 25 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. The closed beta kicks off next week from February 20 to February 24.

This Watson article contains spoilers.If youve heard anything at all about the new CBS medical-mystery series Watson, its probably that its similar to another Sherlock Holmes-inspired medical series, House. But comparing Watson to House is superficial at best because turning a Sherlock Holmes premise into a medical drama starring a quirky doctor isnt original to that famous show, either. That concept actually goes all the way back to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. What makes Watson such an interesting take on these characters is that it fuses the fiction of the Holmes stories with Doyles real biography.Created by Craig Sweeney, who also wrote many episodes of Elementary (as well as the recent Star Trek misfire Section 31), Watson initially seems like a departure from the canon as established by Doyle. Here, Dr. John Watson (Morris Chestnut) witnesses Holmes apparently die at the Reichenbach Falls, promptly inherits a fortune from Holmes will, and then sets up a super clinic in Pittsburgh staffed by various medical geniuses. The stated purpose of this clinic is fuzzy, but theres certainly a Star Trek-ish feel to the gang: brilliant twin brothers Stephens Croft and Adam Croft (Peter Mark Kendall), eccentric neurologist Ingrid Derian (Eve Harlow), and Sasha Lubbock (Inga Schlingmann), an immunologist with a touch of Southern charm.Rounding out the gang is Shinwell Johnson (Ritchie Coster), a former thug who eventually found himself in the employ of Sherlock Holmes. The name Shinwell Johnson comes from a vaguely similar character from the original Doyle short story The Adventure of the Illustrious Client, and the shows nods to the larger Holmes canon dont end there. Watson quotes the famous Holmes maxim in the pilot episode, When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth, and, by the end of the same episode, a new version of Moriarty is revealed.For those who loved Sherlock or Elementary, all these elements will seem vaguely familiar, a contemporary Holmes world, but now with references to the 2020s rather than the 2010s. Of course, the biggest difference here is that Watson is a Sherlock Holmes show without Sherlock. But this wrinkle doesnt make Watson unfaithful to the spirit of Conan Doyleinstead, it take the entire Holmes phenomenon back to its real-life roots.Before he became an author, Arthur Conan Doyle was a medical student. Somewhat famously, one of his teachers was an eccentric guy by the name of Dr. Joseph Bell, Joe to his friends. According to historical accounts, Bell physically looked nothing like his fictional cipher, Sherlock Holmes, but his powers of deductionnoticing certain types of mud on peoples shoesinspired Doyle in a myriad of ways.Later, when he became a practicing doctor himself, Doyle spent his free time writing. Eventually, this led to the publication of A Study in Scarlet in 1887. The birth of Holmes and Watson in that book saw Doyle essentially split his persona into two: both Holmes and Watson represented aspects of the writer but also a kind of hyper-fictionalized version of his own biography. Holmes, as a stand-in for Bell, was Doyles inner teacher, the part of him that retained Bells teachings and applied them not just to medicine but to crime fiction. Meanwhile, Watson was a slightly more heroic version of Doyle the doctor.Im not the first person to make this observation about how Doyle split sides of himself to create Holmes and Watson, nor is this practice altogether uncommon with great writers who created iconic duos. Nichelle Nichols pointed out in her 1995 memoir Beyond Uhura that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry put facets of himself into both Kirk and Spock, which, she noted, were then reconstituted into one character: Jean-Luc Picard. While that famous starship captain is just one artistic descendent of Sherlock Holmes, consolidating too much intellectual power in one hero can make for too perfect (read: dull) of a protagonist in the wrong hands. Doyle wisely gave Holmes his Watson, and its why the TV series Watson gives the good doctor his team of super-physicians.Yes, structurally, this makes the TV series appear more conventionalperhaps even trying to compete with the CSIs of the worldbut the power of the Holmes canon is that its not just about one guy showing off. Its about a partnership between two minds: Holmes the genius detective and Watson the writer who makes the impossible real. When Den of Geek spoke to Jude Law about Skeleton Crew last year, year, we got a second to chat some Doyle. That former Watson reminded us that the power of the Holmes stories rests with that character: Its a detail people forget, Law said. That the stories are being told by him.The series Watson may not be perfect. But it does understand this detail. The story of Sherlock Holmes has always been the story of Dr. Watson, too. Whether or not hes a reliable narrator is part of the game. And with this series, the game may seem different, but its still very much afoot.Watson airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

This Batman article contains spoilers.What defines Batman?As part of the Absolute Universe, the new DC Comics line that reimagines core characters, Absolute Batman frequently wrestles with this question. Creators Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta recreate Bruce Wayne into a hulking chunk of working class rage, raised by a single mother and without a massive fortune to fund his crusade. Even Alfred appears here not as a loyal butler but as a cold-hearted mercenary who takes an interest in Batmans actions.Each time Snyder and Dragotta reintroduce a familiar part of Batman lore, we should all pay attention. Absolute Batman #5 is no exception, as it brings in a new version of the familiar Bat-Signal, changing it into a statement of purpose for this radical take on the Dark Knight.A New LightAbsolute Batman #5 picks up on the cliffhanger from issue #3, with Batman seemingly giving in to a deal offered by Roman Sionis, aka the Black Mask. If Batman stops attacking Black Masks gang, the Animal Party, he will receive a payment of $200 million dollars to finance the future of his vigilante crusade.Half of the issue follows Batman and Sionis as they meet on a rooftop to seal their deal. The rest flashes back to the funeral of Thomas Wayne, where Jim Gordon offers his condolences to the boy. Imagined in the Absolute Universe as a beat cop who responded to the shooting instead of the GCPD commissioner, Gordon thinks he has good news to share with Bruce. He tells Bruce that the zoo where his father died is being torn down, so hell never again have to see that painful sight. When Bruce asks about its replacement, Gordons non-committal: I dont know. Something practical, Im sure.The two storylines come together late in the issue, when Batman reveals to Sionis that he took the money and has already put it to use. Dragotta expertly lays out five rows with panels of various lengths, creating tight, tension-building rhythm. In between close-ups of piles of cash, we see images of Sionis gleefully mocking Batman by speculating about potential purchases (Cars? Planes? Bat-computers?) and young Bruce and Gordon talking at the funeral.I dont want them to knock down the zoo, or turn it into something practical,' pleads Bruce. I want something there that makes everyone look. Like you said, something that shines.With that, we turn to a glorious splash page, Bruce bent forward, as if his heavy mitts pull him toward the ground, under a massive yellow oval in the sky. In the enter of the oval we see this Batmans chunky new logo.Working-Class HeroTraditionally, the Bat-signal exists as an extravagant form of communication, a way for Commissioner Gordon to call for the Batmans help. Sometimes, it also serves as a warning for evildoers, a point made in 2022s The Batman. Whatever the case, the Bat-signal stands as the most obvious of Batmans wonderful toys, meant to keep everyone in line.While Absolute Batman still has sympathetic police officers in the form of Gordon, his daughter Barbara, and even to an extent Harvey Bullock (now the commissioner and also ripped), this take on the Dark Knight isnt about maintaining social order. Sionis and the Animal Party represent the privileged classes, who can treat their city as a playground precisely because they get to hold others into place. Even the Joker, thus far only teased, is a figure of order instead of chaos, while other traditional villainsincluding Riddler, Killer Croc, and the Penguinare now old pals who grew up with Bruce in Crime Alley.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!This moral perspective drives Snyder and Dragottas heavy metal take on the Caped Crusader. A gigantic figure who pounds through walls and pulls his insignia from his chest to make a massive axe, Batman fights for justice by sowing anarchy, well aware of how the powers that be allowed his fathers murder.For this Batman, then, the Bat-signal doesnt warn the baddies to stay inside or support the police force. It disrupts the darkness to spark hope. It breaks up the sky in a blaze of chaotic justice.Burning For JusticePerhaps the most important moment in the Bat-signals debut isnt the way that Bruce used the cash to put his symbol on the light. Its when the heat from the signal lights the cash on fire, publicly burning the money away.The burning cash underscores the central conflict between Batman and Black Mask (The only hero of this story is money! Sionis gloats). It also makes Batman more inspirational than ever before. If Batman doesnt need money to do good, then neither do we. And if money burns away, then the power it gives Sionis and other villains (real or imagine) does, too.When the Absolute Bat-Signal hits the skies, we know that Batmans out there fighting for justice. And we know we can all fight with him. And thats what defines Batman.Absolute Batman #5 is out now.

FromSoftware bosses? Now were talking!Exactly. At the end of every day, youll battle a boss that will reward you with loot that will (presumably) make it easier to survive. At the end of the third night, youll face off against a Nightlord. Beat that boss to earn semi-permanent character boosts (more on those later). One of the coolest things about Nightreign is that it features bosses from several FromSoftwares games, including Elden Ring (including Margit and Demi-Human Queen) and the Dark Souls series (hello, Nameless King!). If youre a fan of Froms boss fights, youll be in heaven.Are there bosses from any of FromSoftwares other game?Unfortunately, From has only confirmed bosses from the Dark Souls games and Elden Ring, but I think were all really hoping to see some bosses from Sekiro and maybe another game that isnt on Xbox (I think you know which one). I will say that I feel confident that we wont see any bosses from the Armored Core series.So, if youre not making your own character, who are you playing as?Before each session, players will choose a Nightfarer, each of which has their own abilities and own set of skills. Each Nightfarer also has an ultimate power that could be categorized as damage, defense, or utility. Figuring out how ultimates work together and timing them is one of the most rewarding parts of the game. Whats more, players can choose to be three different Nightfarers or go with two or even three of the same ones. As you might imagine, there are benefits and drawbacks to each, so it pays to work together and communicate.What sort of character types did you play with?While there will be eight different Nightfarers in the final game when it releases in May, the network test will feature three:Wylder, whose well-balanced abilities and straightforward playstyle make him the most accessible Nightfarer for new players.Guardian, an eagle-headed warrior thats a defensive specialist and can knock enemies back and deploy a barrier.Recluse, a highly skilled magic user that is the most challenging to use but by far the most rewarding once you get good.Wylder and Guardian will feel familiar to Elden Ring and Souls fan, especially because they use weapons and shields. Recluse on the other hand, breaks the mold set by magic-wielding characters in those games.So, Recluse cant just cast spells and refill her FP whenever it gets low?See, thats where things get interesting. While Recluse can indeed cast spells and launch magic attacks, refilling your FP isnt that easy. Rather than simply popping a potion, youll need to collect attribute marks from enemies that appear whenever they are hit with magic, fire, lightning, or holy attacks. Once you collect four marks, you can unleash a powerful attack thats different depending on the types of marks. She can also use the Song of the Blood Soul ultimate to mark enemies, allowing her squad mates to recover HP and FP by attacking. I can see high-level Recluse players being a hot commodity since she can make the whole team better.So how does an average match start?Before you even dive into a session, youll find yourself hanging out in the Roundtable Hold, which has gotten some renovations since last we saw it. The biggest addition is a sparring area featuring dummies you can practice on. Youll be able to change a variety of parameters like your character level, amount of stamina, damage dealt, etc. Its a nice way to practice outside of a session. Anyway, once youre ready to dive in, youll launch an expedition and be placed into matchmaking. After the game has found you two other players, youll each be given 10 seconds to choose your Nightfarer. From there, youll be deployed into Limveld.