After working on every GTA title since Grand Theft Auto 3 in 2001, producer and game designer Leslie Benzies left Rockstar Games after the release of Grand Theft Auto 5. Over a decade later, Benzies is set to release his new game, MindsEye, later this year as seen during Sony's State of Play. And if the new trailer is any indication, MindsEye is going to be an action game with some sci-fi touches. MindsEye puts players in control of Jacob Diaz, an ex-soldier who has a neural implant called The MindsEye placed in his head even after his military service has ended. The MindsEye is also giving Jacob visions of a covert mission he can't quite remember that may have changed his life for the worse. But as Jacob goes looking for answers, he finds himself beset by an unknown faction that's out to silence him with extreme prejudice.As seen in the accompanying gameplay trailer below, MindsEye takes place from a third-person perspective, and GTA fans will probably be right at home as Jacob uses any means necessary to take out his foes. He can even get in cars and engage in shootouts from behind the wheel. Jacob also has a companion drone that he can use to scout enemy positions and give himself an edge in combat.Continue Reading at GameSpot

After its rapid ascent in the 1980s and dominance of the 1990s, the JRPG has ascended to one of the most popular genres in the entire video game industry. And, while many of them adhere to simple, long-held design philosophies that still work, a few JRPGs over the years have attempted to be something a bit different.

Returnal developer Housemarque just unveiled a brand new game called Saros, and it appears to be a strong evolution of the studio's last few titles while offering its own new spin. Although fans enjoyed Returnal when it was released, the PlayStation 5 is in a new era of its life cycle. Now that Housemarque has taken plenty of time between releases, it seems like the next game from the developer may be worth the wait.

Todays State of Play included new game reveals, fresh looks at upcoming titles, confirmation of several release dates and more! We want to get you straight into the headlines of the show, so without further preambleYoull find the show in full ready to rewatch below. Underneath that, we recap the individual announcements, featuring full trailers for each, and game creators share more insights into their titles through a selection of new PS Blog posts.Play VideoPlay VideoBorderlands 4Gearbox shone the spotlight on its upcoming looter-shooter Borderlands 4, confirming its PS5 release forSeptember 23. The new trailer gives insight into the intense action, devastating Action Skills, and all-new movement abilities that await you on the planet Kairos. As mentioned in the trailers outro, the full Borderlands 4 gameplay reveal will debut during a State of Play coming later this spring.Gearbox introduces whats new to the series in a dedicated PS Blog post.Play VideoDarwins Paradox!In this puzzle platformer releasing 2025 on PS5, take on the role of Darwin, an octopus snatched from the sea and thrust into a mysterious food factory. Darwin has all of the evolutionary features of an octopus including the ability to climb almost any surface, camouflage himself, and also the skill to shoot ink to evade his enemies.Find out how DualSense controller features will immerse you in the life of an octopus.Play VideoDave the Diver: Ichibans HolidayIts a partnership thats sure to make a splash: Dave the Diver is joining forces with Like a Dragon. Kasuga Ichiban decides to take a well-deserved break at the Blue Hole and stumbles upon a dolphin-poaching syndicate, forcing Ichiban and Dave to dive into action. Be ready for karaoke, beatem up style infiltration and familiar faces when the DLC launches this April on PS5 and PS4.Mintrocket shares more details on the DLC how a fateful meeting at Tokyo Game Show led to the crossover.Play VideoDays Gone RemasteredDays Gone Remastered rides onto PlayStation 5 April 25, 2025, and is brought to new life with improved graphical fidelity, Tempest 3D Audio, and DualSense features. Theres also new content, including survival arcade mode Horde Assault, Permadeath mode and more. Owners of the PS4 and PC versions can upgrade for $10USD.Bend Studio discusses more about the remaster, including a post-launch Speedrun mode.Play VideoDigimon Time StrangerThe latest installment in the Digimon Story series, Digimon Story Time Stranger, is set to release in 2025 on PlayStation 5. In this JRPG, players will travel between the human world and the fantastic realms of the Digital World, and features an improved battle system, fan-favorite characters like Agumon and Omegamon, as well as other Digimon in brand new roles.Get the first story and gameplay details from Bandai Namco.Play VideoDirective 8020Watch the brave astronauts of the Cassiopeia embark on a deadly mission to save humanity, where every choice could be their last, in a new exclusive story trailer. Supermassive Games also announced an October 2 release date for its sci-fi horror.Youll need every tool in your arsenal to survive the claustrophobic, stranded wreck of the Cassiopeia. Supermassive Games explain how in a new PS Blog post.Play VideoDreams of AnotherQ-Games introduced Dreams of Another, the newest addition to the PixelJunk series, coming to PS5 and PS VR2 this year. This third-person exploration-action game is built around the philosophical theme, There is no creation without destruction. Rather than destroying objects by shooting, your shots materialize and rebuild the world. This unconventional mechanic offers a gameplay experience that challenges the norms of the genre and invites players into a whole new dimension.Discover the tech, story and music of this intriguing adventure with a fuller first look with Q-Games.Play VideoFive Nights At Freddys: Secret of the MimicSteel Wool Games is bringing players another excursion into the horror trappings of Five Nights at Freddys. Secret of the Mimic is an all-new adventure launching on PS5 and PS VR2 later this year on June 13, and this gameplay reveal teased the objectives and some of the terrors you can expect to encounter.Play VideoHell Is UsAlongside a new gameplay trailer teasing some of the characters and combat, action-adventure Hell is Us revealed its PS5 release date in todays State of Play September 4.Play VideoLies of P: Overture2023 action RPG Lies of P is receiving a prequel in the form of DLC Lies of P: Overture, transporting you to the city of Krat back in its time of grandeur, before its collapse. On the brink of the Puppet Frenzy massacre, you follow the Legendary Stalkera mysterious guidethrough untold stories and chilling secrets. As Geppettos deadly puppet, youll journey through Krat and its surroundings, uncover hidden secrets, and face epic battles that shape the past and future of Lies of P.You wont have long to wait to play Lies of P: Overture launches this summer on PS5 and PS4. More details from the studio.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiIf youve been readying to head to the high seas for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios new action adventure when it launches next month, the studio has a nice surprise for you: a PS5 demo of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available February 14! Its the perfect opportunity for newcomers to experience this spin-off featuring fan-favorite character Goro Majima.Play VideoLost Soul AsideUltizero Games welcomes you to Lost Soul Aside, an exhilarating sci-fi adventure that features stylish combat with customizable loadouts and synergistic combos, as well as diverse environments, unique enemies, fascinating characters, and a compelling story, creating a world full of tension and exploration. The game launches on PS5 and PC May 30.The studio discusses the games mechanics and storyline in a new PS Blog post.Play VideoMetal EdenDescribed as an adrenaline rush sci-fi FPS by its creator Reikon Games, Metal Eden is set on a far-flung future space colony thats under threat. A combat-ready android Aska is deployed to protect the colonists. Expect fast-paced action when the game launches on PS5 May 6.Find out about the games Core-Ripping mechanic in a PS Blog post written by its creator.Play VideoMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake EaterNaked Snake sneaks onto PS5 August 28! To mark the announcement of the release date, Konami shared a new trailer for the upcoming remake, including the first in-game look at the Cobra Unit. And thats not all, as the trailers end reveals the remake will include the return of the Snake vs Monkey minigame mode.New easter eggs, quick-select camo and not letting fans down: Konami talk more about remaking the beloved classic.Play VideoPlay VideoMindsEyeJoin Jacob Diaz on his journey to find answers to his past in action adventure MindsEye. This pair of trailers tease some of the story beats and intense encounters youll have in the fictional near-future Americana city of Redrock. The games on target to launch this summer on PS5.Details on the future tech and story thatll shape the game, as told by its developer Build A Rocket Boy.Play VideoMonster Hunter WildsCapcom joined us at State of Play not only to prime players for the imminent launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, but also reveal the roster of colossal foes increases by at least one very soon, with the release of a post-launch Title Update this Spring!Meet the majestic monster Mizutsune in a new PS Blog post by Capcom.Play VideoPlay VideoOnimusha: Way of the Sword and Onimusha 2: Samurais DestinyCapcom unsheathed two Onimusha-related announcements at todays State of Play. Firstly, it revealed a new gameplay trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword and confirmed late, iconic Japanese samurai movie star Toshiro Mifune is to serve as the face model for its protagonist Miyamoto Musashi. While the game is slated for 2026 on PS5, the newly revealed remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurais Destiny comes to PS5 and PS4 May 23 this year.Find out more about both games, including updates that will be included in the remaster, here.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imagePlayStation PlusTodays show also unveiled titles coming to PlayStation Plus Game Catalog over the coming months. Februarys lineup playable February 18 includes Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Top Spin 2K25, and launching into Game Catalog, the first episode (Tape 1) of Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, from the creators of Life is Strange. Two indie titles also launch into Game Catalog later this year architectural adventure Blue Prince and six-player survival crafting game Abiotic Factor.Find out the full Game Catalog lineup for February and other games coming soon to PlayStation Plus, including the first three Armored Core titles onto PlayStation Plus Premium.Play VideoSarosHousemarque announced its new title Saros, which launches on PS5 in 2026. This all-new action game tells the haunting story of a lost off-world colony on Carcosa under an ominous eclipse. You play as Arjun Devraj, a powerful Soltari Enforcer who will stop at nothing to find who he is looking for. An extended gameplay look will be released later this year.Housemarque shares first details on its evolution of the satisfying core gameplay introduced in Returnal.Play VideoShinobi: Art of VengeanceThe iconic Shinobi series returns August 29, 2025 in an all-new 2D action platformer revival, featuring the unique hand-drawn style of Lizardcube, the team behind the hit brawler Streets of Rage 4. This level-based game, launching on PS5 and PS4, captures the essence of the past games, with fast-paced action, special powers and more.Lizardcube and Sega sit down to discuss the reinvention of the classic series, and tease what players can expect when the game launches.Play VideoSonic Racing CrossWorldsSega revealed the first gameplay for its new four-wheeled Sonic racer, roaring onto PS5 and PS4 in the future. It introduces Travel Rings, transporting players from one world to a completely new location during races, and the RPG-like Gadget feature, letting players select different perks to deploy on the track.Sega shares more about those new features, as well as the return of Extreme Gear, and the most extensive vehicle customization to date, in a tie-in PS Blog post.Play VideoSplit FictionLearn about the power of friendship in Split Fiction, a co-op adventure from It Takes Two creator Hazelight Studios coming to PS5. Playing as Mio or Zoe, youll encounter bizarre situations as the two traverse stories born from their own wild imaginations. Youll be able to invite a friend to play online for free with Friends Pass as long as one of you owns the game, both of you can play.View and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageSplitgate 2A Splitgate 2 Alpha drops onto PS5 February 27! This alpha is built around Multi-Team Portal Warfare mode, a 3 team, 8v8v8, 24 player battle, set on a map twenty times larger than any map in the game yet. 1047 Games are continuing to improve the game based on feedback from internal and external playtests, so this is your opportunity to shape the future of the game.The game launches on PS5 and PS4 in 2025. Find out more here.Play VideoStellar BladeThe sci-fi action game teams up with Goddess of Victory: Nikke for exciting new content: a boss battle, collectible dolls, stickers, and new outfits. Both the PC version of Stellar Blade and the Goddess of Victory: Nikke DLC (available on PS5 and PC) launch in June.Play VideoThe Midnight WalkAfter its reveal in our last State of Play, Moonhood returns with a new gameplay trailer for its handcrafted dark fantasy adventure The Midnight Walk and comes accompanied by a launch date: May 8!Play VideoTides of AnnihilationEclipse Glow Studio unveiled Tides of Annihilation, a single player action-adventure game that thrusts you into a shattered, mystical London. Players will take on the role of Gwendolyn, who wields the power of a mysterious gray mist that can manifest two spectral knights at her side, with players required to strategically choose which knights to summon based on their preferred gameplay style and the challenges they face.The games creator talks about two distinct, interconnected realms of London and the colossal knights that roam Greater London and which must be defeated.Play VideoWarriors: AbyssDynasty Warriors gets a roguelite twist in Warriors: Abyss, which launches today on PS5 and PS4! Play as over 100 heroes while battling hordes of enemies in hell, requiring you to change up the combinations of heroes and items to discover new strategies to overcome challenging obstacles and plunge deeper into the unknown!Unique mechanics and over 16 billion battle style combinations: find out more about Warriors Abyss direct from Tecmo Koei.Play VideoWWE 2K25WWEs Paul Heyman joined us at State of Play to introduce a new look at WWE 2K25, The trailer introduced The Island, which will feature in the game when it launches on PS5 and PS4 March 14. The Island is an online open-world environment filled with WWE-themed landmarks, quests, live events, and shops, with up to 50 other players at a time. The Island also offers deep customization, giving players the chance to personalize their MySuperstars like never before.

Hello, everyone! This is Baiyon, Creative Director and multimedia artist at Kyoto-based indie game studio, Q-Games. On behalf of the team, Im thrilled to share some exciting news with you.During State of Play, we officially announced our latest title, Dreams of Another! This newest addition to the PixelJunk series is coming to PS5 and PS VR2. Its also the first game where Ive directed all aspects including; concept, story, visuals and of course the soundtrack creation. Today, Im excited to introduce the game through our debut trailer and highlight what makes this title so unique.Play VideoA philosophical and allegorical gaming experience where shooting creates rather than destroysDreams of Another is a third-person exploration-action game built around the philosophical theme, no creation without destruction. Rather than destroying objects by shootingas in traditional shooting gameshere, your shots materialize and create the world. This unconventional mechanic offers a gameplay experience that challenges the norms of the genre and invites players into a whole new dimension.As a developer, Ive long been interested in finding a new perspective on third-person shooting games. Could we create a game that explores the beauty of life and creation in the context of destruction? This question inspired Dreams of Another.A dreamlike world brought to life by point cloud technologyThe world of Dreams of Another is crafted using cutting-edge point cloud technology, creating an ethereal, impressionistic dreamscape. Existing in an abstracted state, made up of countless particles, this visually stunning environment reacts to the players actions. By shooting at these particles with your gun, they scatter and transform, ultimately materializing into existences. Repeating this process brings objects to life which you can then interact and communicate with.A narrative of two-troubled characters in a mystical worldThe story revolves around two emotionally scarred characters: The Man in Pajamas and The Wandering Soldier. While the focus is on these two characters, players will also interact with sentient objects like talking trees and doors, uncovering their thoughts, emotions, and secrets. As you journey through the dream world, you will witness the unfolding story of the characters and their experiences, discovering what they have encountered and how they feel along the way; all the while piecing together the mysteries of the world and navigating the liminal space between dreams and reality.A soundtrack to enhance the experienceAlongside my work as a visual artist, Ive spent many years as a musician, performing as a DJ and creating original albums while contributing to films and other mediums. Over the years, Ive been fortunate to collaborate with many creatives in the boundless medium of video games. For projects I direct, I also compose the music, adding a unique touch to the game experience.The soundtrack for Dreams of Another was carefully crafted to evoke the ephemeral and nebulous nature of its dream world. By blending sounds from all kinds of instruments, synthesizers, non-instrumental sources and field recordings, I created something truly one-of-a-kind for this title. I hope this experimental soundtrack resonates with players as you explore the games world.PS5 Pro enhancementsDreams of Another takes full advantage of PS5 Pro Enhancements, delivering highly detailed point cloud visuals in stunning resolution as well as smooth animations, letting you fully immerse yourself in the vivid world.Enhanced for PS VR2For PS VR2 players, the game offers an immersive full 360-degree experience of its breathtaking point cloud environments, making it feel as though youve stepped right into a dream.Dreams of Another is set to launch in 2025 for PS5 and PS VR2. If youre intrigued, be sure to add it to your wishlist! We cant wait to share this extraordinary adventure with you.

The next Diablo 4 expansion wont be out in 2025, in spite of the studios previous comments about releasing them annually. Speaking at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas (via Bloombergs Jason Schreier), Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson said the follow-up to 2024s Vessel of Hatred expansion wont be out until 2026.In his DICE Summit presentation today on building a resilient live service, Diablo GM Rod Fergusson emphasized serving the game over the plan, a Blizzard spokesperson told Polygon. To that, we are excited to share that we are in development on our second expansion for Diablo IV, which will debut in 2026.A few months after Diablo 4 launched in 2023, Fergusson told Dexerto that new expansion releases would be annual. When asked about that statement in a 2024 GameSpot interview, his certainty wavered: Our players deserve to have more content and more ways to play, but in terms of whats the cadence and the right amount is not something I can talk about today.At DICE (via IGN), Fergusson said, In 2025, or just before Season 8, we will have a 2025 roadmap for Diablo 4. Now, our second expansion wont be on that roadmap, because our second expansion is coming in 2026, but at least players will have the road ahead.According to IGN, Fergusson said Vessel of Hatred slipped past the release date Blizzard originally had in mind as a result of the gargantuan overhaul to the games core systems last year. That shift pushed the upcoming expansion forward into 2026.Blizzard hasnt made any official announcements about what to expect in the next expansion, but anyone who has finished Vessel of Hatred will have a few good guesses on where the story will go next. In the meantime, the Season of Witchcraft is still on, granting players seasonal occult powers, like a poisonous pet frog.Update (8:07 p.m. ET): This story has been updated with a comment from Blizzard.

Im not someone who watches a lot of TV or movies on my iPhone or iPad, but I love knowing I have the option. Now, Android users will finally have the option of watching the streaming services small, but solid library on their phones and tablets, too.As first reported by Bloomberg, on Wednesday, Apple released Android apps for Apple TV Pus, six years after the apps initial launch and eight years after Apple TV debuted. This is perfect timing for Apple to expand the way audiences can enjoy their content, given the streamers current tentpole program, Severance, is nearing the halfway point of its stellar second season. With the new Android app for Apple TV Plus, itll be even easier for people to catch up on the Emmy-winning sci-fi series or any of the other great shows and movies the streamer has on offer. Apple TV Plus doesnt have nearly the depth or breadth of other streaming services like Netflix, but their hit rate is relatively high. While Netflix continues to lean into casual viewing, a lot of Apple TV shows arent afraid to demand your full attention. The twisty and mystery-laden Severance is the pinnacle of this, but the streamer produces a lot of quality, prestige programming including other fun sci-fi series such as Silo, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Foundation that are worth putting your phone down for, or commandeering your phone to watch it.You can subscribe to Apple TV Plus for $9.99 a month, though new users can get a seven-day free trial before having to put any money down.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.All houses make noise, and those noises can be useful in diagnosing and addressing potential problems. But if your house is driving you crazy with all its creaking and groaning, its time to look into ways you can quiet the house down. You could do a gut renovation to make the place absolutely soundproof, but if you dont have a spare fortune to spend on the effort, you still have a lot of relatively simple, affordable options to try out, based on what's making those noises in the first place.Check your decibelsFirst, youll need some data to work withand you'll have to identify exactly whats causing noise in your house. While some sources of noise will be obvious, using a simple decibel meter (or an app on your phone) to check noise levels from room to room will give you a more specific action plan. Average room noise is considered to be between 30 and 50 decibels (dB), and any noise above 70dB is considered harmfulbut noise sensitivity is subjective. Walk around and make a note of any spots where theres a jump in noise levels and look into the source of the noise.Quiet down your appliancesOne of the main sources of noise in your home are your appliances. Washers, dryers, dishwasherseverything that makes our lives easier also generates noise, and sometimes a lot of it. Most appliances operate with noise levels between 50 and 70 dB, so having several running at once can create a lot of indoor noise pollution.You can take a few simple steps to reduce that noise:Choose quieter appliances. Different appliances have different decibel ratings, so you can target quieter appliances next time youre replacing something. You can sometimes find this in a products specifications, or you can look for appliances that are Quiet Mark-certified.Check the balance. Washing machines and other appliances that have moving internal parts need to be balanced and levelif theyre unbalanced they can shake and make more noise than they should. Grab a level and check that everything is balanced. You can usually adjust the feet of the appliance to level it out.Use anti-vibration pads. Available in a variety of sizes, anti-vibration pads absorb the appliances vibration, reducing the noise it makes.Install wall cladding. Hanging fabric or soundproofing materials on the walls around your appliances can help absorb noise and keep it from being conducted through the walls to other areas of the house.Check your furnaceIf your furnace is noisy, it might be worth it to bring in an HVAC professional to take a look at it. There are some simple things you can try that might make it run quieter, however:Adjust the fan speed. Turning the fan speed down might be all thats needed to eliminate whining or howling in a furnace.Clean it. Your furnace, filters, and the vents it connects to can become clogged with dust, which can make it run noisier than usual. Cleaning the whole system as thoroughly as you can might eliminate extra noise.Inspect your ductwork. Take a look at the ducts where you can, especially where they connect together. Any gaps or holes can cause whistling or other noise, so plugging them up with some foil sealer tape can make a big difference in noise levels.Add rugs and carpetingYou might not want to carpet the entire house, but area rugs (or even carpet tiles) can offer some of the same benefits, muffling the sounds of people walking around the space. To enhance the benefits, put an extra-thick rug pad underneath to get as much sound absorption as possible out of your floor covering.Place pads under furnitureWhile youre contemplating how much noise your floors are transmitting, dont forget to put padding under your furniture where practical. You dont walk under your couch or bed, but the bare floor under there can still act as a conductor, spreading noise to other areas of the home. A rug or pad under those pieces can add just a bit more soundproofing.Secure your pipesIf one source of noise in your house is rattling pipes, either when you run the hot water (called water hammering) or when your heat cycles, you can reduce or eliminate that noise in two ways:Secure the pipes. Pipes that knock and bang inside the walls might just need to be secured. This isnt a difficult job to DIY (but usually does involve opening your walls). Alternatively, you can have a plumber install a water hammer arrester, which should solve the problem.Install pressure-reducing valves (PRV). A PRV will regulate the water and air pressure in your pipes, which can reduce or eliminate hammering and banging. This isnt exactly cheap (it can run you more than $600 if you hire a plumber to install one), but it might be worth it.Soundproof wall platesIf something in your home is making noise, your home itself can act as one big sound conductoryour walls act almost like speakers, bringing noise from other rooms. This is especially true if theyre not insulated. You might not want to (or be able to) stuff insulation into them, but you can easily blunt some of the noise traveling through those walls by adding some noise-absorbing gaskets to outlets and light switches.Behind those wall plates are holes in your walls, which makes it easy for noise to find its way into the room. By adding seals around those plates you can cut down the noise that makes it through. If youre a little handier, you can also apply putty around the electrical boxes in the room, which will also blunt any sounds before they can invade the space.Upgrade your doorsLike your walls, doors can act as conductors of sound, ferrying noise from outside the room right to your ears. If your interior doors are hollow, the effect is even stronger, so swapping those out for solid-core doors can help make your home quieter. Gaps under the door can also allow sound to seep through from outside, so adding a simple sweep to the bottom to close off this gap can give your door an extra boost of soundproofing ability.Silence your creaking floorsEven if you put down rugs and pads, floors that creak and squeak as you walk on them will still add to the overall noise level in your home. The good news is that you probably dont need professional help or even any power tools to shush those floors. A few things you can do include:Lubricate. If your hardwood floors are creaking, you can apply a dry lubricant like powdered graphite or even talcum powder. Just work it into the seams between floorboards where you hear a squeak, cover the area with a cloth, and walk on for a bit. Repeat the process until the squeak is gone.Shim. If you have access to the underside of the floor, you can look to see if theres a gap between the subfloor and the joist. If there is, inserting a shim or two to eliminate movement might solve the noise problem. You can also try driving a screw from either above or below to secure the floor. If driving it from above, use a trim screw and sink it below the surface of the floor so you can fill the hole with wood filler. If driving it from below, make sure the screw is short enough not to pop out on the surface of the floor.Brace. If there is a pronounced gap or a lot of movement between your joists and subfloor, you can brace the floor with a 2x4 cut to fit between the joists. Attach it so that its slightly higher than the joists, compensating for the gap and eliminating subfloor movement.For tile floors, you can check that the tiles are firmly adhered to the subfloor and re-apply any loose tiles. Then look for gaps around the edges of the floor and caulk them. This will help eliminate any tile shifts that might be causing the squeak.Mitigate noises from settlingIf your home makes groaning or cracking noises, it usually gets classified as settling, the process of a house sinking into its foundation and the materials its built out of compensating for shifts and compression. This is pretty natural and affects most houses at one time or another, although severe settling can indicate a foundation problem.But those settling noises might also be caused by humidity and temperature, which can cause wood and other materials to expand and contract, resulting in cracking, popping, and groaning noises. Managing the humidity and temperature fluctuations in the home might reduce or even eliminate these noises.Service your heating systemNoisy radiatorsIf you have steam radiators in the house, you know that they can sound like an off-key brass band marching through your nightmares. You can try some simple DIY fixes to quiet them down:Shim it. A banging, clanging radiator can be caused by water settling at the bottom of the radiator. Elevating it slightly so it tips toward the boiler can eliminate that problem.Replace the air vent. A radiator that whistles and burps every time the heat rises might just need a new air vent. This is pretty cheap and easy to do DIY.A loud forced air furnaceIf you have forced-air heat that sounds like a battleship leaving port every time it fires up, you might be able to quiet it down without a major project:Duct liners. Having fiberglass duct liners installed in the ducts can dampen noise caused by vibration and rattling, and inhibit noise conductivity.Anti-vibration pads under the furnace itself can also help reduce the noise.Replace the filter. A dirty air filter can cause the furnace to work harder, which can lead to booming or banging noises. You can also try opening your homes supply vents as well.If these steps dont help, your furnaces motor may be the cause, either due to low lubrication levels, a failing belt, or some other mechanical cause. Your best bet will be to call a professional to take a look.

There are many alternatives to dining out on Valentines Day, but none as classic as simply cooking a cozy meal at home. While you and your partner might find ordering Taco Bell to be meaningful and romantic (I know a couple that celebrates with chicken nuggets and champagne), if youre interested in cooking, Ive got some simple and budget-focused meal suggestions that are still pretty darn romantic.Air fryer stuffed mushroomsThese savory mushroom bites are some of my favorite things on planet Earth. They make for a great appetizer or side dish, and using the air fryer means you can have them on the table in about 10 minutes. Sausage, cream cheese, and some minced aromatics make up the stuffing, packing plenty of flavor for a lower price.Stuffed shishito peppersThe best way to make vegetables celebration-worthy is to stuff them with cheese. Shishito peppers are flavorful with delicate seeds, so you can eat the entire thing without it being weird or bitter. Use the recipe here for the cream cheese and bacon filling and pop them in the air fryer for a handful of minutes.Dressed-up frozen pizza Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Pizza for Valentines Day dinner is certainly romantic, but ordering a specialty pie can easily become expensive. Instead, buy a frozen pie and dress it up with a few fancy ingredients yourself. Split a ball of burrata over the top (or two, they often come in pairs), tuck some strips of torn prosciutto into the cheese, and drizzle it with truffle honey.Foolproof cacio e pepeLets move to the pasta course. Carbs are, and always have been, the key to feeling satisfied on a budget. Cacio e pepe is a flavorful, fancy mac and cheese and theres an easy way to ensure the sauce stays creamy without getting clumpy. (Read here to find out.) Serve this delightful dish with a glass of wine and some candles for a simple and sweet presentation.Sheet pan gnocchiCrisp on the exterior with a pillowy center, sheet pan gnocchi is both easy and tasty as heck. Instead of making your own gnocchi, use the soft, shelf stable packaged kind at the store. Toss it with some oil and other accoutrements youd like to roast, like peppers, onions, and sausages. This meal cooks entirely in the oven, needing little more than a shake every now and then to cook the ingredients evenly.Browned butter and tomato pastaHeres another romantic pasta dish that delivers on many fronts. In this dish, big flavor comes with a small price tagall you need is a stick of butter and some tomato paste. Simply boil your favorite pasta shape according to the packages directions. Brown the butter in a pan and mix in a helping of tomato paste. The pasta goes into the sauce and picks up all of those deeply concentrated flavors.Ricotta gnocchetti Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann If you thought making fresh handmade pasta at home was never going to happen, you havent heard of this easy ricotta gnocchetti. A paste of flour, salt and spreadable ricotta cheese gets cut into tiny pasta pillows ready for a quick boil. Stir these gems into your favorite pasta sauce and heap it onto a plate with a hunk of bread.Feta and caper marinated chickenIf a crispy, salty crust and juicy, tender interior sounds good to you, then this chicken recipe should be a priority this Valentines Day. Intensely briney, salty ingredients are blended together to make the marinade for this chicken, and the lactic acid from the cheese does double duty tenderizing the meat (the same way buttermilk marinades work). Its a three-ingredient recipe youll come back to time and again.Pork tenderloinAn entire pork loin from Trader Joes might cost you less than a dozen chicken eggs these days. And once roasted, it is certainly more of a showstopper than egg salad. A quick marinade in Bachans Japanese BBQ sauce, oil, and a boost of MSG turn this budget cut of meat into a refined centerpiece. Serve it with some roasted fingerling potatoes or the stuffed mushrooms from above.Easy shrimp rolls Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Forget lobster rolls: Shrimp rolls are the delicious year-round taste of summer you can have any time the mood strikes, thanks to frozen shrimp. Just thaw and cook a handful of shrimp per person. Toss them in a simple mayonnaise dressing and tuck them into top-split buns with a couple chives.Mayo roast chickenFew main dishes are both comforting and impressive, but a whole roast chicken does it with class. To ensure your bird has a lovely bronzed coat, and succulent meat coat the entire thing in mayonnaise. Then prove to your Valentine that youre a true grown up and properly carve that roast chicken to serve.Rainbow cookie egg rollsOne of my favorite dramatic desserts comes from a baseball stadiumspecifically, Wok n Roll at Citi Field. This festive dessert involves wrapping an Italian rainbow cookie in an egg roll wrapper and then frying it until crispy. Its fun, its decadent, its colorful. There is no better way to say, youve got rizz.Fancy mille feuillePuff pastry is one of those beautiful flaky doughs that takes time and skill to make by hand. Thankfully, buying it frozen from your supermarket does not require these things. Use these instructions to bake off a flat sheet of puff pastry and layer it with vanilla pudding (a vanilla Snack Pack does the trick quite well). Finish it with a flourish of powdered sugar, and you have a sweet Valentine's Day dessert worthy of any restaurant in town.

Borderlands 4 is coming this fall. Developer Gearbox revealed that the latest entry in the Borderlands series is launching on September 23, 2025 at Sony's latest State of Play event, and the game will receive a standalone State of Play this spring where you can get an in-depth look at it in action.Like past Borderlands games, Borderlands 4 has shooting and looting, though with much looser and faster-paced movement. You'll be able to double jump, dodge and grapple your way through the game, and play as four new vault hunters looking to make their fortune.Borderlands 4 was originally announced during Gamescom in 2024, and Gearbox showed off a first glimpse of gameplay during the Game Awards. Other than those tweaks to traversal, it looks like more Borderlands. Considering its been about six years since Borderlands 3 was released in 2019, that might not be a bad thing, but hopefully Gearbox still has something up its sleeve to justify another dip into the post-apocalyptic shooter well.Borderlands 4 is launching on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on September 23, 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/borderlands-4-is-launching-on-september-23-225358207.html?src=rss