Agentic AI can deliver big benefits, but business leaders must consider how to deal with this complex range of factors.

'Zeta Gundam' is one of the most highly rated entries in the 'Gundam' saga.SOTSUSUNRISEOne of the most highly regarded mecha anime ever made is now finally celebrating its 4oth anniversary. Zeta Gundam is still very much a classic.Released on March 2 in 1985, Zeta Gundam was the then-direct follow-on series to Mobile Suit Gundam. Set 8 years after that series, it dealt with a far more complex political landscape in terms of its narrative.Following the end of the One Year War, the Federation created a special branch of its military forces called the Titans to deal with Zeon remnants. However, the Titans took that remit too far and became overzealous about who they deemed a threat.To combat the Titans, a new organization was formed, the Anti-Earth Union Group or AEUG. Backed by the massive corporation Anaheim Electronics, which was also a major mobile suit manufacturer, many of the old alliances and allegiances changed around with the creation of the AEUG and Titans conflict.In that, characters such as Char Aznable would end up partnering in battle with his sworn enemy, Amuro Ray. Not to mention the resurgence of Zeon in the form of Neo Zeon, the whole of Zeta Gundam had a feeling of a real generational shift over Mobile Suit Gundam.This was in part due to the narrative, but also the aesthetics. While Kunio Okawara returned for some of the mecha design, much of Zeta Gundams visual style was determined originally by Mamoru Nagano. Although, the likes of Makoto Kobayashi also did many notable throughout the series designs.Not to mention the character design shift from Yoshikazu Yasuhiko to Hiroyuki Kitazume, which created a sleeker and somewhat colder feel to the characterization.Writer and director Yoshiyuki Tomino also didnt hold back, as he continued to rack up a substantial kill count for many of the major characters, although the likes of both Ideon and Dunbine obviously surpass Zeta Gundam on that front.This 40th anniversary is also likely the reason we are getting such a nice Metal Build Zeta Gundam toy this April and why Japanese fans on X partly lost their minds yesterday realizing that Zeta Gundam is now, in fact, 40 years old (shown above).For many, Zeta Gundam is one of the best entries into the Gundam narrative pantheon. Its a much darker tale and colder depiction of the Universal Century, and for that reason, its garnered a sizable and very dedicated fanbase.Thankfully, you can watch all of Zeta Gundam over at Crunchyroll, and if you are at all curious you can also check out my Blu-ray review of the series.Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.

A hot potato: Sergey Brin, the billionaire who co-founded Google alongside Larry Page in 1998, isn't the biggest believer in the idea of a work-life balance. He says that in order for Google to come out on top in the ultra-competitive AI industry, employees should work no fewer than 60 hours per week, which Brin calls the "sweet spot of productivity." Brin called for Googlers working on the company's AI products to increase their hours in a memo seen by The New York Times.Sixty hours per week works out at 12 hours per day in the traditional Monday to Friday work week.Not surprisingly, Brin isn't a fan of working from home. Google is one of many companies that require workers to be in the office at least three days per week. However, Brin recommends being in the office "at least every weekday" so at least he's okay with working from home on weekends."A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by," Brin wrote. "This last group is not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else."Brin did say that working more than 60 hours per week isn't advisable as it can lead to exhaustion (and possibly other health issues), though it's easy to imagine most people arguing that 60 hours per week would cause the same problem. // Related StoriesBrin is cracking the whip in a push for Google to win the race in developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), which can understand and think like a real person while exceeding human cognitive capabilities."Competition has accelerated immensely, and the final race to AGI is afoot," Brin wrote in the memo. "I think we have all the ingredients to win this race, but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts."Brin believes the key to Google developing AGI first in addition to 60-hour-weeks and not working from home is for programmers to increase their efficiency by using the company's own Gemini AI tools.Brin stepped down as Alphabet president in 2019, though he returned to take a role in Google's AI developments in 2023. It's unlikely that his memo is going to lead to CEO Sundar Pichai changing the work-from-home policy or increasing AI employees' minimum number of hours, but Brin still has influence at the company he co-founded.Brin isn't the only person in tech who thinks 40 to 50 hours in the office each week isn't enough. Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has called for 70-hour work weeks and said he does not "believe in work-life balance."Masthead: Thomas Hawk

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIt works like magic, thanks to Magic BayTwo screens or one, its up to youWill it launch as an actual product?Like many professionals who work remotely, I love working from home for one key reason: No, its not so I can wear pajamas to work (which I do), but so I can use my dual or triple-screen setup. The exact number of screens varies throughout the year, but one constant remains: my monitors.I also love to travel often, and its always more challenging to work from the road. Laptops like the Yoga Book 9i take a unique approach to solving this, as the two OLED displays make it simple to work with multiple windows. However, this solution doesnt always work, especially as the two displays are stacked on top of each other versus being horizontally aligned.Recommended VideosIve tried many of the best portable monitors, and while these help in a pinch, I have longed for a better setup. At MWC 2025, Lenovo showed off a potential solution, and its one of the more unique approaches that Ive seen. Heres why I like it and why it could be the ideal solution. Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIf you havent heard of Lenovos Magic Bay, youve been missing out. Its one of the more unique features on a laptop and lets you use a range of different accessories to extend the capabilities of your laptop. These all connect via pogo pins, making it easy to install or remove any of these at will.Magic Bay is a concept that Lenovo has shown off at several shows in the past. Some of the previous concepts shown were an add-on screen that adds a 10-inch panel about the laptop screen, a ring light, a mirror, and a small fan. There are also aromatherapy diffusers, speakers, and a 4K studio webcam that also adds two speakers to your laptop.Magic Bay is limited to a selection of ThinkBook laptops, but its a concept that I wish would come to more laptops. In particular, the latest concepts would be ideal for any laptop user.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Magic Bay Dual Display concept is designed to offer you two 13-inch screens, while the 2nd Display concept offers a single 8-inch display that clips to the right of the laptop screen and is ideal for vertical use cases like scrolling social media or monitoring notifications.The Dual Display concept features two 13.5-inch displays with 28801920 pixels resolution, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 1500:1 contrast ratio, and 100% of the sRGB color spectrum.. It weighs 1.2kg and doesnt require a separate power supply. The 2nd Display concept features an 8-inch display with a 9:16 aspect ratio, 19201200 pixels resolution, and a 60Hz refresh rate. It weighs just 0.3 kg, making it one of the lightest second-screen products you can buy.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsOne of the key problems with existing portable monitors is the integration with your laptop, but the two Magic Bay concepts solve this in two key ways. First, all the various keyboard shortcuts work as planned, so it works as an extension of your laptop. Second, and arguably the most impressive thing about it, is that the brightness control of your laptop display also controls the brightness of the secondary screens.This is the type of integration found in the Apple ecosystem, and it shows just how Lenovos tight integration of its accessories and ecosystem allows it to achieve a similar result.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsAs you may have guessed, its a conceptual device that may not make it to release. While many of Lenovos concepts do make it to a commercial product, the Magic Bay concept is not usually one of these.Its been over two years since the launch of the Magic Bay concept at CES 2023, but the only product that has launched is the 4K Studio webcam. I hope that this dual-screen concept follows the webcam and launches to the market, as it will solve one of my biggest issues with the best portable monitors.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Mobile World Congress is in full swing, and TCL has officially launched its new NXTPaper 11 Plus tablet. This handheld is designed with cutting-edge display technology thats much easier on the eyes thanks to features like Smart Eye Comfort Mode and Personalized Eye Comfort Mode. This tablet makes it significantly easier to read in bed without searing your retinas just before falling asleep.The consensus regarding display technology and its ease on the eyes is nonexistent. There are as many opinions as there are display types, and while some people argue that e-ink is the way to go, others say a blue light filter is all you need. The NXTPaper 11 Plus takes that a step further with its custom modes.Recommended VideosThe Smart Eye Comfort Mode adjusts the contrast, color temperature, brightness, and other settings based on different use cases. For example, watching videos would require a different array of settings than reading an ebook.TCL / TCLPersonalized Eye Comfort Mode uses the same concept, but takes it a step further. It takes users preferences into account and adjusts color tones to reduce eye strain and fatigue.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHowever, the settings dont stop there. The NXTPaper 11 Plus is TCLs first AI-enabled tablet and comes with the kind of tools youd expect, such as Text Assist and Writing Assist. It also supports the Circle to Search feature, as well as a smart memo mode that transcribes spoken words with impressive accuracy. It can also provide real-time subtitles, even on videos that dont have any by default.Its specs are nothing to scoff at, either. With an 11.5-inch, 2.2K display, the NXTPaper 11 Plus is easy on the eyes in more ways than one. It supports a refresh rate of 120Hz and boasts a color accuracy at 100% sRGB. The tablet is available in two different configurations: 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, or 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.It also sports an 8,000mAh battery and 33W charging to ensure you never run out of juice. The tablet is available starting at starting at 249 Euro, or roughly $260.Editors Recommendations

5.2 miles/kWh The 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA is good enough to make a believer out of EV skeptics But if you're still skeptical, don't worry: There's a hybrid version, too. Tim Stevens Mar 3, 2025 5:00 am | 0 It's not quite ready to be seen uncamouflaged, but Mercedes-Benz was ready to let us drive the new CLA. Credit: Tim Stevens It's not quite ready to be seen uncamouflaged, but Mercedes-Benz was ready to let us drive the new CLA. Credit: Tim Stevens Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMercedes-Benz provided flights from Albany, NY to Arjeplog, Sweden and accommodation so Ars could drive the CLA prototypes. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.Mercedes-Benz's EV efforts aren't exactly burning up the sales charts. Models like the EQS and EQE haven't convinced the brand's demanding clientele that batteries are the future, forcing the company to scale back its electric ambitions.Scale back, but not abandon. Benz is about to launch a new generation of EVs relying on technology derived from the epically efficient EQXX. The first is the new CLA. It's coming soon, and after getting some time behind the wheel of a prototype vehicle undergoing final testing in the snowy wilds of Sweden, I'm convinced this could be the car to change Mercedes' electrified fortunes.And, for anyone who isn't convinced, there'll be a hybrid version too.The EV is definitely the focus, though, and it tackles many of the most significant sticking points for would-be buyers of the company's current electric offerings. First among those points is the styling. The somewhat anonymous shapes of the EQS and EQE have not earned those machines many fans outside of obsessive aerodynamicists. While the CLA I drove was unfortunately clad beneath some eye-warping camouflage, it seems to share enough lines with the Concept CLA Class that I'm already convinced it'll be a looker.The second concern with many of Benz's current EVs is cost. Yes, you can get an EQB in the mid-$50,000 range, but that's based on the older GLB. The least expensive of the company's current EV range is the EQE sedan, with a mid-$70,000 starting price. That puts it well out of reach for many avid EV enthusiasts. The CLA will have Mercedes' first entirely in-house EV powertrain, and it's far more efficient than the ones its currently offering. Credit: Tim Stevens The current, gas-powered CLA starts in the mid-$40,000 range. Mercedes isn't saying how much this new one will cost, but while the EV version will presumably be more, it should come in well beneath the EQE.Next is the driving dynamic, which is really what brought me to Sweden. Both the EQS and EQE are fine cars, comfortable and calm with plenty of torque and power to be fun. However, they're simply not the most engaging of machines. Can the CLA do better?First impressions are definitely a yes. My driving was performed in the low-grip, wintery environment of northern Sweden, making it a little difficult to tell exactly how the car will feel when pushed in a more temperate world. But lowering the level of adhesion also lets you get an immediate sense of how well-balanced a machine is, and the CLA feels very well-balanced indeed.When pushed beyond the limit of adhesion, it did have a tendency to understeer, but it didn't take much provocation to bring the rear end around. Even with the stability control on, the 4matic-equipped car I drove was happy to swing out the rear as I danced from one corner to the next. When cruising at more relaxed speeds, the car soaked up the decidedly rough road surfaces extremely well for a car with such petite dimensions.Most impressive was how well it handled the limited grip. One of the prime advantages of electrification is how quickly and smoothly stability and traction control can react to a loss of grip. The CLA didn't immediately cut all power when it detected wheelspin, it quickly and automatically raised or lowered output to match the available grip. There will also be a hybrid version of the CLA for those who aren't ready for a full EV. Credit: Tim Stevens Power delivery, then, wasn't all-or-nothing, and when it gave all it was plenty. The electric CLA felt comparably quick to the 402-hp EQE 500 4matic. The CLA 4matic makes similar power: 268 hp (200 kW) from the rear motor and 107 hp (80 kW) from the front. It gets off the line quickly, with the two-speed transmission on the rear axle ensuring that motor was still pulling strongly as I approached 100 mph (160 km/h).Things were even more interesting when I needed to slow down. The CLA will be the debut of a new, unified braking system that effectively decouples the brake pedal from the actual physical action of the brakes. It's not quite a full brake-by-wire system as there's still a mechanical linkage there as a sort of fall-back, but in normal operation, the sensation you get from the brake pedal is entirely artificial, created by springs and bushings, not hydraulics.There's no feedback here, no haptics or adjustable resistance to signal what the brakes are doing. Indeed, the only indication that I'd triggered ABS on hard stops was the chatting noise coming from the wheels. In exchange, you get a consistent, solid brake feel, with the car mixing regenerative braking and physical braking as needed to deliver clean, consistent stops.It'll take more extensive testing to know how well the system handles something like a summer track day, but I can say that in my testing I got the brakes hot enough to be quite pungent, yet the car still stopped cleanly and predictably.When it comes to one-pedal driving, the CLA offers a "D-" mode that will bring the car to a complete stop, but the outright deceleration rate after lifting off the accelerator is nowhere near as strong as something like a Tesla on Standard mode. That's in addition to two lighter regen modes, plus "D Auto," which varies regen based on surrounding traffic and terrain, just like the company's current EVs. The CLA was well-balanced on the ice. Credit: Tim Stevens The CLA is also designed to address any concerns about efficiency with a number of improvements. That includes a new heat pump that can scavenge waste energy from the motor, the battery pack, and the ambient air. It's said to heat the cabin twice as quickly with half the power consumption of the old heat pump.There's also a revised motor design, utilizing permanent magnets on both the front and rear axle. The system relies on a decoupling system to reduce drag on the front axle when it's not needed, as on the EQE SUV, but the engagement is so quick and seamless that I never noticed.The battery pack has also been revised, with a new chemistry that Mercedes says boosts overall energy density by 20 percent while also enabling a "significant reduction" in the use of cobalt.The net result is a machine that promises to go 5.2 miles/kWh (11.9 kWh/100 km) and offers 466 miles (750 km) of range from the 85 kWh usable capacity "premium" battery pack. That's on the European WLTP cycle, so on the American EPA cycle we can probably expect something closer to 400 miles (644 km). That still compares very favorably to the 308 miles (497 km) the current EQE can manage from its 96 kWh battery pack.And, when you run out of juice, the new CLA's 800-volt architecture enables charging rates of up to 320 kW. That theoretically means 186 miles (300 km) of charge in just 10 minutes. Battery energy density is up, and there's a more efficient heat pump for the cabin. Credit: Tim Stevens So, then, the promise is for a better-looking, better-driving, more-affordable, longer-range, and quicker-charging EV. That sounds like a winning bet, but Mercedes still has a hedge in. I didn't just drive the electric CLA up in Sweden. I also got a go in the 48-volt hybrid version.Yes, there's a new CLA for you even if you're still not on board with the EV revolution. This one's built around a 1.5 L four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that's integrated with an eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Engine output is rated at 188 hp (140 kW), plus an additional 27 hp (20 kW) from the electric motor.That's enough to drive the car up to 62 mph (100 kph) without spinning up the gasoline engine, but with only 1.3 kWh of battery at its disposal, you won't go far without combustion. Mercedes doesn't even quote an all-electric range. The engine comes on early and often.In fact, during my time behind the wheel, I couldn't get the engine to turn off. The engineers blamed the below-freezing temperatures. So, I can't say just how sprightly the car will be without internal combustion. With that four-cylinder humming, the car was reasonably sprightly, the transmission slipping smoothly through the gears. Outright power is definitely on the limited side, though. Anyone who cares about acceleration should go for the other CLA, the one with the bigger battery. Mercedes-Benz may well have a winner here with the new CLA. I got a good look at the interior of the two cars, but sadly, I'm not allowed to talk about that yet. Suffice it to say it includes some tasteful and practical changes that should be well-received. More on that to come.Will the new CLA change Mercedes-Benz's BEV fortunes? Initial impressions are indeed very good. If it looks half as good as that concept, delivers on the range promise, and is priced right, it should be a winner.We won't have long to wait to find out how it looks, but don't expect an answer to the pricing question until closer to the car entering production later this year. Regardless, it's great to see all the testing in the EQXX finally bearing fruit. At first bite, it's tasting sweet. 0 Comments

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 16, but have had compulsions as long as I can remember.It's counterintuitive, but the symptoms of my OCD intensify around people I'm comfortable with.I'm working on fighting my compulsions when I'm around my partner.I've been counting since I can remember. Balancing, blinking, scanning for cracks to step on with my right foot whenever my left foot accidentally landed on one. The feeling of something, anything, being "off" can mess up my day and have an intense effect on my interactions with others, particularly with those I'm closest to. I wasn't diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder until age 16, but I have no recollection of life before it.My list of triggers is long (and doesn't include the "neatness" commonly associated with OCD), but the main categories are checking (confirming the door is shut or my curling iron is unplugged), symmetry/exactness, and a symptom I've seen anecdotally referred to as "memory hoarding," wherein I feel a compulsive need to internalize even the most inconsequential information.I've learned to appreciate some aspects of my condition. My desire to take verbatim notes makes me an excellent typer, and, because I compulsively repeat patterns and numbers in my head, I internalize them pretty easily. Case in point: In 2013, I was hit by a car. While still on the ground, I memorized the driver's license plate before they peeled away. (They eventually stopped and came back, but that's a story for another day.) Certain information is like a hard-to-forget jingle, except instead of a fun little earworm, it's a game of Freecell I played in elementary school.It's not all fun and actual games. If my mind grabs onto a word or even text on a billboard, I lose focus and stop processing whatever I'm supposed to be doing. At night, if my body feels off balance, I may spend a half-hour tapping and twitching until things feel 100% right. Sleeping next to me can be very difficult at times. And yet, I do sleep next to another person each night someone who is very patient, which can be both a blessing and a curse, through no fault of his own.I stop hiding my OCD when I become more comfortable with someoneWhen I first meet someone, I try to disguise my OCD with workarounds. But when I'm around someone who cares about me, who accepts me, the hiding stops. This sounds positive in theory, but in practice, it's like my OCD is suddenly given free rein, allowing it to operate openly and aggressively. This happens in my romantic partnerships and my relationships with immediate family members, best friends, and even my therapist.For years, I didn't understand why the presence of my loved ones exacerbated my OCD symptoms. It seems counterintuitive that being with the people I'm most comfortable around could amplify my compulsions; after all, their presence usually decreases my anxiety, and anxiety can intensify someone's OCD symptoms. But no these people usually bear witness to the weirdest, most intrusive compulsions in my brain's repertoire.My OCD is a principal part of who I am, inherent to my personality, nature, and disposition. For a long time, I thought that having people in my life who accepted my OCD made it OK to ask them to go above and beyond to placate my worries. Through therapy, I've realized that, while supportive relationships are important even necessary they can only go so far, and asking them to go to such great lengths was unfair to them (and a disservice to myself). I was asking my loved ones to make me feel better over and over and over. And then I'd ask myself, "Why am I not getting any better?"What I was asking for is something known as family accommodation, which can occur when a person's loved ones try to alleviate the sufferer's anxieties, thereby "preventing patients from developing tolerance or habituating to the anxiety associated with their OCD triggers." If one of your compulsions is checking to make sure the stove is not on, and your partner always reassures you that the stove is off whenever you ask, it may stop you from seeking help with your appliance-focused anxieties.When I started dating my partner, I decided to fight some of my compulsionsEarly in my current relationship, I jumped on the opportunity to start fighting some of my compulsions, like not asking my partner to repeat himself or to quadruple-check the door's locks. At first, I didn't discuss this effort and, good god, it took effort. Not only is it difficult to explain, but acknowledgment could make the compulsions feel more urgent, harder to avoid.A few months in, I told him everything and asked that he try not to indulge my OCD if possible. Progress has been slow, and I still experience compulsive urges on a minute-to-minute basis, but each minor victory is still a victory. For decades, resisting any compulsion felt excruciating, even impossible, so even the littlest steps forward are thrilling.I now recognize that my interpersonal relationships can mean the difference between living peacefully with OCD and suffering from it. There's no cure, but a path to acceptance exists, and I feel grateful to finally be walking it.

Nearly half the team regulating self-driving cars was fired in the layoff of federal workers last month.One terminated NHTSA employee said the firings would slow down companies trying to deploy robotaxis, including Tesla.Tesla CEO Elon Musk is leading efforts to slash the federal workforce with DOGE.Job cuts imposed by Elon Musk's DOGE will slow down the deployment of self-driving vehicles on US roads, a terminated federal worker told Business Insider. The Office of Automation Safety, which develops regulations for autonomous vehicles, lost three of its seven employees during a Valentine's Day cull of government workers, a person with knowledge of the cuts said.The office is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which regulates vehicle safety and lost about 4% of its workers in the February 14 layoffs."There was a massive push in the government over the past year to hire people from the actual autonomous vehicle industry to assist in regulating and understanding it. Since the government fired all recently hired employees, almost all of that private sector knowledge is now gone," the terminated worker said.They said the cuts had left the office "extremely understaffed" with less specialized knowledge about the autonomous vehicle sector.BI has viewed the person's termination letter. They did not want to be named for fear of affecting their future employment prospects.The Washington Post previously reported on the firings. They were part of a wider push that saw thousands of probationary federal workers lose their jobs. They had typically been in their roles for less than two years.It comes as DOGE moves forward with its efforts to cut the size of the government, despite legal opposition and concern that Musk's efficiency efforts are targeting agencies that regulate Tesla, SpaceX, and his other companies.Robotaxi roadblockCompanies building autonomous vehicles face a daunting patchwork of state and federal regulations.Those wanting to deploy fully driverless vehicles that lack traditional controls such as steering wheels or pedals, such as Tesla's Cybercab or the now-scrapped Cruise Origin vehicle, need to apply for an exemption to federal regulations.The exemption process, which is handled by the Office of Automation Safety, can be lengthy. Cruise waited two years for permission to deploy the Origin before ultimately scrapping it.Musk has called for an overhaul of federal autonomous vehicle regulations, telling investors last October he would "try to help make that happen" through his role at DOGE.In November, Bloomberg reported that easing rules around self-driving cars was a major priority for the incoming Trump administration.Tesla is gearing up to deploy fully driverless vehicles for the first time in June with a robotaxi service in Austin.Musk's automaker is also facing NHTSA investigations into its Full Self-Driving and Autopilot assisted driving tech, although those investigations are handled by a separate department to the Office of Automation Safety.The job losses risk ceding the initiative on robotaxis to China, which is also heavily invested in developing autonomous vehicles, the terminated NHTSA employee said."When they do stuff like this, where they claim that it's a regulatory goal to further the deployment of autonomous vehicles, but then they fire the team that's responsible for that that's just going to let China get further ahead," the individual said.An NHTSA spokesperson said despite the layoffs, the agency's workforce remained "considerably" larger than it was at the start of the Biden administration."We have retained positions critical to the mission of saving lives, preventing injuries, and reducing economic costs due to road traffic crashes. We will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment, in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and our data-driven, risk-based investigative process," they told BI.Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at tcarter@businessinsider.com or Signal at tcarter.41. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Xbox Network, once known as Xbox Live, is reportedly down as hundreds of users complain they can't get online or play video games that they already own on their console

GTA 6 is slated for this year, but Vertpaint, which is formed of ex-Rockstar and TT Games talent, is going a very different direction and Ritual Tides looks absolutely chillingTech10:00, 03 Mar 2025Ritual Tides looks gorgeousTake-Two Interactive recently confirmed that GTA 6 is launching in Fall 2025, but Vertpaint Games, which is formed of former Rockstar and TT Games staffers, is coming this year with a very different vibe.The studio's game, Ritual Tides, was teased in October 2024, and now it's getting a much deeper look as part of a fresh video interview with CEO James Macleod which showcases what some have called "Lovecraftian Jurassic Park" or "Silent Hill meets rural British setting".The game takes place on an island which has been taken over by a cult called the Fallow Parish, and the team has revealed more information today (March 3).Ritual Tides is the complete opposite of what Rockstar doesThe team shows off some of the stunning detail in the video above, as well as some concept art that looks downright horrifying.It'll be in first-person for plenty of scares, with a climbing system designed to be more stressful. It's intended as a "fresh take on first-person horror", and will cover some "exceedingly dark" subject matter.Combat-wise, the team isn't quite ready to show it off yet, but it won't be a power fantasy. Macleod says some inspiration came from Day-Z of all places when it comes to the impermanence of weapons but guns won't answer all of Ritual Tides' problems.Other sources of inspiration include Metroid Prime Echoes, Silent Hill, Resident Evil Village, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and Lovecraft stories including The Thing on the Doorstep.Wouldn't want his dentist billThose visuals come from the team scanning their own assets and reference material, and the studio is now beginning to reveal more about the game as it approaches release.While acknowledging that Vertpaint is a smaller studio than its AAA rivals, Mcleod is keen to stress that the team wants "to set a new industry standard for quality both in terms of gripping gameplay and graphical breakthroughs."It's currently slated for PC first, with a console release planned for later.For more from former Rockstar devs, be sure to check out MindsEye from Leslie Benzies' new studio, which definitely looks a lot like GTA.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.