On Sunday night, language-learning app Duolingo's mascot Duo cheerfully mocked the (metaphorical) death of rapper Drake during Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance, posting a crude animation with the caption, "drake after attending his own funeral on national tv."But two days later, it was the green cartoon owl who ended up dead, murdered by Duolingo's marketing team.In a mock-somber social-media post, the language app company announced Duo's death, writing, "Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death and we are cooperating fully. Tbh, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know."The post, which appeared on multiple platforms, mentioned that Duo, "Formally known as The Duolingo Owl," had "many enemies." Duolingo then posted a memorial, referring to the mascot as Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo. "In lieu of flowers, please do a Duolingo lesson," the company wrote. A TikTok video showed other mascots transporting a coffin containing the owl onto a pickup truck.In another post, Duolingo said, "UPDATE: Officials have identified cause of death. More details to follow. Thank you for holding space for Dualingo."Read more:Best Language Learning Apps for 2025The blitz of posts drew attention from internet meme-makers, who speculated on how the death came to be, and brands including Baskin Robbins and Cheez-It as well as the game Halo and streamer Netflix acknowledged the fictional passing, the latter with a Squid Game tie-in. The Monster Hunter game franchise tried to take credit for the death in its own post.Perhaps most bizarrely (or sweetly, depending on your point of view), pop star Dua Lipa posted: "Til' death duo part" with a broken-heart emoji. Dua Lipa previously appeared in a video with the mascot and was, in this fictional narrative, perhaps dating the owl. In the death notice, Duolingo wrote, "We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa's privacy at this time."While the online world awaits answers for what caused Duo's death (besides priceless marketing attention), the parts of the internet in on the joke will continue to mourn while others ask, in owl-like fashion: "Who?"In 2020, another brandfamously killed off its mascot: Mr. Peanut was roasted by Planters in an ad that ran before that year's Super Bowl. Mr. Peanut's death didn't last long, however; he wasresurrected as a baby nutin an ad that ran during the game. Watch this: Barn owl vs. DJI drone: Which is the ultimate flyer? 02:04

Our Experts Written by Scott Stein Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement How we test I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future. Expertise VR and AR | Gaming | Metaverse technologies | Wearable tech | Tablets Credentials Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps See full bio Table of Contents I've looked at VR and AR headsets for well over a decade, from Google Glass and the first demos of the Oculus Rift to peeks at the future of AR glasses and Android XR. Right now, VR has settled down to just a few players: Meta, Apple, Sony, Valve, HTC and Pico, with Google's looming Android XR partnership with Samsung waiting in the wings. In the world of AR and smart glasses, there could be a lot of changes coming: the Xreal One glasses, for instance, or the promise of Meta's Orion project.But right now, VR is extremely good -- and still limited in how much it can do. I find my own use of VR headsets bouncing between Meta's Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro. But it's pretty clear there's one great VR headset pick of the moment, and it comes in two differently priced flavors. Our Picks Best overall VR headset Meta Quest 3 View details $500 at Walmart View details Best affordable VR headset Meta Quest 3S View details $299 at Amazon View details Best high-end console gaming VR headset with PC benefits PlayStation VR 2 View details $504 at Amazon View details Best standalone VR/AR computer The Apple Vision Pro View details $3,499 at Apple View details Best Steam VR hardware Valve Index View details $999 at Steam View details Table of Contents What's the best VR headset overall?TheMeta Quest 3offers mixed reality and improved display resolution and optics, and is $500 -- $3,000 less than theApple Vision Pro. However, the newer Meta Quest 3S, a lower-cost version of the Quest 3 for $300, is an even better buy for entry-level VR adopters. I prefer the Quest 3, but there are plenty of people who will find the 3S to be a great choice for its price.The Quest 3 and 3S both have newer, faster Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processors that produce better graphics and allow for higher-res color pass-through camera feeds than the Quest 2, and both have redesigned controllers. Both can create mixed reality effects by blending what the cameras see with VR graphics that are overlaid in the headset to look like AR. The Quest 3 has better lenses and a higher display resolution, but I prefer the feel of the Quest 3S eyepiece on my face, and the 3S also seems to have slightly better hand tracking in low light.The Quest platform has plenty of side benefits: It has hundreds of games and creative or productivity apps, and several great fitness programs for effective cardio workouts. It can connect to PCs and even double as a work device if you have some patience. It also has hand tracking that works without controllers, but controllers are included to give you two input options. The Quests can even play spatial 3D videos shot on newer iPhones.Best VR headsets of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $500 at Walmart Pros Crisp high-res displays Improved new processor Mixed reality with better color cameras Smaller controllers with better haptics Cons More expensive than Quest 2 Few unique apps and games at launch Straps and comfort still aren't great Still only 2-3 hours battery life Display LCD, 2,064x2,208 pixels per eyeEye tracking NoProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2Works with glasses Yes Full Review Read full review

February 12, 20255 min readThe Most Energetic Neutrino Ever Seen Makes a Mediterranean SplashA ghost particle discovered by a detector in the Mediterranean carried 30 times more energy than any neutrino observed to dateBy Meghan Bartels edited by Lee BillingsThe highest-energy cosmic neutrino detected to date was observed by KM3NeT, which sits at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily, Italy and Provence, France. DKosig/Getty Images (Elements of this illustration furnished by NASA)For the fishes swimming deep in a particular patch of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sicily in the wee hours of February 13, 2023, it was a night like any otherat least until a sudden azure shimmer, invisible to human eyes, shot through the dark water. The event signaled something extraordinary: the detection of the most energetic particle of its kind that has been measured to date.The flash was the calling card of a cosmic neutrino, a tiny and typically mild-mannered ghost particle, so named because of its astronomical unlikelihood of interacting with the ordinary matter that makes up our world. A neutrino might pass through a light-year of lead unscathed. And each second some 100 trillion of these particles (most of which have been emitted by our sun) pass through your body. That makes them difficult to catchbut also potent messengers of otherwise-occluded astrophysical processes at work in the opaque hearts of stars and the dust-darkened cores of galaxies.This ones discovery and characterization comes from a predominantly European collaboration dubbed KM3NeT, a sprawling neutrino telescope that is still under construction and that, once fully built, will use about a cubic kilometer of instrument-laced Mediterranean seawater as the basis of its two distinct detectors. Yet even in its incomplete state, the project has delivered a stunning resulta neutrino that likely hails from beyond the galaxy and that contains unprecedented power.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Its in a completely unexplored region of energy, 30 times higher than any previous observation of neutrinos, said Paschal Coyle, a neutrino physicist at the French National Center for Scientific Research and a member of the KM3NeT team, during a press conference about the research that was held on Tuesday.Three KM3NeT Digital Optical Modules (DOM). Each module consists of two glass half spheres filled with all needed electronics, power, and 31 light-sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PMTs).Durk Gardenier/Alamy Stock PhotoOf KM3NeTs two detectors, one is dedicated to more mundane atmospheric neutrinos. The other, dubbed ARCA, is located under nearly 3.5 kilometers of water off the coast of Sicily and is designed to detect astrophysical neutrinos by observing the debris of their rare interactions with water molecules.These things have so much energythey hit so hardthat you get this really enormous spray of particles, says Kate Scholberg, a physicist at Duke University, who studies neutrinos but was not involved in the new research. It doesnt interact much, but when it does, it makes a gigantic, spectacular splash of all kinds of particles spraying everywhere. And its the light from those particles that you see.When the newly discovered neutrino hit, ARCA was observing with just 21 of its planned 230 detection lines. The neutrino bashed into a water molecule outside the detector, creating a burst of particles, including a high-energy muona type of subatomic particle thats similar to an electron but 200 times heavier. That muon then created its own fragmentary debris, sparking a ripple of telltale pale blue photons dubbed Cherenkov radiation that passed over ARCAs instruments. By analyzing that light, physicists were able to reconstruct the muons submarine path, estimate the energy of the original neutrino and pinpoint its origins to a particular region of space.Two visualizations show detectors responding to photons generated along the path of a high-energy muon observed in February 2023 by the KM3NeT detector off the coast of Sicily. On the left is a side-on view of the event; on the right is a bird's eye view.KM3NeTThe researchers estimate that the neutrinos energy was on the order of 220 peta electron volts, more than 30 times higher than the most energetic neutrino detected prior to the new observations. To help people conceptualize it during the press conference, Aart Heijboer, a physicist at the Nikhef National Institute for Subatomic Physics in the Netherlands and a co-author of the new research, offered the image of a Ping-Pong ball dropping about one meter in Earths gravity. The newly detected neutrino held about that much energy packed into a single subatomic particle, he said. Or one can compare it with the fiercest particle accelerators scientists have built: This is about 1,000 times more energetic than anything we could produce on Earth, says Bryan Ramson, a neutrino physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, who was not involved in the new research.The detection is tantalizing, but it also poses more questions than it answers. KM3NeT is joining a long-running neutrino telescope called IceCube that has been gathering data from near the South Pole since 2011. IceCube was designed to catch this sort of high-energy neutrino just as effectively as KM3NeT, but its current record-holding observation carried just one thirtieth of the energy of KM3NeTs new find, which has raised eyebrows among some experts.My first impression is that this is very unexpected. And how can this be possible without IceCube having seen something [similar] before? says Ignacio Taboada, a physicist at the Georgia Institute of Technology and current spokesperson of the IceCube collaboration.In addition, the KM3NeT scientists were unable to pin their high-energy neutrino to a particular source. The researchers scanned the small patch of sky from which the neutrino likely came but saw no smoking gun such as a type of active galactic nucleus called a blazaran immediate suspect for celestial shenanigans that scientists expect could create such a powerful particle. That could mean the neutrino may have instead come from a superspeedy cosmic ray that careened off a photon of extragalactic background light or from the cosmic microwave background, the researchers argue.This event is weird; I think that is a good takeaway.Such esoteric possibilities make studying astrophysical neutrinos vexingly complicated but are also a major part of why scientists are drawn to study them in the first place. Most astronomical observations remain tethered to photonsyet photons can easily be blocked. In contrast, neutrinos ghostly nature means they travel unimpeded in a straight line over vast distances, offering a different lens on the universe that even looks back to its earliest days. With light, theres a limit on how far you can look, Ramson saysnamely, the photonic fog of the cosmic microwave background, emitted some 380,000 years after the big bang. Neutrinos are one way you can sort of pierce that veil and look further back than ever before.Whether scientists are on the brink of piercing that veil depends on whether KM3NeT continues to make stunning observations like the 2023 detection and whether IceCube can match it after going so long with no sightings of such high-energy particles. Right now, the apparent discord in the detectors sightings is confusing, to say the least. They might have just gotten lucky; its hard to tell, Scholberg says. Its very intriguing, and it clearly means that we need more data.Taboada agrees that the detection in hand is tantalizing but that neutrino scientists need more observations to know how to interpret KM3NeTs catch. If it were to prove an astrophysical neutrino, that would be monumental, Taboada says. But he wants to see more. This event is weird; I think that is a good takeaway, he says. It is unexpected, more or less whichever way you look at it.

Wallace & Gromit are trading claymation for spray-mation on 4th March, when the beloved duo gets the muck-blasting PowerWash Simulator treatment in a new paid DLC. Read more

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeover sparked by both companies failing to buy TikTok, Kotick says"If the deal doesn't get done, we should sit down and talk."Image credit: Activision / TikTok / Eurogamer News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Feb. 12, 2025 Former Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick has shared the conversation he had with Microsoft boss Satya Nadella that would later lead to Xbox buying the Call of Duty maker for $67.8bn.Speaking on the Grit podcast, Kotick recalled being involved in discussions around the sale of TikTok during US president Trump's first administration, back in 2020.At the time, Kotick was himself interested in a bid to buy the smartphone social media giant. But, as has been widely reported, Microsoft was the frontrunner."Trump administration 1, they banned TikTok," Kotick said. "Microsoft was the only bidder. "I know the founder of ByteDance [Zhang Yiming] pretty well, he's a great guy... So I called Yiming and I said 'would you rather have Microsoft or rather have me?' He said 'I'd probably rather have you'."Seemingly aware that even his pockets weren't big enough to outbid Microsoft, Kotick claims he floated an alternative option - that he and the Xbox owner share ownership of TikTok."I said it may be tough to pull it all together and I don't know that I have all the resources to do what will need to be done," Kotick continued. "Like, we don't have top secret security clearances with the government, I don't know what the National Security issues are going to be."According to Kotick, Yiming said he should discuss the matter with Microsoft boss Satya Nadella. And it was during that next phone call that the idea of Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard was floated."So I called Satya and I said 'I don't want to bid against you, it would be great if we were partners in this, I think we're more of a consumer company than you are and I think I know a little bit more about social media than you do. We should do this together'," Kotick said."[Nadella] said 'look, we're further ahead than you, I don't even know if this deal is going to get done, I don't need a partner in this one'. And [then] he said, 'but if the deal doesn't get done, we should sit down and talk about us buying Activision."And the rest is history: Microsoft did not buy TikTok at the time, but did eventually buy Activision Blizzard, after a lengthy anti-competition process.Roll forward five years, and TikTok is once again banned, and Microsoft is once again the frontrunner to purchase it.But has Kotick given up his goal to own a piece of TikTok? When asked, the former CEO suggested he was not able to disclose the current situation: "I can't really talk about it," he concluded.Kotick's wide-ranging interview also includes the eyebrow-raising claim by him that the various harassment lawsuits Activision Blizzard faced were "fake" and simply a "plan" to drive up union membership.

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 new Marvel Rivals 20250214 patch drops on February 13, 2025, at 9AM UTC. Bringing a host of changes to the popular superhero multiplayer game, NetEases latest update fixes a host of core issues with the title.In the latest Marvel Rivals 20250214 patch notes, the game developer revealed key fixes coming to the game in the next update. Alongside the newly announced Valentines Day skins for Mr Fantastic and Invisible Woman, the game is getting a host of new fixes.Marvel Rivals 20250214 patch notesYou can find the full Marvel Rivals 20250214 patch notes right here:All-New CostumesMister Fantastic & Invisible Woman 60th Wedding Anniversary Combo Bundle (Store release: 2025/02/14 02:00:00 UTC+0)Mister Fantastic The Life Fantastic (Store release: 2025/02/14 02:00:00 UTC+0)Invisible Woman The Life Fantastic (Store release: 2025/02/14 02:00:00 UTC+0)Bug FixesAll PlatformsGeneralHigh-end computers running the Bazzite (Linux) system were mistakenly tapping into low-quality UI resources. Fear notthis issue has been rmd!Maps and GameplayResolved an issue where if you scored KOs during overtime and the battle concluded at that moment, the KDA tab might not have shown its true colors. Now every victory is honored!Corrected an issue where the Yggdrasill Path cart icon in the Convoy tutorial was a bit off-target. Your heroic journey can now continue with clarity!A heroic sweep has been performed to fix various map collisions that could trap players or allow them to slip through walls unexpectedly. Your path to glory is now cleared!Hero Bug FixesDoctor Stranges Portal Power: Fixed an issue where Doctor Stranges portal could be interrupted during the placement phase if an allied Loki transformed into him. The Sorcerer Supremes magic now flows uninterrupted!Jeff the Land Sharks Bubble Trouble: Resolved a quirky situation where Jeffs bubbles could, in rare instances, sneak past enemy healing gates into the spawn room. No more bubble bath break-ins!Iron Mans Armless Attack: Addressed a tech malfunction where Iron Mans arm models could go missing after activating Armor Overdrive in certain rare scenarios. The suits back in actionfully equipped to blast into battle!Hulk & Wolverines Team-Up Trouble: Fixed a little mischief where because of their Team-Up Ability, Wolverines Berserk Claw Strike could, under certain situations, be activated during Feral Leap. Now, there will be no more mix-ups!Hulks Charge Hiccup: Resolved a Team-Up Ability bug where if Hulk was hit by Namors ultimate when charging to throw Wolverine, he wouldnt be thrown afterward. Now, the power duo can deliver a one-two punch without any interruptionsHulk smash, Wolverine slash!ConsoleFixed an issue where the PS controller could experience drift in certain specific situations.The second half of Season 1 is coming soon! Expect new heroes, a new map, and balance adjustments. Stay tuned for the latest updates from the official announcements!Source: NetEaseMarvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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 Marvel Rivals players will soon get an opportunity to obtain a new bundle of cosmetic items. NetEase will release new cosmetics on Thursday night. These items will be available as a bundle, but they will also be purchasable separately.In this article, we will take a detailed look at the upcoming cosmetics, including their exact release and time, price, all the items included in the bundle, and more.When will new Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic skins come to Marvel Rivals?NetEase will release the 60th Wedding Anniversary bundle on Thursday at 9 PM Eastern Time. The bundle, which celebrates the most popular couple in the game, will cost 2,800 Units. It includes two costumes along with a couple of other cosmetic items. Here is everything thats included in the bundle: 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. Invisible Woman costume The Life FantasticMr. Fantastic costume The Life FantasticMVP animationTwo nameplatesTwo spraysTwo emotesMr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman will get new costumes in Marvel Rivals. Image by VideoGamerFor those who dont want to purchase the entire bundle, the skins will be sold separately. The new Invisible Woman skin is Legendary and will cost 2,200 Units. It includes an MVP animation, a nameplate, a spray, and an emote. Considering how popular this Fantastic Four character has been in Marvel Rivals so far, this may end up being one of the hottest-selling items.Mr. Fantastics new costume will also cost 2,200 Units and will also include all the extra items. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Its important to note that this is not the only content that will come to the popular video game this month. On February 21, NetEase will release two more Fantastic Four characters: The Thing and Human Torch. Judging by previous characters, these new heroes should have at least four different costumes available on their release date.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Live from New Yorkwere going behind the SNL sets. The iconic sketch comedy show, created by Lorne Michaels, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025. SNL first premiered on October 11, 1975, with George Carlin as the host. Though the sketches, hosts, and musical guests have changed every week since, adapting to reflect the culture the show so often skewers, and the cast has evolved over the years (with the likes of Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, and more going on to have illustrious post-SNL careers), filming has taken place at Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City since the very beginning.In a new video for AD, cast members Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, and Chloe Fineman lead a tour through the iconic space, showing off the hair, makeup, and wardrobe departments, backstage hallways, and even Gardners personal dressing room, an explosion of neon lights and quirky memorabilia she says is basically my 16-year-old bedroom.Along with two members of the shows production design team, Joe DeTullio and Akira Leo Yoshimura (the latter has worked on the show since the very beginning), the comedians reveal some little-known facts about the inner-workings of the SNL sets. Below, we recap the most interesting bitsso read on to brush up before you tune in to watch a slew of special guests including Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, Tom Hanks, and more descend on Studio 8H for SNL50: The Anniversary Special on February 16.The main stage has changed, but the same clock has hung on the set for 50 yearsSally Field gives her monologue during a 1993 episode.Photo: Gene Page/NBC/NBCU Photo BankEach week, the host delivers a monologue from a stage known among the cast and crew as home base. Today, it is decorated to resemble Grand Central Terminal, but it has had many different iterations over the years. I believe the very first home base that we did in 75 was to represent a comedy club in New York in the basement of a West Village brownstone, says Yoshimura. The important thing is, its about New York. Over the years, the stage has been decorated like a brownstone, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more, but the production designers feel that the Grand Central stage nails it. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice a fake window, decorated as if it is a shoe shining shop, with an old wood clock in it. This clock has hung in the sets for all 50 years, and is the official timekeeper of the production. There is an old stage hand named Joe Riley who goes in and makes sure every Saturday that the clock is telling the exact right time and also that the clock is wound, says Yoshimura.Multiple sketches are performed on the same stages each nightKevin Nealon and David Spade at the Weekend Update desk in 1992.Photo: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank

The close, almost familial relationship between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the most powerful man in the world is no small matter when it comes to a companys interests especially when that man is Donald Trump, who is known for rewarding loyalty with personal favors and for not considering potential conflicts of interest. However, when the spotlight fades and the campaign confetti settles, investors turn to the one place they can usually find certainty: the companys income statement and future expectations. This is proving to be the biggest vulnerability of Tesla, the weakest link in the Magnificent Seven Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla. Now, the company is on the brink of exiting the trillion-dollar club.Tesla has endured two months that it would prefer to forget. Since its peak on December 17, the stock price has lost 31.5% of its value, while the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq have remained virtually flat during the same period. This trend of underperformance, which already pushed Tesla into the red for 2025, accelerated following the release of disappointing results at the end of January. Total revenue grew by 2% in the fourth quarter, but it was only slightly positive thanks to its energy storage and generation business, while revenue from its vehicles dropped by 8%, a decline the company attributed to price cuts on its Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X cars.Its hard to find any improving metrics. Over the past three months, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) totaled $1.58 billion, well below the consensus estimate of $2.7 billion, and the net margin was 6.2%, falling short of the expected 9.9%. Profit for 2024 dropped 53%, falling to $7.09 billion. This has led to a sharp downward adjustment of expectations. The profit forecast for 2025, based on the analysts' consensus compiled by Bloomberg, has been cut by 30%, from the $14.73 billion predicted 12 months ago to the current estimate of $10.24 billion. Revenue expectations have also been reduced by 14%, from $132.8 billion to the $113.47 billion now anticipated by the market.The recalculation comes as Tesla trades at multiples far higher than its direct competitors. The stock is valued at 120 times projected 2025 earnings, compared to nine times for Toyota, six times for Ford, and four times for Volkswagen. Teslas market capitalization of just over $1 trillion is three times that of these three rivals combined. This indicates that the market still believes that Teslas growth potential is much greater. However, this demanding valuation more typical of a start-up than a veteran company leaves Tesla vulnerable to sharp declines if it fails to meet forecasts or faces unforeseen challenges.The results were far from spectacular in fact, quite the opposite but they were enough to sustain the stock market rally, thanks to Musks promises of a more prosperous future. He painted a vision of an epic 2026 and ridiculously good 2027 and 2028, in his own words. A new business venture will play a key role in this optimistic outlook. Musk announced that, starting in June, Tesla will begin testing a paid service for its autonomous cars in Austin, Texas, where there are no regulations preventing it. By the end of the year, the service will expand to many regions across the U.S., with plans for nationwide operation by 2026.While investors wait to see the returns on Teslas latest gamble, theyve been focused on other troubling data. Teslas sales in Europe took a significant hit in January, with declines of 59% in Germany, 63% in France, 75% in Spain, 44% in Sweden, and 38% in Norway. Whats particularly concerning is that these drops occurred in a market that is growing overall, meaning Tesla is losing market share. In Germany, where Tesla has its only European factory, its market share has fallen from 14% to just 4%.The reasons behind this decline remain unclear. Some analysts suggest the launch of the new Model Y, expected in the first half of the year, could be a factor. According to this theory, many customers may be delaying their purchase in anticipation of the new model rather than choosing from the current lineup. However, its difficult to believe this is the sole explanation. Others point to the reputational damage Tesla may be suffering due to Musks increasing political activism, which has cast a shadow over the companys public image.Musks support for Trump has propelled him to the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is tasked with slashing federal spending as much as possible. However, as expected, the South African-born tycoon hasnt confined himself to simply carrying out this work quietly. His political involvement has grown significantly week by week. The turning point came with his endorsement of the far-right AfD in the German elections on February 23, which included an interview with the partys leader.This increasing political activism, now extending beyond U.S. borders, has turned the Tesla leader into a polarizing figure. Musk still has a significant following, but the backlash against him is intensifying. On social media, this is reflected in the mass migration of users from the Musk-owned X to Bluesky. In the automotive industry, the impact could manifest in customers choosing rival brands instead.In the green since Trumps victoryDespite the recent poor performance, Teslas share price is still up more than 30% compared to its value before Trumps election victory. This is positive news for those who invested earlier, but less so for those who jumped on the bandwagon more recently, as the Trump effect could continue to deflate if the autonomous car division fails to meet expectations.The automotive industry wont be immune to the effects of Trumps trade policy, which has already imposed tariffs on aluminum, steel, and China. Teslas sales in China, for instance, dropped by 11.5% in January compared to the previous year. In the Asian market, Tesla also faces intense competition from BYD, which, unlike Tesla, is moving with the current and saw a 47.5% increase in sales during the first month of the year, including both hybrids and electric vehicles.According to an analysis by Rico Luman, an ING economist specializing in transportation, Trumps tariffs could have a tremendous impact on the automotive sector. The U.S. sells far more new vehicles than it produces, and auto supply chains are among the most internationally integrated. Therefore, import levies will quickly lead to higher costs and pressure on prices.Musk, however, doesnt seem particularly concerned. Despite running a company like Tesla currently the eighth-largest in the world by market capitalization Musk isnt slowing down. In addition to his new role as a government advisor under Trump and his commitments across his various ventures (including xAI, X.com, Neuralink, SpaceX, and The Boring Company), Musk is now pursuing an offer of nearly $100 billion to acquire OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, from his longtime rival, Sam Altman.Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAS USA Edition

Second TrilogyTomb Raider 4-6 Remastered happened because "it just didn't feel right" to do 4 and push the other entries aside, Aspyr saysIt was a chance to make things right.Image credit: VG247 Article by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on Feb. 12, 2025 Core Design's Tomb Raider games were (and still are) an odd bunch. After the critical success of the original trilogy, which Aspyr brought back with a strong remastered re-release last year, Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation did well enough, and then Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness crashed the IP (and the studio) until Crystal Dynamics came along. However, Aspyr says the plan always was to refresh all of them with Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.We talked to Jordon Reese, Product Manager at Aspyr, to learn a bit more about the company's approach to a bumpier second set of games and what the vision behind the entire effort was. So far, we're fairly confident this second remastered collection will be every bit as carefully crafted as the first one.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The following Q&A has been editorialized, trimmed, and rearranged for clarity and cohesion."From the start, we always envisioned giving fans the complete classic Tomb Raider experience, encompassing all six of the original Core Design games. However, the overwhelmingly positive response to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered truly solidified our commitment to this vision," Reese explained. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered exceeded expectations last year according to Embracer, which definitely explains this second collection being fast-tracked... as well as the excitement surrounding the Soul Reaver 1+2 remaster that arrived back in December.Reese added the reception was "a powerful reminder of how much these games really mean to this passionate community," which pushed the dev team "to tell a complete narrative." While Aspyr acknowledges that the fifth and sixth entries aren't nearly as beloved, the company also decided this was the perfect the opportunity to improve them as much as possible while keeping the original vision alive. "It just didn't feel right coming from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered to only do IV," the product manager added. Image credit: AspyrWhile we wait for the next Tomb Raider to be unveiled, all eyes are set on the upcoming TV show from Amazon and this new remastered collection. Needless to say, the OG Tomb Raider fans are extremely protective of Lara Croft and the IP as a whole. In fact, many of them would argue returning to Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness is a waste of time for everyone involved. How does Aspyr plan to win them over while inviting fresh newcomers into Lara Croft's "darkest adventures"?"The pressure that we feel is self-imposed as we're trying to bring these games back into the market for both veteran gamers and gamers today," Reese confirmed to us. If you're familiar with Aspyr's remasters, they're known for being quite traditional. Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles is only the latest example, and it sounds like the company will be sticking to that approach for the foreseeable: "Our primary focus with these titles is to both preserve the original look and feel while giving gamers something additional to be excited about with updated graphics and functionality." Image credit: AspyrCore Design is, of course, no more, but what about Crystal Dynamics? Have they lent a hand to ensure consistency across all Tomb Raider games, old and new? Aspyr admits they're "a collaborative effort throughout," suggesting communication has been fluid from start to finish, and that also includes the Tomb Raider I-III remasters."We work closely with Crystal Dynamics to make sure we're keeping true to the original vision of the game while also adding enhancements where we can. It's of the utmost importance to maintain the visual tone and style of these original classics so working with the IP holder helps make sure we're hitting that mark." This also includes the Embracer Group, the current rights holder, while Crystal Dynamics is the studio actively developing Lara Croft's upcoming all-new adventure.Veterans fans might also remember, even if they haven't replayed these installments as many times as the first three, that things get very weird very fast, presenting a number of challenges during the transformation into retro games with a more modern sensibility. This affects level and character design across the board, and I asked Reese about such difficulties. The secret to getting it right? Going back and forth on many elements and tweaking things until it all comes together: "We spend many hours fine-tuning color, lighting, ambiance, and fidelity so the experience were providing is the experience people remember from all those years ago." But, you know, less blocky and pixelated. Image credit: AspyrOn the matter of how these three revisited entries will actually play in 2025, we've yet to experience the results for ourselves, but considering how Aspyr has improved middling releases with a cult following in the past (and we're talking about other IPs here), we're optimistic about a positive reevaluation of Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness thanks to this second trip down memory lane with Ms. Croft.Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is coming to PC (Steam, Epic Games, and GOG), PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S plus One, and Nintendo Switch on February 14.