How to solve today's Wordle.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesLooking for Mondays Wordle hints, clues and answer? You can find them here:Well, the long weekend is over and its back to reality. Tuesday is taking on Mondays usual role in the week since Monday was masquerading as Sunday, and Sunday got to play at Saturday. This is getting a bit muddled.Lets solve this Wordle!How To Solve Todays WordleThe Hint: Not part of a big studio or label.The Clue: This Wordle has a double letter.Okay, spoilers below!...The Answer:Today's WordleCredit: Erik KainWordle AnalysisEvery day I check Wordle Bot to help analyze my guessing game. You can check your Wordles with Wordle Bot right here. I was surprised when SOLAR came back with all grey boxes but fortunately CHIME was able to snag a couple vowels and slash the 359 words I had remaining to just 7. I wasnt really sure what to do at this point and went with BINGE, which left me with just two remaining possible solutions: INDIE and UNTIE. Thankfully, I chose INDIE!Competitive Wordle ScoreToday's Wordle BotScreenshot: Erik KainPlay Puzzles & Games on ForbesI really hoped the Wordle Bot would take four tries today also but alas, my hopes were dashed. I get 0 points for guessing in four and -1 for losing to the Bot, who took just three tries. Oh well!How To Play Competitive WordleGuessing in 1 is worth 3 points; guessing in 2 is worth 2 points; guessing in 3 is worth 1 point; guessing in 4 is worth 0 points; guessing in 5 is -1 points; guessing in 6 is -2 points and missing the Wordle is -3 points.If you beat your opponent you get 1 point. If you tie, you get 0 points. And if you lose to your opponent, you get -1 point. Add it up to get your score. Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.Fridays are 2XP, meaning you double your pointspositive or negative.You can keep a running tally or just play day-by-day. Enjoy!Todays Wordle EtymologyThe word indie is a shortened form of independent, originating in the early 20th century. It became widely used in the mid-20th century to describe independent film studios and music labels that operated outside the major corporate systems. By the late 20th century, indie had expanded beyond film and music to describe independent creators and movements in various industries, including video games, publishing, and fashion.Let me know how you fared with your Wordle today on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog where I write about games, TV shows and movies when Im not writing puzzle guides. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 06: UFC president Dana White (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty ... [+] Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesSince June 2024, the UFC has released or chosen not to renew the contracts of eight-plus heavyweights. Several of them were ranked when they were releasedwith DonTale Mayes recent loss, another release could be on the way.Its an understandable roster purge as the organization attempts to rid the heavyweight division of dead weight. Whats a little perplexing to some is how Tai Tuivasa has avoided the axe.Popular MMA content creator Dovy Simu posted a screenshot of Tuivasas current brutal five-fight losing streak. Another popular social media account, Spinnin Backfist, quote-replied to the post, But they cut Bigi Boy.SB was referring to the promotions recent cut of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, aka Bigi Boy.WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07: Jairzinho Rozenstruik of Suriname celebrates his KO victory over ... [+] Alistair Overeem of Netherlands in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Capital One Arena on December 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesRozenstruik was ranked No. 9 when he lost a lackluster unanimous decision to Sergey Pavlovich on February 1. Before the loss, Rozenstruik had won two in a row and is 15-6 overall. In fact, Rozenstruik defeated Tuivasa via split decision in August 2024.MORE FOR YOUPERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Jairzinho Rozenstruik of Suriname fights Tai Tuivasa of Australia in ... [+] the Heavyweight Bout during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Getty ImagesBecause of Rozenstruiks track record and recent success, it was a little surprising to see him get released.When you look at Tuivasas current five-fight losing streak, it is even more shocking that hes still on the roster. Tuivasa isnt just losinghes been finished in all but one of the losses on this skid and hasnt won a fight in three years.So why is the No. 10-ranked Tuivasa still on the roster? There are likely two reasons. One, he is still under contract. That might sound obvious, but its important to note that Rozenstruik may not have been cutthe promotion might have simply decided not to renew his deal.This means that when Tuivasas deal is up, if he hasnt found his way into the win column, he could also wind up in the same position. The second reason is a combination of fighting style and charisma.Tuivasa is an all-action, fan-friendly fighter who has had wars during his time in the UFC. He has scored explosive KO wins over the likes of Stefan Struve, Greg Hardy, Augusto Sakai, and Derrick Lewis. Tuivasa possesses an endearing everyman quality that resonates with fight fans. Rozenstruik, on the other hand, lost a really boring fight to Pavlovich that UFC President Dana White accurately described as horrible.RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 01: (R-L) Sergei Pavlovich of Russia punches Jairzinho Rozenstruik ... [+] of Suriname in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at anb Arena on February 01, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCAfter beginning his UFC run as a KO artist, Rozenstruik evolved into an overly calculated heavyweight with a decreased work rate.The celebratory shoey definitely hasnt hurt Tuivasas popularity. Because Australia has become such an important region for the UFC, there could also be an additional benefit to keeping an uber-popular local fighter on the roster.HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Tai Tuivasa of Australia celebrates with the fans by performing a ... [+] shoey after defeating Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 271 event at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCUnfortunately for Bigi Boy, the UFC hasnt established much of a presence in his home country, Suriname.I understand both sides of this concept. Fans and others have a point if they question Rozenstruiks release when compared to Tuivasas continued presence on the roster. After all, the two men fought relatively recently, and Rozenstruik won the fight.However, Tuivasa is a more exciting fighter, and fan connection is important. Age is also a factorTuivasa is still just 31 years old, while Rozenstruik is 36.If fans are truly interested in justice, all will be right in the world if Tuivasa gets the boot following another loss or at the end of his contract. If Tuivasa rebounds and comes up with a big win, critics will have to chew on it, as hell likely be with the promotion for a lot longer. And his fans will be enjoying a few more shoeys in his honor.

Vin Diesel in Pitch Black USA FilmsMore than almost any other movie star working today, Vin Diesel seems to think only in franchises. Skim the last two decades of this muscle mans filmography, and youll see almost nothing but sequels or movies designed (not always successfully) to spawn sequels. Once Vin got a taste of life in the fast lane, he never really looked back. Maybe he was always just destined to become a Hollywood action hero: When youre built like a bullet and talk like a subwoofer, the Italian Stallion career path makes a lot more sense than anything else.Of course, like Sly Stallone, Vin didnt start out making multiplex cash grabs. Before he was Dominic Toretto, Xander Cage, and Groot, Diesel was a hungry young actor, more focused on honing his craft than bulging his biceps. In the 90s, he even dabbled in writing and directing, penning his own gritty, calling-card starring vehicle; it was that indie drama, Strays, that caught Steven Spielbergs attention and earned Diesel a breakout role in Saving Private Ryan. To watch him there or in the late Sidney Lumets swan song, Find Me Guilty, is to be reminded of a time when the big guy aspired to a little more than bankable machismo.Recommended VideosWhats wild is that you can pinpoint to the day the pinnacle of Diesels time as a dramatic performer as opposed to a box-office draw. Said day was 25 years ago tomorrow, when not one but two movies featuring the future star hit theaters nationwide. There he was as a likable off- Wall Street stock broker in the financial drama Boiler Room, and there he was again as a mythic outlaw in the deep-space creature feature Pitch Black. Diesel has never been better than he was in these two very different movies, which kind of makes February 18th, 2000 the best day of his career and also the last moment before that career changed directions.Boiler Room (2000) Official Trailer #1 - Vin Diesel Movie HDOf the two films, Boiler Room is the more obvious acting showcase, though Vin has a much smaller part in it. Written and directed by Ben Younger, this Martin Scorsese-indebted procedural essentially fictionalizes the true story the actual Scorsese would later dramatize with The Wolf of Wall Street. Younger looks at the fraudulent practices of brokerage houses like Stratton Oakmont from the perspective of one of the cold callers, a Long Island entrepreneur played by Giovanni Ribisi. Maybe fourth or fifth booked in the cast is Diesel, who steps in as one of the more experienced brokers who takes Ribisis snake-oil salesman under his wing.RelatedHes like gravity everything gets pulled to him, is how someone describes Diesels most famous character, Dominic Toretto, in the following years franchise-launching melodrama The Fast and the Furious. But hes much more conventionally magnetic in Boiler Room as a slick but approachable young millionaire swindler. Vins first big scene in the movie puts his signature bravado to good use, as he gregariously coerces a doctor into buying a bunch of shares over the phone a hard sell that he makes look effortless. Its a kind of initiation, laying out the seductive thrill of how these chop-shop frat boys make their fortune. Theyre really just actors, playing a part for the clients they unscrupulously exploit.Diesels Chris Varick, like Toretto, is as much teddy bear as shark, though. Boiler Room positions him as a big brother for Ribisi the warm alternative to Nicky Katts jealous, competitive bullpen prick. The scripts pages of shop talk (the kind of industry exposition that Scorsese waved off with a fourth-wall-breaking wink from Leo) go down smoother when delivered in Diesels low rumble and New York accent. And Chris becomes an unlikely figure of redemption at the ending, confronted by both the impending collapse of his livelihood and the opportunity to do one noble thing before it all comes crashing down. That makes Boiler Room the first in a long line of movies that find the conscience burning within Diesels bad-boy routine.Pitch Black Official Trailer #1 - Vin Diesel Movie (2000) HDA secret flicker of decency also defines Richard B. Riddick, the apprehended mercenary Diesel plays for the first time in Pitch Black. In terms of temperament and vocabulary, hes a much different animal than Varick: a stony Western archetype unleashed onto the final frontier, like Clint Eastwoods Man with No Name airdropped into an Alien knockoff. Writer-director David Twohy builds Riddick up, establishing his fearsome bona fides by keeping him chained, shrouded in darkness, and silent for the first act, when the ship carting this dangerous fugitive crash-lands on a planet with three suns and some deadly nocturnal wildlife. Beyond the opening voice-over, Diesel doesnt utter a word for the first 30 minutes of the movie.More than Toretto, that marble-mouthed, messianic Robin Hood patriarch always mumbling about family, Riddick is the quintessential Vin Diesel character. Twohy leans on and inflates his comic-book physicality the bulkiness that caught the actor bouncer gigs before he went Hollywood. And he streamlines that familiar Diesel braggadocio into a cucumber cool, the poise of a post-human bruiser in touch with his wild side. His performance in Pitch Black arguably comes closer to approximating the original conception of Wolverine than the one Hugh Jackman would deliver, for the first time, a few months later in the first X-Men movie. Diesel is so convincing here as an animalistic loner that his eventual, reluctant call to be a team-player, la Logan, packs the desired punch.Less blockbuster than glorified sci-fi programmer, Pitch Black didnt make boatloads of money. But it was a successful proof of concept; what it sold the world was Diesels suitability for action-hero duty. Those who caught the movie in theaters, maybe even on a double bill with Boiler Room, could clearly see into his future as a post-millennial Rambo. But few of the big Hollywood projects that followed better capitalized on his rugged, monosyllabic qualities. No wonder Diesel returned to the films treacherous star system, reprising the role in two sequels the goofier, more expansive Chronicles of Riddick and the back-to-basics Riddick even after he had moved on to more lucrative multi-picture engagements.Boiler Room Prospecting Scene - Vin Diesel ClosingIn retrospect, 2000 was as much a last hurrah as it was a highpoint for Vin Diesel, the actor, not the brand. A year later, hed buckle in for the comparably low-key first entry in a series hed eventually makeover into a multi-billion-dollar vanity project. There was really no turning back from the road Fast & Furious put him on. Its been basically all intellectual-property bids since, as Diesel has balanced his cash cow franchise with attempts to develop new ones. You have to strain to see any real artistic ambition in any of the work hes done since the day the multiplex served up double, clashing doses of his cowboy swagger. Besides a supporting role in Billy Lynns Long Halftime Walk, its been one star sleepwalk after another.Maybe Diesel never had a character actors range. As a performer, he mostly offers different shades of macho brooding, sentimental, or arrogant as needed. But on one winter day at the start of a new century, he demonstrated that his particular steroidal charisma could be stretched a little, and applied to projects with wildly different aims. February 18 was a crossroads for this modern tough guy. He took the path to marquee immortality that Pitch Black opened up before him, while leaving us wondering how many Boiler Rooms he bypassed along the way.Boiler Room and Pitch Black are both available to rent or purchase from the major digital services. For more of A.A. Dowds writing, visit hisAuthorypage.Editors Recommendations

For many vacationers, a trip might involve a challenging climb up a mountain for a spot of exercise and to enjoy the amazing views from the top, the sense of satisfaction enhanced by all of the effort expended to reach the peak.But for some tourists taking on Mount Tai in Shandong, China, the required exertion seems like a waste of well energy. Especially when a pair of robotic legs can do the job instead.Recommended VideosIts true. Tourism officials at Mount Tai recently came up with the idea of offering tourists a robotic exoskeleton that lets your leg muscles take a back seat, CNN reported. The 5,000-foot (1,525-meter) mountain has 7,000 steps and thanks largely to viral TikTok videos showing exhausted climbers on all fours or simply in a heap on the ground has earned a reputation for being a tricky ascent.This prompted tourism officials to offer the exoskeleton for less confident climbers, including older folks. On the first day of the rental service last month, more than 200 people paid around 70 yuan (about $9.50) to hire the robotic legs.The contraption was created by Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, in partnership with Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. Weighing a mere 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), the device fits around a persons waist and thighs. With a battery life of approximately five hours, the robotic legs are designed to transform your walk, putting something of a spring in your step.One tourist who used the robotic legs told Xinhua News Agency that they really work, adding that it felt like someone was pulling me up the hill.Another user said that while it definitely made the climb easier, he felt a bit clumsy after removing the robotic legs and walking under his own power again.These particular robotic legs are currently in beta testing but could hit the mass market as soon as next month.Besides helping low-energy folks to complete a climb, technology like this can be useful for older people who have trouble walking, or in particular kinds of jobs, such as those that require a lot of lower-body movement.A growing number of tech firms are developing robotic legs, and designs are becoming much sleeker and less bulkier than before. You never know, with a little more refinement and a bit of added power, elderly climbers may soon be bounding all the way to the top of Mount Tai as if they were teenagers again. Now that wed like to see.

Mexico might sue Google over the "Gulf of America" label on Google Maps.The label change follows Trump's January 20 executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico.Mexico's president said the rename applies only to areas under US jurisdiction, not the whole Gulf.Google could be facing a lawsuit from Mexico if it continues to show US-based users the label "Gulf of America" for the entire Gulf of Mexico, which touches the US, Mexico, and Cuba.In a press conference on Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that Mexico will sue Google if the tech giant does not change the "Gulf of America" label to cover only the portion of the body of water under US jurisdiction.She said that President Donald Trump's January 20 executive order to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" pertains only to its own continental shelf."We're talking about 22 nautical miles, not the entire gulf," Sheinbaum said, adding that Google is also changing the name of the continental shelves of Mexico and Cuba.The Mexican government has been discussing this matter with Google since January. Sheinbaum shared her government's response to Google's most recent letter on its maps, saying that under no circumstances will Mexico accept the renaming of any geographical area that includes its national territory or that falls under its jurisdiction."Any reference to the 'Gulf of America' initiative on your Google Maps platform must be exclusively limited to the marine area under US jurisdiction," the letter read. "Any extension beyond that zone exceeds the authority of any national government or private entity. Should that be the case, the Government of Mexico will take the appropriate legal actions as deemed necessary."Sheinbaum, who noted last week that a civil suit was possible, said Monday that the Mexican government would await Google's response before proceeding with legal action.Business Insider reached out to Google but has not yet received a response. US President Donald Trump speaking to the press beside a large map that says "Gulf of America." ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images On January 7, in the lead-up to the inauguration of his second term, Trump stated his intention to rename the Gulf. "We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," he said. "What a beautiful name and it's appropriate."In response, Sheinbaum sarcastically remarked that North America should be called "Amrica Mexicana" "Mexican America" because a 17th-century map labeled the continent as such.Following Trump's executive order to officially rename the body of water, both Google Maps and Apple Maps updated the Gulf of Mexico's name to "Gulf of America" for people in the US. For users based outside of the US and Mexico, the body of water shows up as "Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)."Michigan State University political science professor Matthew Zierler, who studies foreign policy and international law, previously told BI that countries don't have the authority to rename an international body of water."Renaming Denali to McKinley is within the United States' purview, but the Gulf of Mexico is a different issue," he said.In January, Sheinbaum sent a letter to Google pushing back against the naming decision.The tech company responded with a letter, which Sheinbaum read aloud in the Monday press conference. The letter said that the company's "consistent policy" is to "consult multiple authoritative sources to provide the most up-to-date and accurate representation of the world."The Google letter said that the change from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" for US-based users was made to reflect the update by the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The letter also stated that Google Maps users in Mexico will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico" while people elsewhere in the world will be shown both names.Sheinbaum did not say whether Mexico will be pursuing similar actions against Apple. At the time of publication, her office had not responded to a request for comment.

My parents told me to study something that would pay enough to support myself.No one told me to choose a job I couldn't live without.I appreciate the advice they gave me, but I want to encourage my kids to follow their passions.Recently, my creative 13-year-old told me he wanted to be a TV screenwriter and director. When he was younger, he entertained the idea of becoming a doctor like his father or majoring in finance and working with stocks."Those ideas sounded great for a little while, but I can't stop thinking about this one," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. He's been mentioning this on and off for some time, but after watching "The Office" a favorite show of mine and my husband that I reluctantly let him watch despite the crude humor he was sure this is what he was meant to do.And who am I to tell him he can't?I'm giving my kids different career advice than what I gotAs we talked about his aspirations, he asked, "Do you think I have what it takes?" Suddenly, I heard the voices of every adult from my childhood: "Writing is a hobby, not a career. It won't pay the bills."I told him he was very creative and believed he had what it took to succeed. That was the truth. But there was more to my answer than simply persuading him to put all his efforts into that one dream.When it came time for me to apply to college, my parents gave me two pieces of advice: Choose a career that pays enough for you to support yourself AND one that will always have job vacancies.It was constructive guidance and I'll pass this wisdom on to my own kids but perhaps they missed one small detail.At the time, I knew that English and science were the two subjects I was most interested in. I also enjoyed working with children, and the idea of working in a school appealed to me. So, when my mother suggested speech-language pathology as a potential career, it seemed like the perfect fit. There was a surge in jobs for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in 2001, when I began college and enrolled in the course that introduced the major.I loved writing, but no one said to me, "Choose the job you can't live without." That was the advice I never got. And so, I let writing slip away into the dust of my childhood.I had to parent while living with a chronic illnessAfter earning my master's degree, I worked in the field as an SLP in an elementary school for a few years until my son was born. It wasn't hard to say bye to an over-filled caseload and endless paperwork, but I did eventually miss feeling like a professional.Instead of khakis and a blouse, I wore pajamas or leggings on a good day. I was MomI intended to go back to work when my younger son was in full-day school, but between mothering and living with a chronic illness, my inner creativity won.I started writing againI started slowly. At first, I simply wanted to connect with others who were also living with an undiagnosed disease. When I finally received my diagnosis, I then hoped to be an advocate for those who remained undiagnosed as well as the MS community, so I continued writing with these goals in mind. But, later, as my publications widened, I wanted to branch out to write about parenting, politics that impacted my family's life, and what I thought about the recent episode of my favorite TV show. I wanted to write it all.Without a degree in journalism, I had a lot of homework to do. I joined writer's groups on social media and read about how to send editors pitches that get noticed. Over time, I became accustomed to radio silence and rejections from editors. A lot of behind-the-scenes research eventually enabled me to get my foot in the door. But it wasn't easy.On a whim, I emailed an editor at a publication I aspired to see my name in. Like any enthusiastic creator with a goal, I sent a draft of an essay I'd been working on. It was rejected. All in the same day.Five years later I landed my first essay in that publication. Often, I wonder how I found success in an industry that so few make it in. Then I remember writing gives me the twinkle I see in my son's eyes when he talks about screenwriting that's why I believe he also has what it takes.I'm thankful I have a degree to fall back on if neededMy parents gave me good advice before I left for college. I'm not breaking the bank as a freelance writer. But, because of their guidance, I have a degree to fall back on should I need it, and I'll never regret having that safety net.I believe there's more to convey to children than choosing a career solely based on pay and job availability. Like any parent, I want my children to live comfortably and with job security, but I also want them to pursue the career they can't live without because that's what life is all about. If my children's eyes light up when they talk about a career with a low success rate, I'll urge them to follow their dreams with an alternative plan in place.I'm honest with my son about how few screenwriters are successful, but I'm also advising him to pursue what he can't live without because I want him to wake up every day knowing what it feels like to love what you do. Having a plan B is key."A hobby can be a career." And with those words, I gave my son the hope I'd never received.

The video game tie-in is going to be a while (Credits: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video)The Tuesday letters page explores the oldest online games that are still running, as a reader asks what improvements Saros should make over Returnal.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukLow impactLooking at Microsofts line-up for this year its true they do have an impressive amount of games coming out and I think a lot of them look good, but I also think its true to say none of them are probably going to be big sellers, on PlayStation or Xbox.The problem is not quantity or quality but impact and beyond the Activision stuff the biggest Microsoft has are Halo, Gears Of War, Forza, and Bethesda role-players. Halo and Gears have slipped off a lot nowadays, to the point where theyre barely draws any more, but I think Microsoft has made a mistake not ensuring theres a steady supply of new Forza games, like there used to be.But their biggest mistake has been how Bethesdas role-players have been handled. I get that they wanted to take a chance on something new with Starfield but its going to be close to 20 years between Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls 6 and thats insane.Even worse is that Fallout 5 wont be until after that! They really needed to give that job to someone else, rather than waiting till Bethesda get round to it. The Amazon show will be old news before theres ever a new game to support it. As far as I can work out its more or less impossible for Fallout 5 to be out before 2030 at the very earliest. Thats nuts.XaneLive service retroI have no interest in Rainbow Six Siege, but it is very impressive to me that a game could potentially last 20 years or more and still be popular enough that a sequel isnt deemed necessary.It makes me wonder how long some of the other live service games that are popular at the moment will last. The big question is how long can Fortnite last? It seemed to dip a few years ago but ever since they played the nostalgia card it seems bigger than ever.Im sure itll outlast Rainbow Six Siege so what are we looking at? A game that will last 25 years or more? One that will really last forever? At this point there doesnt seem any reason to stop it or restart it and Im not sure what new technology would make them think they should either. Fortnite could outlast us all!BeakerGC: People are still playing Ultima Online and thats 28 years old at this point. Although thats nothing compared to the original MUD, which has been going for 47 years.Interesting timesIf youre paying 30,000 for a Switch 2 I dont know what to say, but Im pretty sure that trying to sell it to peripheral makers so they know what size case to make is not going to be a very successful get rich quick plan.Still, its more evidence that people are thirsty for new hardware and an escape from the failure of Xbox and the low energy dominance of Sony. Im sure Nintendo will mess up this open goal somehow, since theyre usually at their best when recovering from a failure, but I still think this is going to be an exciting year for games.The second GTA 6 trailer could drop at any minute and once the Switch 2 is fully revealed in April we are going to have a lot to talk about. Well, argue about probably but Im looking forward to it all the same.CharonEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukCivilizations declineI havent seen it talked about much here, but can I just say how upset I am that Civilization 7 has turned out to be a dud? Its Metacritic score may not look that bad (a surprisingly mixed result, although with GC reliably low down the list, along with IGN) but the user score is just 3.7, with the Steam score at a depressingly low Mixed.All of the complaints are the same too, with too few features, too many bugs, and the game just stopping in the 20th century, so were forced to buy the rest as DLC. How places like The Guardian can end up giving the game a 10/10 I dont know. I think they just assumed (as I did, to be honest) that Civilization would always be good, but this one is definitely not.Maybe it can be improved with patches but thats not the point. Theyve had nearly a decade to prepare for this sequel and it feel like its still a year away from a state it shouldve been released in. Awful.MorphSpeak upI wish Phil Spencer or someone from Xbox would talk about why they havent followed the live service trend. I find that very interesting, that theyre one of the few not to go that route, and yet theyve never tried to promote that as a positive or explain it. He does all these interviews, but everything is just buzz words and half-truths that I really dont see the point of doing it.If I was in charge of Xbox, Id be looking to take advantage of Sonys faults by always doing what they dont. Trying to copy them is a lot more difficult than identifying a weakness of theirs and doing the opposite. If fans are upset that Sony seems distant and uncommunicative then open and up and explain yourself, especially if you know people are uncomfortable with your direction already.Maybe thats what Phil thinks hes doing but when theres no substance to what he says its almost more annoying than if they said nothing. Oh well, at least we know that they havent shut Double Fine down.FocusThe road backMaking the Xbox relevant again is a tricky prospect. Its too late in the generation to attract many new console owners and any first party games they bring out solely for the Xbox are going to reach a very limited audience.I genuinely think that their best approach, and possibly their only viable approach, is to set themselves up for the next generation. Release games now multiplatform, ensuring that everyone gets to play their games, maximising revenue and exposure. Then when their new console launches, make sure that you have exclusive sequels to the most popular or best games youve produced previously.Given that fewer console owners are transitioning to new generation consoles immediately, and that Nintendo offering more direct competition (with tech levelling out), Im not even sure a successful reset would be enough for Microsoft. Still, even then maybe theres room enough in the industry for them to find a profitable niche though would that satisfy them?Matt (He_who_runs_away PSN ID)Final leapIm not sure Microsoft has given up trying to attract PlayStation 5 owners so much as PlayStation 5 owners have given up being interested in Xbox consoles. Like another reader said recently, its usually quite common to switch console at the end of a generation, to sample the exclusives youve missed.I know Ive done it before but not this time, what would be the point? To end up with a dead console where all the games are going to be on PlayStation 5 anyway. I really dont see anyway out of this for Xbox unless this giant leap for the next gen machine is as big as theyre claiming. But what happens in the meantime?Terry GoldNot a sequelSince Sony never actually showed it in action, Im curious what peoples hopes are for Saros, as a follow-up to Returnal? Im hoping for a major improvement in graphics, for a start, as the original looked like an average PlayStation 4 game, but I wonder whether the randomly generated levels are really necessary?Variety is important with a roguelike, but the way Returnal was designed it meant you were only ever playing in fairly small rooms before going through a door to the next area, like Metroid Prime. Id be interested in some much larger, open world style areas. Perhaps they could figure out how to randomise landscapes within that, rather than having to chop everything up into separate sections.I dont want to come across as a philistine but Id also like a story I can actually understand. I still dont understand what was going on in Returnal, even after the secret ending, and now it looks like I never will, if theres going to be no sequel.Although I dont know why they dont make a Returnal 2? Its not as if Saros looks like its setting itself up to be any more mainstream friendly. Although looking through their Wikipedia page I noticed they havent made any actual sequels before, even if there have been a ton of Stardust games (which I dont think have a story).LeftyGC: We dont think theyve ever said, but it may be because of the departure of director Harry Krueger.Inbox also-ransI wonder if the Nintendo Switch 2 will have an achievement system? Nintendo has flirted with the idea in certain games but never a system wide thing. I wouldnt be against the idea.LumpySay what you will about the Mass Effect trilogy but the suicide mission bit at the end is still the best sequence in any game Ive ever played. Just got to it again today, in the remaster collection, and theres nothing like it.PearcutMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Every new PS5 first party game in development and whos making themMichael BeckwithPublished February 18, 2025 1:00am How many games does Sony actually have in development? (Sony)If you want to know what new games are coming out for PS5 heres a list of what each of Sonys internal studios are working on at the moment.A lot of PlayStation 5 owners like to criticise the console for not having enough first party games, and its not hard to see why. Sony didnt manage to release a single major blockbuster last Christmas, with the publishers only exclusives being Astro Bot (which was critically acclaimed but not a massive seller) and the disastrous Concord.Sonys 2025 release schedule is looking just as slim, with the latest State of Play from February 2025 relying almost entirely on third party releases. So, unless you are keenly paying attention to every rumour and piece of news, its easy to assume the company has very few games currently in active development.To get a true idea of the current state of the PlayStation business, lets run through all of Sonys internal developers and try to figure out what theyre currently working on and when their next game might be out.Naughty DogWhile The Last Of Us is still a hot commodity thanks to the TV show, Naughty Dogs next project is not The Last Of Us Part 3 but rather a new 80s inspired sci-fi IP entitled Intergalatic: The Heretic Prophet.Its brief reveal at The Game Awards 2024 suggests it will be another third person action game, although maybe one not as reliant on stealth as The Last Of Us and Uncharted. It has no release date, but this will be Naughty Dogs first wholly original game for the PlayStation 5.The studios PlayStation 5 output has so far consisted of remasters of its PlayStation 4 games (including 2020s The Last Of Us Part 2) and a full remake of the first The Last Of Us.Admittedly, Naughty Dog was meant to release a The Last Of Us multiplayer game, after it opted to cut multiplayer from The Last Of Us Part 2. It wouldve also been one of Sonys many planned live service games, but it was cancelled so Naughty Dog could stick with making single-player games.Speaking of, Naughty Dog has said it has multiple single-player projects in the pipeline. What any of them are, though, is a mystery, with plenty of rumours/theories pointing to a third The Last Of Us, a fantasy game, and even a new Uncharted.Santa Monica StudioConsidering Santa Monica Studio has been making almost nothing but God Of War games since 2005, everyone expects the studio to be working on another sequel next. While thats a fairly safe bet, a God Of War 6 is not guaranteed to be Santa Monicas next release.In the wake of 2022s God Of War Ragnark, producer Cory Barlog said Santa Monica was working on multiple projects but didnt say what any of them were. Santa Monica has provided no updates since then, but evidence points to one of them being a new IP, possibly another sci-fi game alongside Naughty Dogs.That said, there have been several rumours and theories about new God Of War projects, ranging from a half-sequel to remasters of the original Greek games and even a prequel.Sucker Punch ProductionsAfter the success of 2020s Ghost Of Tsushima, a sequel for the PlayStation 5 was all but guaranteed. Sucker Punch didnt confirm that though, until late 2024, with the sequel sporting the title Ghost Of Ytei.Set 300+ years after the first game and featuring a new female protagonist, Ghost Of Ytei is so far Sonys only first party exclusive scheduled for 2025. Technically though they never said it was a sequel and it could potentially be a half-sequel in the style of Spider-Man: Miles Morales.Beyond that, theres nothing to suggest Sucker Punch is working on anything else. There were once rumours of the studio revisiting its Sly Cooper and InFamous franchises, but Sucker Punch shut those down in 2022, adding that no such projects were in development anywhere within Sony.Bend StudioFollowing 2019s Days Gone, Bend Studio was meant to move onto a new multiplayer IP, with was described as a AAA military shooter. Like many other Sony live service projects, though, it was cancelled before anything more official was shared.As such, theres no telling if Bend has anything else to fall back on or if it needs to pitch new ideas to Sony. There was once talk of the studio making a new Uncharted, but staff reportedly wanted to do their own thing, resulting in some leaving and the rest asking to be taken off the project.Ironically, despite Sony cancelling plans for a sequel, the company does consider Days Gone worthy of getting an updated remaster for PlayStation 5. It comes out in April 2025 and includes new modes that will also be added to the PC version as DLC.San Diego StudioSan Diego Studio may be the most reliable of the PlayStation studios since its very easy to guess what its working on. Theyve done literally nothing but make annual MLB The Show games since 2018 and this years entry is already set to arrive in March 2025.This year will mark the series departure from (most) last gen systems, as its only slated for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Otherwise, theres never been anything to suggest San Diego Studio will work on something other than the baseball games its known for.Insomniac GamesEveryone knows that Insomniacs next project is its Wolverine game, which was teased back in 2021. Its the question of when itll actually come out or get a new trailer that continues to plague the studio.The project suffered a major setback at the end of 2023, when hackers stole a significant amount of data and leaked details online, including incomplete gameplay footage and plot details.Insomniac assured the Wolverine game wouldnt be cancelled as a result, but while there was no mention of a delay, the incident undoubtedly had an effect on its development.The same hack also unveiled a release schedule for several unannounced Insomniac projects. This included a new Ratchet & Clank, a Venom spin-off, and Spider-Man 3, but Insomniac apparently also had plans for another Marvel game starring the X-Men and a new IP.Its very likely these plans have been adjusted or completely changed thanks to the hack. And given how quiet the studios been about Wolverine, it wouldnt be surprising if Insomniac opted to release something else first and keep Wolverine on the backburner for a while longer.Bluepoint GamesBluepoint Games was Sonys go-to for remasters and remakes, with its most recent project being 2020s Demons Souls, which was one of the very first PlayStation 5 exclusives.After Sony bought the studio in 2021 though, Bluepoint said its next project would be something entirely original. Years went by without any updates, only for it to turn out to be one of Sonys live service games.Said game was reportedly a God Of War spin-off, but with its cancellation in January 2025 (alongside Bend Studios live service game), theres no telling if its moved onto something else. Maybe Sony will opt to play things safe and stick Bluepoint on another remake, but nothings been confirmed.HavenWith Sony cancelling live service games left and right, itd be easy to assume Fairgame$, the debut title for Canadian studio Haven (which Sony bought in 2022), would meet a similar fate.So far, that doesnt appear to be the case, with insider info claiming internal reactions to Fairgame$ have been positive. Still, Haven must be facing a lot of pressure to succeed, lest it suffer the same fate as Concord developer Firewalk Studios.Although there was never a release date to begin with, insider Jeff Grubb claimed in his Game Mess Decides podcast that Fairgame$ wont be out this year and has been pushed back into 2026.Guerrilla GamesConfirmed through job listings in 2022, rather than any teaser trailer, Guerrilla Games will be expanding its Horizon IP with a dedicated online multiplayer spin-off.Leaked alpha footage from early 2023 showed its new cartoony art style, but the final product could wind up looking very different, considering Guerrilla has given no real updates on its progress since.Guerrilla also effectively confirmed a full sequel to Horizon Forbidden West will happen. But with the studio likely focused on the multiplayer game, Aloys adventures probably wont continue until the PlayStation 6 arrives.Media MoleculeAfter launching its game creation tool Dreams for the PlayStation 4 in 2020, Media Molecule spent the next four years supporting and updating it. We always expected it would eventually be ported to the PlayStation 5, but that never happened and there were fears the UK studio could be shut down.Support for Dreams ended in 2023, with Media Molecule confirming it would be working on something new, unrelated to Dreams. Theres no hard evidence to suggest what this new project is, but the studios past experience with the LittleBigPlanet games points to something that makes use of user-generated content in some way.HousemarqueAbout a year after the launch of Housemarques PlayStation 5 debut, Returnal, the studio said its next game would be a new IP rather than a sequel. As of the February 2025 State of Play, we now know that game is titled Saros and will be out in 2026.While it has no direct ties to Returnal, it is very much a spiritual successor, since it too will be a third person action roguelike. What little info that was shared on the PlayStation Blog suggests it will be a slightly kinder experience than Returnal was but otherwise we know nothing about the game at the moment.FirespriteAnother studio Sony acquired in 2021, alongside Housemarque and Bluepoint Games, Firesprite has since made the Horizon Call Of The Mountain VR spin-off, but its future is otherwise unclear.While it was assumed the studio had been bought for its VR expertise, 2022 job listings pointed to one of its future projects being a traditional narrative driven horror game and it was reportedly handling a Twisted Metal reboot too.The latter has apparently since been cancelled, following layoffs at Firesprite, and theres no telling if the horror game is alive or not. Plus, according to a Eurogamer report, the studio had already bled away most of its staff, barring one of Firesprites founders, after Call Of The Mountains launch in 2023.Executives from Sonys XDev support studio took over Firesprite and the new leadership was soon criticised for alleged toxic behaviour, although Sony apparently dismissed the complaints.Polyphony DigitalEver since Gran Turismo 7s launch in 2022, Polyphony Digital seems to have been completely dedicated to routine updates, adding new cars, addressing issues, and incorporating a VR mode to coincide with the PlayStation VR2.The studio did release a free-to-play game entitled My First Gran Turismo in December 2024, but its essentially a trimmed down version of Gran Turismo 7, meant to coax people into buying the full game.As far as new games go, its safe to assume Polyphony is doing some work on a Gran Turismo 8. Studio CEO and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi even hinted at it in 2023, but theres no sign of it launching any time soon.Its release may also depend on how profitable Gran Turismo 7s microtransactions are. Sony is unlikely to ever share exactly how much money it makes from them, but if theyre popular enough the publisher may not feel any pressure to push out a sequel until the PlayStation 6 arrives.Team AsobiHopefully, Sony will now view Team Asobi as an important part of the PlayStation business, thanks to the critical success Astro Bot. It may not have sold as well as Sonys bigger blockbusters, but it garnered a lot of prestige and won no less than four awards at The Game Awards 2024, including Game of the Year.This has encouraged Sony to pursue more family-oriented games and wed be shocked if that didnt include at least one Astro Bot follow-up. The real question is whether Team Asobis next project will be another traditional platformer or something else entirely.It could even return to the VR well based on its experience with Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. Although thats unlikely considering Sony appears to have lost interest in making its own VR games.BungieDestiny 2s story may have concluded with its Final Shape expansion, but Bungie is still supporting the game, albeit with smaller content updates. No doubt a consequence of The Final Shapes underperformance and another swathe of layoffs.In the meantime, Bungie seems to be shifting its focus to its Marathon reboot, another one of Sonys upcoming live service games, which hasnt had a meaningful update since its 2023 reveal.More TrendingIn addition, the studio is assisting NetEase Games with a Destiny mobile spin-off titled Destiny: Rising. It was also supposedly working on another multiplayer game codenamed Gummy Bears which has been described as a cross between League Of Legends and Super Smash Bros. but its reportedly been taking out of Bungies hands and passed to a different, unidentified studio.Marathon could be a make it or break it moment for Bungie, since theres been almost nothing but bad news coming out of the studio since it was acquired by Sony in 2022.Aside from multiple layoffs, missed performance targets, and low morale, there have been concerns of Bungie losing what independence it has and being completely absorbed into Sony, so theres a lot riding on the games success.Sony is yet to have a single successful live service game since taking Bungie on, with most of its planned projects having been cancelled (Helldivers 2 was published by Sony but not made by any of their internal, first party studios). This will be the first Marathon game since 1996 (Bungie)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

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