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WWW.CNET.COMThe 15 Best PS5 Games Right NowOver four years after its release,Sony's PlayStation 5has bested Microsoft's Xbox to dominate this console generation. If you want a plug-and-play experience with the latest games, PS5 is a fantastic choice.The PS5 introduced several tech advancements over its predecessor, from the extra functionality you get from the DualSense controller's advanced haptics and triggers to instant load times with its solid-state storage. While initially lampooned for its large size, Sony released Slim versions of its disc-using and disc-less console models in 2023, and then a more powerful (and pricier) PS5 Pro in late 2024.But the PS5's biggest appeal is its lengthy catalog of exclusive and cross-platform games spanning multiple genres. Sony has leveraged its intellectual property to create everything from the gritty narratives of God of War: Ragnarok and The Last of Us Part II to the colorful nostalgic platforming Astro Bot. While some instant classics like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth eventually come to other platforms, they debut on PS5 first and remain exclusive for months or years. Ultimately, there's something for everyone on the PS5.We've curated this list of the best Sony PlayStation 5 games you can buy right now, including some stellar titles that showed up on CNET's 2024 Game of the Year list. Sony Astro Bot Astro Bot is one of the best PlayStation games in years like concentrated joy coming back from a simpler time in gaming's past. It's a whimsical tour de force of unfettered creativity, essentially Sony's equivalent of iconic Nintendo 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 or Galaxy. Astro Bot is a love letter to every Sony game, with references and cameos to PlayStation games and hardware stretching back to before some gamers (including this writer) were born.Astro Bot isn't just a nostalgic cash grab dropping dozens of member berries and phoning it in. It's a game where every level is a mechanical and visual triumph, with power-ups that allow players to float like a balloon, bullet dash, spring punch, climb like a monkey, blast like a rocket, stop time and shrink down to the size of a mouse, each one changing how you engage with the collectible bots and puzzle pieces.This game also makes full use of the DualSense controllers -- different levels take advantage of the gyro capabilities and even have you blowing into the controller to spin pinwheels to create gusts of wind. When you succeed in your task and make it to the end of the level? You best believe you're going to be serenaded with hundreds of acorns, gold coins, snowballs or whatever bauble fits the level's theme, just because the game wants to remind you that it can handle dropping all those beautiful physics objects in front of you at once.Astro Bot is a unique and laudable PlayStation experience, made possible only through a combination of Sony's cultural currency and the PlayStation 5's hardware. It's a must-have game for the console.Release date: Sept. 6, 2024Genre: 3D platformerDeveloper: Team Asobi-Tyler Graham, associate writer Hazelight Studios Split Fiction is the latest two-players-only game coming from Hazelight Studios, which has built a reputation of similarly novel couch or online co-op titles, like the award-winning It Takes Two. The new game is a cavalcade of fun action and puzzle sequences that don't overstay their welcome, switching up mechanics and set pieces to keep the game flowing.Players control either Mio or Zoe, two fiction writers lured to an evil corporation attempting to steal all their ideas, which they must play through to escape. The game alternates between these, throwing players from a cyberpunk science fiction story to a cozy fantasy and back again every hour or so, with enough whimsical side stories to break up the flow and ensure there's always something new around the corner. With a light story in the background, and as Mio and Zoe go from strangers to friends in a tightly-tuned cooperative gameplay, Split Fiction is a great pick for pals or partners looking for a polished game they can play together -- so long as the occasionally difficult bits don't wear you down.Read our Split Fiction review.Release date:March 6, 2025Genre: Co-op action platformerDeveloper: Hazelight Studios-- David Lumb, Senior Mobile Reporter See at Amazon Capcom Monster Hunter Wilds Hunt big monsters yourself or with friends across deserts, forests and more. Capcom's celebrated Monster Hunter series blew into the mainstream with 2018's Monster Hunter: World, and the newest version brings a great mix of old and new. Monster Hunter Wilds starts out feeling like an expansion to its predecessor, but it's quickly apparent how much the game has been improved for the PS5: open world between camps and hunting areas, instant load times, herd behaviors, monster-on-monster clashes and the sharpest graphics yet.The story starts with the titular Monster Hunter, the player, accompanying a hunter's guild expedition to a far-off land thought uninhabitable to people -- but with a former native in tow, looking to connect with the tribes who live there. Of course, they'll need to fight their way through plenty of monsters and other beasts to do so, bringing the game's 14 weapons to bear -- all of which get new movesets and mechanics in the game. A big game with plenty of brawls with new and unique beasts, Monster Hunter Wilds is the best of the series.Read our starter guide 7 Tips When Starting Monster Hunter Wilds.Release date: February 28, 2025Genre: Boss battle fantasy actionDeveloper: Capcom-- David Lumb Sony God of War: Ragnark Santa Monica Studios' God of War: Ragnark, released in November 2022, continues the titular god Kratos' epic dad adventure through lands inspired by Norse mythology -- and clashing with the Nordic gods themselves -- while raising his son Atreus. The sequel to the 2018 God of War, which served as a soft reboot of the classic series, has been lauded for its voice acting, lush graphics and tight combat, but it's the narrative that sets the game apart from other AAA action games.Ragnark picks up where God of War left off as Kratos' killing of the Aesir god Baldur triggers the leadup to the mythical realms-wide, age-ending titular battle. With more weapons, enemies, bosses and gameplay featuring slices playing as Atreus, Ragnark improves on everything from the first game. There's even a free DLC, Valhalla, serving as a narrative epilogue to the Norse chapter in the war god's story. For a cinematic adventure of epic scale, God of War: Ragnark is hard to top.Read our God of War: Ragnark review.Release date: Nov. 9, 2022Genre: Narrative-driven hack and slash adventureDeveloper: Santa Monica Studio-David Lumb $45 at Amazon Guerrilla Games Horizon Forbidden West Another great sequel of a fan-favorite game, Horizon Forbidden West is Guerrilla Games' sequel to the 2017 smash hit Horizon Zero Dawn. Forbidden West, which came out in February 2022, follows Aloy's quest to find a cure for a plague in a post-post-apocalyptic world, where sentient beast-like machines roam the land while tribes of surviving humans unravel the mysteries of fallen civilizations.As an open-world game, Forbidden West builds on its predecessor with more areas to explore, underwater sections to investigate, weapons to find and skills to master. Guerrilla Games expanded production of the sequel with more emphasis on story cinematics, with a star-studded cast led by Ashly Burch and the dearly missed Lance Reddick, as well as the talents of Angela Bassett and Carrie-Anne Moss in new roles. The sprawling game is further expanded in the DLC, Burning Shores, that explores even more of what happened in the past -- and the course of the world's future.For a big adventure promising dozens of hours of gameplay in an open world, Horizon Forbidden West is a great choice.Read our Horizon Forbidden West review.Release date: Feb. 18, 2022Genre:Post-post-apocalyptic open world action-adventureDeveloper: Guerrilla Games-David Lumb See at Amazon Naughty Dog The Last of Us 2: Remastered The Last of Us 2, the long-awaited sequel to the post-apocalyptic zombie game from Naughty Dog, first came out in 2020 on last-gen consoles to enormous critical and cultural acclaim (if eerie timing during a pandemic). Only a few years later, the studio released a remastered version for PS5 in January 2024. The graphical gains aren't significant, but having a definitive edition for current-gen consoles is helpful for players to pick up and experience, and there are several extras like No Return (a roguelike zombie survival mode) and the unfinished Lost Levels not found in the original game.Where the original The Last of Us was a story about grief and the (very bloody) lengths taken to start anew after the apocalypse, The Last of Us 2 is a story of consequence and the (very bloody) lengths taken for revenge. As you'd expect of developer Naughty Dog, this is a beautiful, laboriously crafted story unlike pretty much anything else in gaming, and The Last of Us 2 Remastered is the best way to play it. Worth a place on anyone's shelf, but don't expect to come out of it unscathed.Read our The Last of Us 2 review.Release date: Jan. 19, 2024Genre: Narrative-driven post-apocalyptic third-person shooterDeveloper: Naughty Dog- David Lumb Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNET Fortnite A couple of years ago, I would have described the free-to-play shooter Fortnite as the premier battle royale game, but that's no longer a sufficient description. Fortnite is like the final boss of live-service games because it isn't simply a game anymore: It's a platform for what feels like seemingly endless games.Hey, maybe you enjoy the fast-paced, zany battle royale experience that normal Fortnite offers you, but you don't like building? Fortnite: Zero Build remedies that, allowing me to drop into a more traditional battle royale experience. There are even more "out there" game modes. Are you a fan of Guitar Hero? Fortnite Festival wants to help you get your rhythm fix, allowing players to jam out to a constantly updating library of music. Do you enjoy building, but you're not so big on battle royales? Lego Fortnite offers an entire blocky open world to gallivant across.Even if you prefer classic battle royale, there are always new events to shake it up: One day a sandstorm is reshaping the entire island, and the next Marvel's Dr. Doom is building his empire within the playable arena. New player skins of fictional characters and real celebrities are added all the time. This is a game that both shapes and is shaped by popular culture, and you get to be in the middle of it all.Release date: July 21, 2017Genre: Battle royale, rhythm, survival builder and moreDeveloper: Epic Games-Tyler Graham Sucker Punch Productions Ghost of Tsushima Games make the most of a revenge narrative, which is why it's so enthralling to step into Jin Sakai's shoes as he becomes "the Ghost" of Tsushima, enacting his vengeance with sword in shadow.The game, which was rereleased in a Director's Cut version for PS5 in August 2021, tells a story about a hero -- and a legend -- that emerged during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. You're forced to walk in two worlds as you alternate between stealthy takedowns and intense sword fights, including epic samurai duels.All that violence occurs in a beautiful game: There are peaceful, reflective moments too, ones where you'll recite haikus in the hot springs or ride your horse through fields surrounded by beautiful white plum blossom trees. It's no surprise the game has a built-in photo mode and the option to turn off the HUD altogether.No matter how you slice it, the conflict between the enemy-stalking Ghost and honorable Jin Sakai is an example of Sony's commitment to premium storytelling, and Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most cinematic games under the PlayStation banner.Read our Ghost of Tsushima review.Release date: July 17, 2020Genre: Stealthy open world action-adventureDeveloper: Sucker Punch Productions-Tyler Graham See at Playstation Square Enix Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth Among my group of friends, I'm the notorious side-quest hater. I almost never do them because they feel like tedious busy work that slows down the game for minimal reward. Let me tell you, when I got to the first open area of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth when it was released in February 2024, I finished every single quest in that area. The game just felt immediately inviting. Rebirth takes everything about the first remake installment and expands it -- more characters, more quests, more freedom, more minigames (hello, Queen's Blood obsession). There's a freedom and fluidity in the game that I never quite felt with the previous installment, Final Fantasy VII Remakenor the Intergrade DLC, including upgrades to combat such as synergy skills and abilities, which make the fights feel even more dynamic by allowing you greater creativity. I expected to enjoy the next chapter in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, but even I wasn't prepared for a game that felt so thorough, fun and welcoming.Read our Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth review.Release date: Feb. 29, 2024Genre: Tactical JRPG action-adventureDeveloper: Square Enix-Adam Benjamin, managing editor See at Amazon Larian Studios Baldur's Gate 3 I love Baldur's Gate 3 so much, I have multiple save files because I keep dragging friends into it. It was an easy sell for me, a D&D player who grew up with BioWare RPGs, but I'm still impressed by how much Larian Studios managed to do with this game -- it's stunning in its visuals, storytelling and customization. On the PS5 version, which came out in September 2023, it's easy to start a game with a friend or three, letting you explore the realm together, while still allowing each person a degree of freedom in how they want to do that. Play as one of the Origin characters or create your own custom character, whether that's a tough dragonborn monk or a cotton-candy-haired elf sorcerer. Make choices that affect the story, roll for outcomes, use inspiration to reroll bad outcomes and eventually load a previous save when you continue to roll poorly. In all seriousness, part of the fun of the game is discovering what mechanics you enjoy -- whether that's speaking, sneaking or summoning -- and building out your character to be progressively better at those things as the game goes on. You can save villages, loot dungeons and face off against champions of the gods... or you can destroy villages, plunder cities and threaten people into worshipping you. Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best games, full stop, and it's essential for any PS5 collection.Read our Baldur's Gate 3 review.Release date: Aug. 3, 2023Genre: Dungeons & Dragons isometric RPGDeveloper: Larian Studios-Adam Benjamin See at Sony Insomniac Spider-Man 2 Insomniac's first go at Marvel's iconic webhead in 2018 was a solid outing, with an enthralling story pulled together by Peter Parker's personal ties to villains Mr. Negative and Otto Octavius, who challenge both the hero and the human. Spider-Man 2, which came out in October 2023, featured iconic foe Kraven the Hunter who raised the stakes and proved truly dangerous as he hunted down other characters from the Spider-Man mythos, but the story takes a backseat to the gameplay this time around.Most of the new fun comes from the combat. Everyone knows Spider-Man pulls his punches; with great power comes great responsibility, after all. That's why it's a real treat to unlock more heavy-hitting moves as the Venom symbiote corrupts Peter over the course of the game. Combining familiar fighting moves with tendril attacks and a "rage mode" was a natural iteration that makes tangling with enemies more engaging. There are even tag team battles where Miles Morales or Peter Parker (depending on which Spider-Man you're currently playing) will randomly swing in to help lock down a fight.This might be the same New York City as the setting of the first game, but this time around it truly feels alive. There are new collectables to find, new crimes to stamp out and new ways to beat down the bad guys. When I'm swinging around as the most prolific superhero of all time, that's all I can possibly ask for.Release date: Oct. 20, 2023Genre: Open world action-adventureDeveloper: Insomniac Games-Tyler Graham Bluepoint Games Demon's Souls While there's seemingly always been a cultish fervor surrounding FromSoftware's Souls series, Elden Ring truly went mainstream, making these ARPGsmore approachable to a wider audience. Now, many gamers have started to turn toward FromSoftware's previous titles to get their next hit of dark fantasy. Certain recommendations I'd love to make (looking at you, Bloodborne) are trapped on older consoles. PS5 owners are lucky enough to have a chance to play Bluepoint Games' remake of the first ever Souls game that started the so-called Soulsborne game type: Demon's Souls.It was one of the launch titles for the PS5 when it was released in November 2020, but Demon's Souls remains visually stunning: This version of the game imbues iconic fights with new life, such as the desperate slugfest to take down the massive, gleaming Tower Knight. Fights don't move as quickly as they do in FromSoftware's more contemporary games, but it feels more rewarding to find and exploit a boss' true weakness. It's also worth playing the remake to experience old mechanics that never made a return -- such as world tendency, a karmic system creating a more dynamic world that reveals different items and NPCs.If Elden Ring sunk its hooks into you, and you wouldn't mind playing a slower, more tactical-feeling Souls game, the Demon's Souls remake is a must-play on the PS5.Release date: Nov. 12, 2020Genre: Brutally difficult ARPGDeveloper: Bluepoint Games-Tyler Graham Screenshot by CNET Helldivers 2 Now this is a game that goes down like a warm cup of liber-tea. Helldivers 2, released in February 2024, somehow fluctuates between being one of the greatest power fantasies I've ever played and making me feel like absolutely hopeless cannon fodder. One second I'll feel like an invincible super soldier (Master Chief has nothing on me) and the next I'm a puddle of viscera being chowed down on by some really big bugs.Yet Helldivers 2 always feels like a wholly cohesive experience, because as soon as I drop back into the thick of the fight in another hellpod, I'm riding the high of tearing through dozens of knockoff Terminators or killer space bugs all over again. It feels even better to drop into battle with a squad of friends, working in lockstep to secure objectives by calling down tactical airstrikes, heavy weapons, minefields and more -- until everyone gets blown up at the same time because your friend drops a 500-kilogram bomb at your feet.This game has the highest highs, but it also makes the lows feel like highs too. I'm either mowing down hundreds of Super Earth's enemies in glorious combat or getting turned into mincemeat by slapstick accidents with high-powered munitions. Either way, I'm always having a blast.Release date: Feb. 8, 2024Genre: Objective-based third-person horde shooterDeveloper: Arrowhead Game Studios-Tyler Graham Sony/Polyphony Digital Gran Turismo 7 After a long absence for the racing series, Gran Turismo 7 burst on the scene in March 2022 with the franchise's signature mix of realism and style. The first Gran Turismo on PS5 takes advantage of the console's high performance for quick loading via solid state drive, gorgeous graphics with ray tracing and haptic feedback in the DualSense controller.GT 7 leans into time and weather's effects on track conditions, rewarding players who tweak their car performance to account for rain, wind and other effects. The game features several racing modes, Championships and tracks returning from former games. For PS5 owners itching to get behind the wheel, Gran Turismo 7 is a great pick.Read our Gran Turismo 7 review.Release date: March 4, 2022Genre: Realistic racing game with arcade elementsDeveloper: Polyphony Digital- David Lumb $44 at Amazon Bandai Namco Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring was a colossal success when it was released in February 2022, expanding the exacting and difficult combat of FromSoftware's Souls games to open-world gameplay. Players used hundreds of weapons against dozens of bosses across colossal continents that house many secret areas. If you wanted a big game that could take you hundreds of hours to experience everything, Elden Ring was it.FromSoftware released the Shadows of the Erdtree DLCin June 2024, adding a new region, 10 major bosses and over a hundred weapons that can be brought back into the main game. The combination of base game and DLC expand Elden Ring into the preeminent action RPG for players who don't mind a challenge and enjoy cryptic worlds of dark gods with many secrets.Release date: Feb. 25, 2022Genre: High fantasy ARPGDeveloper: FromSoftware-David Lumb0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COMNASAs Voyager Probes Lose One Instrument Each as Power WanesMarch 6, 20253 min readNASAs Voyager Probes Lose One Instrument Each as Power WanesNASAs twin Voyager probes, which launched in 1977, are the longest-running missions to send data home. But as their power supplies wane, scientists are saying goodbye to one instrument on each spacecraftBy Meghan Bartels edited by Clara Moskowitz NASA/JPL-CaltechNASAs most distant observers are losing steam as the toll of spending nearly five decades in space adds up. Scientists have announced that they will turn off one additional instrument on each spacecraft to conserve energy.The twin Voyager probes launched in 1977 to take advantage of a once-in-176-year alignment of the outer planets. That task wrapped up within a little more than a decade, but still the spacecraft trek outward: currently, Voyager 2 is more than 13 billion miles from Earth, and Voyager 1 is more than 15.5 billion miles away. At this point, the Voyagers are tasked with studying the interstellar medium found beyond the influence of the sun.Scientists will have observations from one less instrument on each spacecraft moving forward, however, NASA officials announced on March 5. Mission managers turned off Voyager 1s cosmic ray subsystem experiment on February 25, the agency wrote, and will do the same for Voyager 2s low-energy charged particle instrument on March 24. These instruments observe fast-moving charged particles called cosmic rays, as well as ions and electrons, in interstellar space. Both deactivations are purposeful energy-saving measures.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible, said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in the March 5 statement. But electrical power is running low. If we dont turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission.NASA officials have also decided that, in 2026, they will turn off Voyager 1s low-energy charged particle instrument and Voyager 2s cosmic ray subsystem, according to the statement. Their goal is to ensure that at least one instrument on each spacecraft remains operational into the 2030s.Each Voyager spacecraft launched with a nuclear power source made of plutonium. It was the sensible choiceengineers knew all along that the probes would be traveling much too far from the sun to rely on solar power. Each spacecrafts plutonium core produces a little less juice each year, howeverannually losing about four watts, equivalent to a low-power light bulb.The spacecrafts computer, communications system and instruments all require energy to operate, so scientists are faced with a tough choice: hand select where to save power by sacrificing particular instruments or risk overdrawing the power supply and losing the whole spacecraft. And no one wants to see either Voyager end any earlier than it has to.The Voyager spacecraft are iconic. Voyager 2 launched first; three weeks later Voyager 1 followed suit and zipped ahead. Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter in 1979 and past Saturn and its largest moon, Titan, in 1980. Voyager 2 followed suit, observing Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1981, and then became the first and so far only spacecraft to ever fly past Uranus or Neptune, respectively doing so in 1986 and 1989.At that point the vehicles had run out of planets to observe, but both were still essentially healthyso NASA decided to follow along for the ride. The Voyagers explored the outer reaches of the suns influence. Then, in 2012 and 2018, respectively, each entered interstellar space, giving scientists the first-ever close-up observations of the cosmos beyond our solar system. Today Voyager 2 is nearly 140 times as far from the sun as Earth is, while Voyager 1 is 166 times as far.A signal from Earth takes 19.5 hours to reach Voyager 2 and more than 23 hours to reach Voyager 1, making any troubleshooting for the probes a painfully slow process. And there has been a lot of troubleshooting recently. Voyager 1 spent early 2024 collecting only partial data after a serious communications issue began in November 2023, for example, while Voyager 2 was unable to communicate with Earth for a couple of weeks in 2023.But for NASA, the troubleshooting is well worth it. Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before, said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL, in the recent statement. That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, were pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible.0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COMAthena Makes It to the Moon, but Uncertainties RemainMarch 6, 20255 min readAthena Makes It to the Moon, but Uncertainties RemainAthena has landed on the moon, but the overall status of the spacecraft remains unclear. The missions plans include studies of what lies beneath the lunar surface and a whole lot moreBy Gayoung Lee edited by Lee BillingsIntuitive Machines IM-2 mission lunar lander, Athena, entering lunar orbit on Monday, March 3. Intuitive Machines/Flickr/(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)Athena, a commercially built spacecraft that is loaded with cutting-edge technology and science experiments, has landed on the moon. But mission controllers at Intuitive Machines, the company that built and operates the spacecraft, have yet to confirm its exact status, although the available data as of this writing suggests Athena is still operational.If and when Intuitive Machines can conclusively declare that Athena has reached the moon in good health, it will have joined Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost, another commercial lander that made its moonfall on Sundayupping the tally of active U.S. lunar surface missions to two. The back-to-back feats are considered important precursors to future crewed missions to the moon under NASAs ambitious Artemis program.Unlike Blue Ghosts 45-day voyage to the moon, Athenas lasted for little more than a week. The spacecraft launched on February 26 and entered lunar orbit on March 3. From there it orbited the moon for about three days (while sending back live beauty shots). It then started its descent from orbit for landing early in the morning on March 6. And at 12:15 P.M. EST, Athena began its final maneuvers toward the surface, a process that was initially expected to last for around 15 minutes. While most of the landing procedures unfolded without issue, no decisive announcements were made about the state of the vehicle as of 12:31 P.M. EST, which was when it was supposed to land. For the next 20 minutes, the mission room bustled with activity as scientistsand Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemusjoined operators in trying to figure out what was happening.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.We can confirm Athena is on the surface of the moon, declared Intuitive Machines communication director Josh Marshall, somewhat tersely, at around 12:52 P.M. EST, 20 minutes after the intended touchdown time, during a livestream of the landing attempt. We are working to figure out the orientation of the vehicle, which is important because those are our antenna systems that will determine how much signal were going to have and when data about the exact condition of Athena will be available.The livestream, held at Intuitive Machines facility near NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, ended abruptly without a conclusive declaration of Athenas overall health.In some ways, the landing attempt was a chance at redemption for Intuitive Machines after Odysseus, Athenas predecessor, suffered a skewed lunar touchdown that hindered its surface operations. Until further data can be confirmed, Intuitive Machines will be hoping Athena will evade meeting similar fate. Merely by reaching the surface, however, Athena has already brought humanity the closest weve ever been to the resource-rich lunar south polespecifically, to Mons Mouton, a plateau that may be a landing spot for future Artemis astronauts as well.Assuming that Athena functions normally after its landing, it will deploy a particularly rich array of technology demonstrations. For instance, NASAs PRIME-1 (Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment 1) is a two-part instrument consisting of a drill and a mass spectrometer that will chemically analyze samples of lunar soil to search for the water ice and other volatile substances thought to exist in abundance in the crater-pocked terrain of the lunar south pole. Once such reservoirs have been scouted out, subsequent missions might potentially mine them for manufacturing potable water, breathable air and even potent rocket fuel. And then theres the Micro Nova Hopper, also developed by Intuitive Machines with NASA funding, which will seek to demonstrate a new mode of lunar locomotion with a series of incremental hops toward a nearby 20-meter-deep, permanently shadowed crater.Other payloads include Nokias Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), which uses a 4G/LTE system to establish a cellular network between each element of the mission, and a laser retroreflector array (LRA), a small device for accurately pinpointing Athenas location on the lunar surface. These payloads, like the lander they rode to the moon, reflect an extensive partnership between NASA and private industry under the space agencys Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.For the next 10 days, both Athena and Blue Ghost are planned to operate around the clock at their respective locations: Athena is near the south pole, and Blue Ghost is around Mare Crisium, a crater on the moons northeastern near side. The landers will also be there during a total lunar eclipse, as seen from Earth, as the moon passes through our planets shadow and gains a bloodred glow on the night of March 13 and the early morning of March 14.Despite the setbacks in establishing communications, Athena may be considered the third successful lunar landing of NASAs CLPS initiative. (The first CLPS mission, Astrobotics Peregrine lander, suffered a propellant leak after its January 2024 launch that prevented it from reaching the moon at all.) In all, CLPS has booked $2.6 billion for various payloads and launches through 2028, each intended to incrementally progress U.S. readiness for a crewed lunar return. Currently, 14 different companies have been selected by NASA to deliver different payloads of science and technology experiments to the moon. For example, some of Blue Ghosts payloads are demonstrating how to clean hardware caked in hazardous moon dust and how to run radiation-hardened computers on the lunar surface.With each CLPS mission, the United States is leading the way in expanding our reach and refining our capabilities, turning what was once dreams into reality, said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro in a press release that immediately followed Athenas departure from Earth.The U.S. is not alone, however, in its commercial efforts to rekindle lunar exploration. Japans Resilience lunar lander, built by the private company ispace, launched alongside Blue Ghost in January but is taking a much slower trajectory toward its destination. This launch marked a first in spaceflight history: never before had three landers been simultaneously bound for the moon. Meanwhile other nationsmost notably Chinacontinue their own programs of lunar exploration, with an eye toward independent human landings there.Besides NASAs sheer spending power, another key factor behind the sudden spate of moon landings is the private sectors greater agility compared with the space agencys generally slower process of mission development. Odysseus, for instance, left for the moon only about a year prior to Athena, giving Intuitive Machines little time to troubleshoot what went wrong with Odysseuss landing to prevent similar issues from befalling Athena. Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace alike will each have about the same amount of time to respectively prepare for IM-3 and Blue Ghost Mission 2, missions that will involve the successors to their currently active spacecraft on the moon. The fact that the teams behind Athena and Blue Ghost managed to turn around technological revisions so quickly is an impressive feat, given the increasingly heated competition between the U.S. and China to take the lead in this 21st-century moon race.These science and technology demonstrations are more than payloadsthey represent the foundation for future explorers who will live and work on the moon, Petro said in NASAs recent press release. By partnering with American industry, we are driving innovation, strengthening our leadership in space, and preparing for sending humans farther into the solar system, including Mars.0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.EUROGAMER.NETPrime Gaming members get 20 more games in MarchPrime Gaming members get 20 more games in MarchSaints Row 3! Mafia 2! Other stuff!Image credit: Amazon News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on March 6, 2025 March is here, meaning the first tentative whiff of spring is in the air. But also, another month means the usual refresh across gaming's various subscription services. And if you're a Prime Gaming member, you'll probably be wanting to know Amazon's announced 20 more titles coming to the service this month - including Mafia 2 and Wolfenstein: The Old Blood.March's offerings - as is customary for Prime Gaming - arrive over the course of several scheduled content drops, with four games available right now. There're some good 'uns in this initial list too, with Saints Row: The Third Remastered and Mafia 2 (in its Definitive Edition guise) both available for your immediate amusement.Then, glancing further ahead in March, Prime Gaming subscribers can look forward to an eclectic bunch of other winners, including Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (which is available for both PC and Xbox), acclaimed indie game Mutazione, and narrative adventure Syberia: The World Before. That's alongside ancient Rome mystery The Forgotten City, Deus Ex: Invisible War, and charming park management game Let's Build a Zoo.The full list of March's titles (plus the stores they can be grabbed from) are below. Available nowSaints Row: The Third Remastered [GOG Code]Mafia 2: Definitive Edition [GOG Code]Crime Boss: Rockay City [Epic Games Store]Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master [Amazon Games App]13th MarchWall World [Amazon Games App]Syberia: The World Before [GOG Code]Endling - Extinction is Forever [Amazon Games App]Dark Deity: Complete Edition [GOG Code]Beholder 3 [Amazon Games App]20th MarchWolfenstein: The Old Blood [Xbox and PC via Microsoft Store Code]Mutazione [GOG Code]Figment 2: Creed Valley [Amazon Games App]Legacy of Kain: Defiance [GOG Code]Mortal Shell [Epic Games Store]27th MarchThe Forgotten City [Amazon Games App]Deus Ex: Invisible War [GOG Code]Session: Skate Sim [Epic Games Store]Let's Build A Zoo [Epic Games Store]Gamedec - Definitive Edition [GOG Code]The Wisbey Mystery [Legacy Games Code]Alongside all the above, Prime Gaming subscribers in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland get access to a rotating selection of titles via Amazon's cloud gaming service, Luna. This month, these include WRC Generations Fully Loaded Edition, Overcooked! 2, Spitlings, The Jackbox Party Pack 3, and Strange Horticulture. That's in addition to Luna regulars Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition, Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fortnite, and Trackmania.0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.EUROGAMER.NETAssassin's Creed Shadows details PS5 Pro enhancements, including "extended" ray tracingAssassin's Creed Shadows details PS5 Pro enhancements, including "extended" ray tracingAhead of this month's launch.Image credit: Eurogamer/Ubisoft News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on March 6, 2025 With Assassin's Creed Shadows' release finally almost upon us after multiple delays, Ubisoft is rattling through its remaining announcements - with its latest update detailing the various enhancements PS5 Pro owners can take advantage of come launch on 20th March.As per a post on the PlayStation Blog (hence the absence of details relating to the Xbox version), Assassin's Creed Shadows features a choice of three different graphics modes - Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced - and can played at up to 2160p and 60 FPS on both PS5 and PS5 Pro when Performance mode is selected.In all cases, ray tracing is supported, but your machine and selected mode will determine exactly what kind of raytracing you can expect. PlayStation 5's Performance mode, for instance, features "selective" ray tracing, which Ubisoft defines as computing "global illumination for diffuse lighting in the Hideout portion of the game".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Eurogamer goes hands-on with Assassin's Creed Shadows.Watch on YouTubeStandard raytracing, meanwhile - applied in Fidelity or Balanced modes on PS5 and Performance mode on PS5 Pro - is "used to compute global illumination for diffuse lighting throughout the game world". And that just leaves PS5 Pro's "extended" ray tracing, which computes "global illumination for diffuse lighting and reflective surfaces throughout the game world" when applied in either Fidelity or Balanced modes.The full breakdown of supported resolutions, frame rates, and ray tracing options per console and mode is as follows:PS5 Performance Mode2160p upscaled, 60 FPS, Selective Ray TracingPS5 Fidelity Mode2160p upscaled, 30 FPS, Standard Ray TracingPS5 Balanced Mode (requires 120/240hz display and HDMI 2.1)2160p upscaled, 40 FPS, Standard Ray TracingPS5 Pro Performance Mode2160p upscaled, 60 FPS, Standard Ray TracingPS5 Pro Fidelity Mode2160p upscaled, 30 FPS, Extended Ray TracingPS5 Pro Balanced Mode (requires 120/240hz display and HDMI 2.1)2160p upscaled, 40 FPS, Extended Ray TracingAssassin's Creed Shadows - which left a positive impression on Eurogamer's Katharine Castle earlier this year - launches for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 20th March. But if you're looking for a more granular release breakdown, Ubisoft has detailed its global launch times too.0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.VIDEOGAMER.COMAwesome Baldurs Gate 3 custom campaign update brings back BG2s Kangaxx for an epic boss fightYou can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe Grand Theatre is an awesome Baldurs Gate 3 custom campaign that takes players to a horror-themed rock concert. Released in its 1.0 form, the brilliant campaign is far from done as a brand-new update is coming that will add a wealth of additional content.Alongside other campaigns in development that add additional companions, The Grand Theatre is adding brand-new experiences to BG3. However, the mods upcoming update might house its most exciting content yet.Baldurs Gate 3 mod brings back BG2 bossAs revealed on Discord, The Grand Theatre Version 1.1 is targeting an April 2025 release date.Modder Moezilla revealed that the new update will bring a full questline for three of the games six quests, new items to use and a bunch of additional dialogue to consume. But theres also an awesome return of a character from Baldurs Gate 2.As revealed in the Discord announcement, The Grand Theatres 1.1 update will bring back Kangaxx the Demi-Lich, a powerful boss from the second game. In the now two-decade-old RPG, players were tasked with reassembling and then destroying the Demi-Lichs body in an awesome story moment.Of course, its not known how the boss fight will play out in the new Baldurs Gate 3 custom campaign, but its incredibly exciting. After all, the brilliant combat of Larians game blows BioWares classic out of the water, and a reimagining of Kangaxx could be something truly special.Players of The Grand Theatre custom campaign will be able to engage in early QA sessions before the actual release date. Additionally, modder Moezilla is looking for additional fans to help bring the campaign to life.For more Baldurs Gate 3 articles, read about the mod that adapts Heroes of the Storm characters as feats, or read about how Laezel actress Devora Wilde was paranoid about her performance until release. Baldurs Gate 3Platform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Adventure, RPG, Strategy10VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.ARCHITECTURALDIGEST.COMAdut Akech: Insider Her Easy, Breezy Nursery in Los AngelesAustralian and South Sudanese model Adut Akech has, momentarily, exchanged haute couture for cuddles. She and her husband, Samuel Elkhier, welcomed their first daughter, Imani, in December. Theres nothing I can compare the feeling to, but it is just the most amazing thing Ive ever experienced in my entire life. I just cant imagine what life was like before her, says Akech. The new mom focused on the essentials when designing the space they designated for the baby, embracing a sense of minimalism. I havent really been focusing so much on the material side of things, she explains. Ive found this middle ground where less is more. Thats the world that Im in now.I felt like the babys room needed to be light and airy and just a pretty, peaceful space. When you step in, youre like, ah, says Akech.Photo: Tim HirschmannAnd who wouldnt trust Akechs style instincts, given her experience in fashion? Since she debuted at Yves Saint Laurents Paris Fashion Week show in 2016, she has walked for iconic houses that include Chanel, Prada, and Versace. She has also been featured on numerous Vogue covers and is a global brand ambassador for Este Lauder. Throughout this, she has traveled extensively, drawing design inspiration, particularly, from hotels in Paris and Rome.Crate and Barrels Gustav Marble Floating Shelves house baby items that honor the rooms palettewhich consists of earthy pinks that are feminine but not girly.Photo: Tim HirschmannBabylettos Sunday Power Recliner and Swivel Glider in shearling creates a cozy moment for mother and childas accented with Pierce and Wards Lampshade Pendant and Schoolhouses Cylinder Stone Side Table.Photo: Tim HirschmannThe muse of Karl Lagerfeld and Pier Paolo Piccioli (until recently, Valentinos creative director) was indecisive about where to give birth. She first considered Dubai, UAE, then Adelaide, Australiawhere Akechs family moved when she was a child after fleeing their native Sudan and spending years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In October 2024, Akech and Elkhier finally chose to instead nest in Akechs modern, four-bedroom home in Los Angeles. This meant they had less than two months to finish the baby room before welcoming Imani.Babyletto Sunday Shearling Power Recliner and Swivel GliderSchoolhouse Cylinder Stone Side TableExpeditiously, Akech connected with Babyletto, the Los Angelesbased brand that specializes in furniture for babies and beyond. Babyletto introduced Akech to Studio Keetas Kristina Khersonsky. Collectively, they created a baby room that feels feminine but still fresh. The palette consists of pinksbut earthy pinks. When we started talking about what she was envisioning for her nursery, she didnt necessarily want the tried-and-true baby girl pink nursery. She wanted something more ethereal and feminine. She definitely did want to do something in the pink hue, but not so on the nose, which is why our tones lean a little bit more clay or maybe slightly terra-cotta, Khersonsky shares.From there, Akech and Khersonsky covered the walls in an oversized floral mural wallpaper. We went with this flower theme, but its not an obvious flower in your face. It still has the touches of green and the amazing limewash on the ceiling, which Im so happy we did, says Akech. (The ceiling paint is called Portofino.)0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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WWW.ARCHITECTURALDIGEST.COMKitchen Trends 2025: The Big Ideas Ruling the Homes Most Popular RoomThe year 2024 saw our kitchens become multiuse workhorses, making permanent the many functions demanded during the pandemic, whether that was dining, gathering, or working. But what about kitchen trends in 2025? This year, expect a rise in bespoke layouts, seductive natural materials, and integrated appliances that cater to specific lifestyle needsbecause with every family comes a unique set of requirements. Now more than ever, kitchens are embracing that sense of individuality.Our clients are seeking an aesthetic that is more personal and maybe more about craft, jettisoning the futuristic seamless kitchen for a range of different looks, including colorful palettes and natural materials, says designer Lisa Odyniec, cofounder of San Franciscobased ES-LO Design Studio. Members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) agree, reporting that thoughtful designs that prioritize functionality with a personalized touch are one of several key kitchen trends in 2025. This year, in alignment with larger interior design trends, personality will certainly be on display in designs for this heart of the homebut a kitchen that works best for its residents is most important. Below are some of the trends designers predict this personalized approach will manifest.Concealed kitchensFor this Jessica Schusterdesigned home in New York Citys Chelsea neighborhood, a cooktop and hood range blend in seamlessly with the quartzite surround of the kitchen. Schuster worked with Eric Sheffield Architect and Coleman Contracting on the project.Photo: William Jess Laird / Styling: Brittany AlbertAlthough the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, designers are seeing an increase in homeowner requests to hide it. Panel-ready appliances that disappear into the cabinetry make for a cleaner design, allowing homeowners to focus on more fun elements throughout the room, such as unique pops of color, mixing and matching textures, and personalized accessories that add character to the space, explained AD PRO Directory designer Hilary Matt in a 2025 kitchen design forecast for Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove. Noam Dvir, cofounder of New York architecture and interiors firm BoND, has seen this trend extend beyond the typical refrigerators and dishwashers to the range.We used to see large industrial size hoods in kitchens, then microhoods (microwave doubling as a hood), and more recently, hoods disguised inside the upper cabinets, or even integrated into the cooktop, Dvir says. This makes the kitchen appear more like a sophisticated millwork piece. For the cooktop, both he and Odyniec recommend Pitt cooking burners, which can be installed directly into the countertop to create an uninterrupted surface that is also easier to clean.Because our kitchens do far more than just feed us, this polished look allows the spaces chosen materials to make a bigger design impact while encouraging its flexibility. New options for hardware and appliances make it possible to mask the kitchens functionality, making it a backdrop for other uses, adds Odyniec, who has designed in-plane retracting and pocketing doors to enclose a coffee bar and specifies touch-latch ovens and refrigerators for kitchen cabinet continuity.Focus on entertainingNicole Cohen designed a dual kitchen for this lowcountry residencein it, a cheery prep kitchen peeks out from behind the more stately show kitchen.Photo: Nicole Cohen / Styling: Mariana Marcki-Matos0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri
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CULTMTL.COM71% of Canadians support a moratorium on Tesla sales in CanadaAccording to a new study by the Angus Reid Institute,7 in 10 Canadians (71%) support a moratorium on the sale of Tesla electric vehicles in Canada.The same study found that the vast majority of Canadians (79%) have an unfavourable opinion of Tesla CEO and Trump special government employee Elon Musk, including 69% whose views are very unfavourable.Canadians overwhelmingly negative opinions of Elon Musk come alongside broad support for targeting Musks company Tesla by stopping sales of the brand in Canada. This may be complicated by Tesla having multiple manufacturing facilities in Ontario, which perhaps underscores the challenges tariffs pose.71% of Canadians support a moratorium on Tesla sales in CanadaThe Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from Feb. 27 to March 3, 2025, among a representative randomized sample of 2,005 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum.For our latest in news, please visit theNewssection.0 Commentarii 0 Distribuiri