Forte, the compliance company for blockchain projects, has acquired Sealance Corp.,the creators of technology for Web3 identity and privacy.Read More

Ampere is accelerating its expansion from Arm-based server processors for AI processing into networking chips for the telecom market.Read More

TechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Techs Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.PlayStation VR2 gets its first (and permanent) price drop to $399PlayStation VR2 gets its first (and permanent) price drop to $399This price cut is anything but virtual.Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 27, 20252 Min ReadImage via PlayStation.At a GlanceSony is lowering the price for its VR headset in an effort to get more eyes on the two-year-old device and its game library.Over two years after launch, the PlayStation VR2 is getting a price cut: starting in March, the VR headset will permanently retail for $399.99 in North America, 449.99 in Europe, 399.99 in the UK, and 66,980 (or $447.19) in Japan.This is the first sale for the peripheral, which was originally $550 when it launched in February 2023. Sony has bragged about it outselling the original PlayStation VR, but there were reports not long after release claiming the console maker halted production until it sold more of its initial stock.Price cuts for PlayStation hardware has been somewhat infrequent and short-lived this console generation. Typically, prices have been raisedan initial response to a component shortage that reverberated across several territories, including Japanor the hardware, like the PlayStation 5 Pro, came out with a steep price tag.At launch, the PSVR2 had around 20 games, several of which were ports of pre-existing titles like Resident Evil Village or No Man's Sky. Pre-release, Sony revealed the headset was not backwards compatible with the original PlayStation VR's library.Last year, Sony added PC support for the PSVR2 through a wired adapter, which made it viable to any curious parties. As of its latest financial report from mid-February, Sony hasn't disclosed specific sales milestones for the device.What's next for VR games?The upcoming price slash for the PSVR2 comes as the game industry's VR sector has taken several recent blows. Recent months have seen reductions or closures at several VR-focused developers, from XR Games to Toast Interactive.Other times, developers like FuturLab have pulled back their support for the VR versions of their games. Last year, Meta simultaneously released a new version of its Quest 3 headset while discontinuing three older devices: the Quest 2, Quest Pro, and an earlier iteration of the original Quest 3.A late 2024 survey revealed 56 percent of developers think the VR game market is in either active decline or stagnation. With the PSVR2 now at a lower price, perhaps it can help renew interest in the medium.Read more about:PlayStationTop StoriesAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Katy Perry will fly to space during Blue Origins next crewed mission, the Jeff Bezos-owned space company has announced. The pop star will join CBS host Gayle King and Bezoss fianc Lauren Snchez aboard the New Shepard rocket this spring, marking its 11th human flight.Along with Perry and Snchez, who is known for her work as a news anchor and correspondent,the crew will include research scientist and activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe. Snchez first revealed her plans to lead an all-female Blue Origin mission in 2023, but she didnt mention who she would take on the flight at the time.Blue Origins most recent human spaceflight took place earlier this week, with a six-person crew reaching the edge of space and experiencing zero gravity for a few minutes before returning to Earth. Since 2021, Blue Origin has taken 52 people to space aboard its New Shepard rocket, including Star Treks William Shatner and Bezos himself.

Microsoft might say its top priority right now is security, but its been clear for months that AI is just as important. The odd division out has been Xbox, which hasnt discussed its use of AI much in public. But that changed last week when Microsoft ripped the band-aid off and waded, somewhat clumsily, into the debate over AI in gaming.Last Wednesday, Microsoft revealed Muse, its new AI model that can generate gameplay. It was trained on Ninja Theorys Xbox game Bleeding Edge, and it can understand a 3D world and physics and then respond to players interactions. While Muse is a Microsoft Research project at heart, Microsoft presented it in a way that linked it directly to Xbox and the future of the companys gaming efforts. That has divided opinion between those who argue that Microsoft will use this model to build games and lay off developers, and others who think this is still very early and simply another tool in a game developers kit.Ive been speaking to game developers over the past week to get a better understanding of the response to Muse. Of the handful Ive spoken to, no one is willing to speak on the record for reasons like career concerns and the potential impact speaking out might have on game deals with Xbox. Most echo what David Goldfarb, developer and founder of The Outsiders, posted on X last week, Fuck this shit.Goldfarb expanded on that brief response in an interview with Wired. When we rely on this stuff we are implicitly empowering a class of people who own these tools and dont give a fuck about how they reshape our lives, he said.Thats a concern Ive heard from multiple game developers: if they accept these AI tools then what happens next? Theres a growing fear in the game industry right now that AI will replace human creators, and its not a baseless fear, either. Almost half (49 percent) of 3,000 respondents to a Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024 survey said that generative AI tools are currently being used in their workplace, with 31 percent saying they personally use them. In an industry thats already struggling with costs and layoffs, the anxiety over AI replacing jobs is high.Some developers are hoping that models like Muse will be limited to the early stages of game development, where you could use an AI model to create some rough gameplay instead of sketching out ideas and concepts. Given how nascent Muse is, that seems like a reasonable assumption right now, but as models get more capable over time, where do the lines blur?Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Muse as a massive moment of wow in a recent podcast. Were going to have a catalog of games soon that we will start using these models, or were going to train these models to generate, and then start playing them, he said.Microsoft is getting ready to release at least one AI-generated game on Copilot Labs, the companys test bed for AI that requires a monthly $20 subscription to Copilot Pro. Sources familiar with Microsofts AI research work tell me the company has also been experimenting with several minigames that are best described as AI-infused. The games, developed by Microsoft Research, use generative models and both human writers and reviewers to create stories and illustrations. One of the minigames, Rushes, lets players select storylines and make choices that influence the AI-driven narrative.Im not expecting Microsoft to release these minigames, as theyre designed as research projects on how AI models and humans interact in game design, but the company could always highlight them in the future. Microsoft chose to demonstrate its Muse model running in real time during an employee-only town hall earlier this week, instead of these minigames. The work between Microsoft Research and Xbox on minigames and models like Muse are just the beginning of Microsofts AI in gaming efforts. At GDC next month, Microsoft is planning to highlight more ways its using AI in gaming. In one session, Fatima Kardar, corporate vice president of gaming AI at Microsoft, will discuss how Xbox is using AI to unlock new opportunities across the Xbox ecosystem for both players and game creators. Another session will demonstrate how game developers and researchers at Microsoft are experimenting with new AI tools for gaming.While many of Microsofts AI sessions at GDC will be future-looking, there are a couple from Blizzard that will detail how World of Warcraft developers use AI models to automate 3D armor fitting or how developers parse through player feedback using large language models. These show off the potential for AI tools to assist developers rather than replace them, so theyre likely to be far less controversial than an AI model that generates gameplay.Microsoft says its now leaving it up to its own game studios to decide on how AI is used across their games. We dont intend to use this technology for the creation of content, said Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews, in a video accompanying Microsofts Muse announcement last week. Just days later though, Microsoft-owned Activision was forced to confirm that Call of Duty uses AI-generated content. The confirmation came months after fans noticed a zombie Santa with six fingers in a loading screen in Black Ops 6 over the holidays, alongside weapon decals and player cards that seemed to be AI generated.How Microsofts other Xbox game studios react to its push for AI in gaming is going to be something to keep an eye on throughout 2025, especially when developers outside of Xbox have loudly criticized AI use in game development, with one indie developer creating a No Gen AI seal that developers can use on their games store page. There might be growing pushback against AI in gaming from developers and players, but I dont think it will be long until other Xbox game studios make the decision to use AI tools or AI-generated content. By unveiling Muse last week, Microsoft has made clear it wants its studios to be at the very forefront of AI in gaming, regardless of the pushback.The pad:Microsoft is testing free Office for Windows apps with ads. Surprisingly, Microsoft has quietly started allowing some countries to install a free version of Office for Windows that includes ads. Microsoft has confirmed its just a test for now, but its a pretty big test to overhaul how Office is distributed in certain countries. The ad-supported version of Office includes banners that are permanently visible at the side, as well as 15-second video ads that play every few hours. Given this appears to be largely limited to India, I suspect Microsoft is looking at ways it can tempt people into paying for Office instead of pirating it. Microsofts own tests in 2018 showed that 91 percent of new PCs in India came loaded with pirated software.Microsoft launches next-gen Phi AI models. While we await OpenAIs GPT-4.5 model, Microsoft made a smaller AI model announcement of its own this week. Phi-4-multimodal and Phi-4-mini are Microsofts latest small language models, and both are now available on Azure AI Foundry and Hugging Face. Both can be used by developers on smartphones, PCs, and cars, and Phi-4-multimodal improves speech recognition, translation, summarization, audio understanding, and image analysis.Xboxs new Fable game is delayed to 2026. Rumors have been circulating that Fable might not make its 2025 release window, and Microsoft confirmed this week that its being pushed to 2026. Given how busy 2025 is looking for Xbox games, Im not surprised Fable has been given more time here. The question now is whether Microsoft is still targeting a 2025 release for Gears of War: E-Day, like Id heard last year.Microsoft makes Copilot Voice and Think Deeper free with unlimited use. Microsoft made OpenAIs o1 reasoning model free for all Copilot users last month, and now its providing unlimited use of this model and Copilots voice capabilities to everyone this week. I think were going to see a lot more Copilot announcements in the coming months, and Ive heard multiple times from sources recently that Microsoft is very focused on increasing AI usage by reducing the barriers to entry and the costs involved.Youll need more Microsoft Rewards points to pay for Game Pass soon. Microsoft is bumping the amount of points it takes to get Game Pass through its Rewards program. It now costs level two members 17,000 (previously 12,000) points for a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with PC Game Pass jumping to 10,500 points (previously, 7,500).Scientists question Microsofts claims of a quantum computing breakthrough. Microsoft was quick to claim it had reached a milestone breakthrough in quantum computing last week, unveiling its Majorana 1 chip. Now, the physics community has a lot of questions about Microsofts paper, which the company is promising to address at the APS meeting in March.Indiana Jones now has DLSS 4 support. Bethesda updated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle with DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, and even FSR 3.1 Frame Gen support last week. Thats great news for PC players, and were now waiting to hear if Indiana Jones is going to make Microsofts target of an April release on PS5.Microsoft completes EU sovereign cloud project. Microsoft has finalized its multiyear project to allow its European commercial and public sector customers to store and process their data within European Union countries. This milestone is the culmination of a massive, multiyear engineering effort across hundreds of Microsoft product teams and thousands of developers around the globe, says Microsoft.Microsoft pauses the rollout of its redesigned Windows 11 battery indicator. Microsoft started rolling out an improved battery indicator to Windows 11 PCs last week, hitting the Release Preview ring before a broader rollout. Just days later, Microsoft paused it to address some issues. Its not clear exactly what those issues are, but Microsoft says it plans to begin rolling it out in a future update soon.Microsoft has reportedly dropped some AI data center leases. Microsoft has committed to spending $80 billion this fiscal year on AI data centers, but there are signs it might be wavering on that commitment. Bloomberg reports that US brokerage TD Cowen warned that Microsoft has pulled back on some leases for US data center capacity. Microsoft hasnt commented on the report directly, and one analyst has suggested this could be just business as usual with Microsoft free to move in and out of data center leases, many of which were never officially signed.Microsoft calls on the Trump administration to avoid a strategic misstep in the AI global race. Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith has penned an open letter to the Trump administration, asking it to change the Biden administrations interim AI diffusion rule that caps the export of US AI components. Smith argues that the rule will give China a strategic advantage in the AI race, and could prevent US allies and partners from accessing AI infrastructure and services from Microsoft and other US tech companies.What do you think about Microsofts big push for AI in gaming? Drop a comment here, or you can always reach me at notepad@theverge.com if you want to discuss the Xbox AI changes in more detail. If youve heard about any of Microsofts secret projects, you can also reach me via email at notepad@theverge.com or speak to me confidentially on the Signal messaging app, where Im tomwarren.01. Im also tomwarren on Telegram, if youd prefer to chat there.Thanks for subscribing to Notepad.See More:

Decoding OpenAIs Advanced Reasoning Models: A Gentle Introduction to How They Work 0 like February 27, 2025Share this postLast Updated on February 27, 2025 by Editorial TeamAuthor(s): Saleh Alkhalifa Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.In todays fast-paced digital landscape, businesses and developers alike are constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve by seeking smarter solutions for complex challenges. This last month, the most popular topics of conversation at work and in online forums have revolved around the latest reasoning models. In particular, OpenAIs reasoning models, o1 and o3, gained considerable traction as they are designed to think before they answer, and have changed the way we think and approach problem solving, coding, and even scientific research within the Language Model domain.Reasoning models are the latest generation of Large Language Models, which incorporate unique internal processes through Chain of Thought reasoning before delivering a final response to a given query. Unlike traditional models that generate a response from a given input, these models break down a prompt into multiple steps and internally generate a detailed sequence of reasoning tokens. This approach allows them to tackle multi-step planning and complex logic more effectively, making them ideal for tasks such as complex problem solving, coding and debugging, and scientific research which often involves multiple steps and trains of thought.Complex Problem Solving: Break down a challenge Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Often cited as one of the world's most valuable media franchises, Pokmon is a household name that's been a Nintendo staple since the Game Boy. The beloved series is home to hundreds of amazing creatures you can catch in-game or collect as trading cards, with each new generation bringing loads more to discover. Every console released by Nintendo has had plenty of Pokmon games released for it, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception.With Nintendo's official Switch 2 announcement confirming the console's backward compatibility, you can feel confident picking up any existing Pokemon games on the Switch, knowing they'll carry over to the new system. Below, we've compiled every Pokmon game that has been released on Nintendo Switch and the information we have on upcoming Pokmon games releasing on the Switch 2.It's Pokmon Day! Check Out Our Favorite Deals and Restocks: Pokmon TCG: Collector Chest $29.99 at AmazonPokmon TCG: Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex Box $21.99 at AmazonPokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box $49.99 at AmazonPokmon - Trading Card Game: Azure Legends Tin $26.99 at Best BuyPokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle$28.99 at AmazonPokmon GO $50 Gift Card (7,000 PokCoins)SanDisk 1TB microSDXC Card Licensed for Nintendo-Switch, Pokmon Snorlax EditionSanDisk 256GB microSDXC Card Licensed for Nintendo Switch, Pokmon Edition PikachuSquishmallows Original 14-Inch Marill Pokmon PlushHow Many Pokmon Games Are There on Nintendo Switch?In total, 12 Pokmon games have been released for the Nintendo Switch. This includes the mainline games for the 8th and 9th Pokmon generations as well as plenty of spinoffs. For the sake of this list, we've counted mainline entries with two versions as a single release. We also don't include the Pokmon games offered through Nintendo Switch Online, but you can check out that list below.Note: 2024 was a skip year for Pokmon, meaning it's been over a full year since the release of a new Pokmon game (and two years since the last mainline title). Instead, The Pokmon Company published Pokmon TCG Pocket, a free app version of Pokmon cards that's become a pretty massive hit. What Pokemon Game Should You Get in 2025? If you're wondering which game is worth picking up on the Switch in 2025, my recommendation is Pokmon Legends: Arceus. It's not going to give you that OG Pokmon game feeling, but that's what the older generation games are for. Instead, Legends: Arceus introduces more action and RPG elements to the Pokmon series, offering the freshness of open areas to explore, more control over encounters, and plenty of polish for the handheld. If you're looking to pick up new Switch games on sale, it's worth checking out Presidents' Day game deals this weekend. Nintendo Switch Pokmon Legends: ArceusSee it at AmazonAll Pokmon Games on the Nintendo Switch (in Release Order)Pokkn Tournament DX (2017)Pokkn Tournament was originally released for the Wii U in 2016. A year later, Nintendo and Bandai Namco prepared a deluxe version of the game for Nintendo Switch, adding new characters and updated visuals to take advantage of better hardware. This three-on-three battle system is a blast to play with friends both in person and online.Pokkn Tournament DX - Nintendo SwitchSee it at Best BuyPokmon Quest (2018)Pokmon Quest turns all your favorite Pokmon into miniature cube form. This free-to-play Switch game features a fun and simple combat system where you send Pokmon on expeditions. Equip different abilities to your Pokmon to handle all types of encounters.Pokmon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! (2018)Pokmon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokmon: Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of the beloved 1998 Pokmon Yellow. These titles were the first mainline Pokmon games ever to release on a home console, since none made it to the Wii U. Set in the Kanto region, all 151 original Pokmon appear with varying forms from previous mainline installments. With heavy accessibility features, these remakes were a great first step for the series on Nintendo Switch for newcomers and veterans of the series.Pokmon: Let's Go, Eevee! - SwitchPokmon: Let's Go, Pikachu! - SwitchPokmon Sword & Shield (2019)Pokmon Sword & Shield marked the first installment in the series to feature aspects of an open world. Dubbed the Wild Areas, these regions allowed for free traversal and battles with wild Pokmon. Gyms also made a return for the first time since X & Y. Additionally, Sword & Shield introduced the eigth generation of Pokmon, which included Dynamax and Gigantamax forms of previous Pokmon. Pokmon Sword - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Shield - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (2020)Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake of the 2005 titles Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team. Surprisingly, this is the first Pokmon spinoff remake ever, with development handled by Spike Chunsoft. The gameplay consists of completing jobs in different dungeons and unlocking new Pokmon along the way. Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Caf ReMix (2020)The other Pokmon release of 2020 was Pokmon Caf ReMix featuring similar gameplay to other puzzle games like Disney Tsum Tsum, which requires you to connect Pokmon together to solve puzzles. In Pokmon Caf ReMix, you and Eevee own a caf and must serve the Pokmon who come for food or a little drink. This charming service game is free-to-play via the Nintendo eShop.New Pokmon Snap (2021)After more than 20 years, the Nintendo Switch is the console that finally received a sequel to Pokmon Snap. Developed by Bandai Namco, you traverse around different biomes and areas with an on-rails camera to capture pictures Pokmon in the wild. You can unlock new courses by taking good pictures in New Pokmon Snap, leaving for a sizeable amount of content to unlock and discover. You never know what you might find during each session!New Pokmon Snap - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Unite (2021)This free-to-play game marked Pokmon's first entry into the MOBA genre. You command and control a team of five Pokmon in head-to-head battles against other players online. There's a solid amount of Pokmon to choose from, so you can adjust your team to best fit your needs. Pokmon Unite went on to be featured in different esports tournaments, with multiple championships held for the game.Pokmon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (2021)Pokmon Brilliant Diamond & Pokmon Shining Pearl are remakes of Pokmon Diamond & Pearl, which originally released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS. As the fourth generation of Pokmon, Diamond & Pearl feature a wide variety of Pokmon to battle against and discover. The remakes feature a new chibi art style that was created to stay faithful to the original titles while still remaining fresh.Pokmon Brilliant Diamond & Pokmon Shining Pearl Double Pack - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Legends: Arceus (2022)Pokmon Legends: Arceus is often praised as one of the best Pokmon games available on the Switch. This original title takes place far in the past, somewhere in the Hisui region. With a focus on exploration, you can freely walk all around the map to capture Pokmon, explore different environments, and so much more. Pokmon can be spotted wandering around all over the map, which requires you to be strategic if you're looking to avoid battle.Out Now Pokemon Legends: Arceus for SwitchSee it at AmazonPokmon Scarlet & Violet (2022)The latest mainline Pokmon games officially kicked off Generation 9, bringing along an entire new approach to gameplay and world design. In Pokmon Scarlet & Violet, an open world awaits with freedom to explore wherever your heart takes you. The DLC pass, titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, is now wrapped up, making it a perfect time to check out Scarlet & Violet.Pokmon Scarlet & Violet - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonDetective Pikachu Returns (2023)One game and one movie later, the sequel to Detective Pikachu is finally available on Nintendo Switch. Tim's father is missing, and it's up to Detective Pikachu to solve the case! This sequel features new puzzles and investigations, where you can investigate scenes and use your notebook to get to the bottom of the mystery. If you're a fan of both Pokmon and mystery games, this is a great game to consider.Detective Pikachu Returns - Nintendo SwitchSee it at AmazonAvailable Pokmon Games With Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion PackThe Nintendo Switch Online subscription service has additional Pokmon titles if you're looking for more after completing the Nintendo Switch library. Here are the five Pokmon games you can play with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership:Pokmon Trading Card GamePokmon SnapPokmon Puzzle LeaguePokmon StadiumPokmon Stadium 2Pokemon: All Mainline GamesHere are all the mainline Pokemon games, spanning nine generations of RPGs and monster catching. See AllUpcoming Pokmon Games on Nintendo SwitchPlayPokmon Day 2025 brought some solid announcements about new Pokmon games. Pokmon Legends: Z-A was initially announced last year, though a new gameplay trailer revealed the game's setting in Lumiose City within the Kalos regions. Tepig, Totodile, and Chikorita are familiar starting Pokmon, from Gen 2 and 5, but will be getting new final evolutions. "Rooftop parkour" and new battle mechanics also indicate an increased focused on real-time action. As far as a release date, "Fall 2025" is all we know for now. PlayGame Freak and The Pokmon Company also announced Pokmon Champions, a new battle game in the spirit of Pokemon Showdown. Coming to mobile devices and Switch, you'll be able to battle with Pokmon you've trained in other games through the Pokmon Home app. A Nintendo Direct is scheduled for April 2, likely bringing more information about the Switch 2 and potential release dates for new games. For now, see the full list of upcoming Switch games for everything we've confirmed is coming to the Nintendo handheld and our predictions for what games will release on the Switch 2. Looking for more Nintendo Switch games? Check out these guides:Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

Anyone in the market for a new game to spice up board game night can grab a fine deal on Camel Up (second edition) right now. It normally goes for $40, but its currently on sale at Amazon for $25.60 in a limited-time deal. Its a betting game thats fun for adults, but easy enough to learn that it makes a fine family board game as well. It also landed on our list of the best 6-player board games (though you can play it with fewer or more people, depending on whos around).Camel Up Is 36% OffCamel Up (Second Edition)MSRP: $39.99Ages: 8+Players: 3 - 8Play Time: 30 - 45 minsCamel Up offers a fun little twist on horse racing. Instead of horses, its five camels that are sprinting around the track on the game board. You and your fellow players place bets on which camel will win. The camels speed in the race depends on the dice, which tumble out of the pyramid dice shaker one at a time, with a pause for bets between each roll. The earlier you place your bet, the more you stand to win, with payouts for the first- and second-place finishers. Theres plenty of opportunity for chaos, however, as camels can land on each other and be carried toward the finish line. This second edition also includes new game modes, including rogue camels that run backwards on the track. That's something you won't see at the horse races.Camel Up is for 3-8 players ages 8 and up. Each session takes between 30 and 45 minutes, making it a decently quick-playing board game you won't have to dedicate an entire afternoon to playing. The box, board, and components are all nicely designed and colorful. Its just a fun game to add to your collection at a totally reasonable price with this limited-time discount. Pick it up if that sounds appealing. More Family Friendly Card Games In other board game news, a bunch of variations of UNO are on sale this week at Target, including the standard edition and Show 'Em No Mercy.Taco Cat Goat Cheese PizzaSee it at AmazonExploding KittensSee it at AmazonPhase 10See it at AmazonMonopoly DealSee it at AmazonWhat Do You Meme? [Family Edition]See it at AmazonCover Your AssetsSee it at AmazonChris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.

If the public response to Toxic Town, Jack Thornes new inspired-by-a-true-story Netflix drama, is half as energised as that of last years Mr Bates vs the Post Office, this wont be the last we hear about this landmark legal case from 2009. The four-part series tells the true story of a group of mothers in the Northamptonshire town whose babies were born with upper and lower limb differences, as well as other health issues, as a result of toxins released due to negligent management of reclaimed wasteland by Corby Borough Council.As well as an urgent story, Toxic Town has an excellent cast, featuring actors from Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Sex Education, Trainspotting and many more. Find out all about the characters and whos playing them below.Jodie Whittaker as Susan McIntyreSusan McIntyre is a real Corby resident and the mother of Connor McIntyre, who was born with an upper limb difference as a result of poisons from toxic brownfield sites entering Susans system during pregnancy. She was one of 18 women with children harmed by the toxins who, along with solicitor Des Collins, took Corby Borough Council to court in 2009.Shes played by former Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker, who flew the TARDIS between 2017 and 2022 (and continues to voice the 13th Doctor in audio stories), and who in 2023 gave an acclaimed performance opposite The Last of Us Bella Ramsey in the second series of Jimmy McGoverns prison-set drama Time. Whittaker will soon be seen alongside Suranne Jones in crime drama Frauds.Aimee Lou Wood as Tracey TaylorTracey Taylor is another real Corby resident whose family was seriously affected by the toxins carried by dust from the reclaimed steelworks site. Her husband Mark is played by Matthew Durkan.Tracey is played by Aimee Lou Wood, who established her name alongside fellow stars Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey in Netflixs teen comedy-drama Sex Education, and has been booked and busy ever since. Wood is filming a second series of BBC comedy Daddy Issues with David Morrissey, starred with Bill Nighy in feature film Living, and is currently appearing in season three of the hottest show around, HBOs The White Lotus opposite Walton Goggins.Rory Kinnear as Des CollinsDes Collins is the real solicitor who led the negligence claim against Corby Borough Council alongside 18 of the mothers whose pregnancies were affected by the toxins. As mentioned in the drama, he and his firm also represented train crash victims of the Southall and Paddington rail disasters. Hes played by Rory Kinnear, a much-loved British screen and stage actor (and incidentally, the son of another well-loved actor: Roy Kinnear) seen recently in the role of Dave Bank of Dave Fishwick in Netflixs follow-up film to the first. Hes been in Bond films, played John Clare in Penny Dreadful (and came back for sequel City of Angels), recently starred in The Diplomat and played Tom Bombadil in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.Brendan Coyle as Roy ThomasCorby Borough Council Labour deputy leader and then leader Roy Thomas is a fictionalised character based, as it says in Toxic Towns closing credits, on a number of men, none of whom lived to see their plans for Corby fully realised.Hes played by Brendan Coyle, whos well known for playing the Earl of Granthams valet Mr Bates in the Downton Abbey TV series and feature film spin-offs. In between playing Bates, he slotted in a role in BBC crime drama Requiem and film Mary Queen of Scots, and before that, he played Robert in Lark Rise to Candleford and appeared in a huge range of TV dramas from Prime Suspect to literary adaptation North and South to Dangerfield and many more.Robert Carlyle as Sam HagenSam Hagen was a real Corby Borough Councillor who raised concerns about corner-cutting in the steelworks reclamation process. Toxic Town is dedicated to his memory.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Hes played by Scottish actor Robert Carlyle, who came to fame in the 1990s after TV roles in Jimmy McGoverns Cracker and the BBCs Hamish Macbeth, and in films Trainspotting and The Full Monty, and has since done all sorts, from Bond films to a long stint in US ABC fantasy Once Upon a Time, before returning to The Full Montys TV sequel and taking the lead in Sky political thriller COBRA.Joe Dempsie as Derek MahonDerek Mahon was a real employee of the company who carried out the groundworks at the former steelworks reclamation site. He and his wife Maggie Mahon (played by Bridgerton and Line of Dutys Claudia Jessie) had a child affected by the toxins released in the process. Hes played by Joe Dempsie, a well-known actor whose career started out in Channel 4 teen drama Skins, and who went on to play Gendry in Game of Thrones, and have prominent roles in Adult Material, Showtrial and many more acclaimed dramas. He can soon be seen in Channel 4 crime drama Get Millie Black.Karla Crome as Pattie WalkerActor-writer Karla Crome plays Pattie Walker, a character whose child was born with limb difference as a result of the toxins. Cromes biggest previous roles were in Misfits, Under the Dome and Carnival Row, as well as BBC comedy-drama Am I Being Unreasonable?ALSO APPEARING Bridgertons Eloise Claudia Jessie as real-life Corby mother Maggie Mahon Domina and Our Girls Ben Batt as fictional business owner Pat Miller Boiling Point and The North Waters Stephen McMillan as council engineer Ted Jenkins This is England and The Gallows Poles Michael Socha as Susans partner Peter Endeavour and Until I Kill Yous Simon Harrison as fictional council worker Bill Martin Daddy Issues and Outlanders Matthew Durkan as Traceys husband Mark Taylor Karen Pirie, The Outrun and Vigils Lauren Lyle plays real-life case solicitor Dani Holliday EastEnders Kheerat, aka Jaz Singh Deol, plays the council chief executive Newcomer Ralph Falkingham plays Susans son Connor McIntyreAll episodes of Toxic Town are streaming now on Netflix.

This article contains spoilers forINVINCIBLEseason 3 episode 6.Three seasons in to its planned multiple-season run, Prime Video animated superhero saga Invincible has already built up a hell of a rogues gallery for its titular hero.From largely ineffective irritants like Elephant and Doc Seismic to threatening heavies like Angstrom Levy and Machine Head, young super-powered scrapper Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) has a lot of baddies to contend with. And thats not even to mention the jabroni who pressed Marks face into an oncoming train: his own father, Nolan Grayson a.k.a. Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons).Some of these villains motivations are more coherent and understandable than others. Machine Head wants power. Doc Seismic wants social and climate justice (in a very roundabout way), and Nolan, until recently, wanted what was best for the Viltrumite race. The latest villain introduced on Invincible, however, has the oldest motivation of them all: revenge.Scott Duvall a.k.a. Powerplex is voiced by TV legend Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, Westworld, et. al.) and is introduced in Invincible season 3 episode 6 All I Can Say Is Im Sorry. A scientist working at the Global Defense Agency, Scott hates Invincible for the collateral damage he visited upon his family as his sister Jessica and her daughter Gretchen were killed during the Chicago battle between Mark and Nolan. If that seems like a solid reason to become the Invincible-hating villain Powerplex, Invincible showunner Simon Racioppa would agree.I hope you come out of that episode being like Powerplex had a point about a lot of this! Like nine out of the ten things he said he was right about,' Simon Racioppa tells Den of Geek. Maybe he went too far here or there. But hes not wrong about a lot of the points he charges Mark with. Thats something thats going to be rattling around Marks head for the rest of the season.Like many otherwise sympathetic villains, Powerplexs methods to achieve justice prove to be rather flawed. Scott steals some powerful disks from GDA to augment his pre-existing but weak energy-absorption and electrokinetic powers. He then begins to stage crimes to entice Invincible out for a fight. After a false start with the much weaker Shapesmith (Ben Schwartz) and a tussle with Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs) at the Chicago memorial service. Powerplex successfully lures Invincible to his home to respond to a threat to Powerplexs own wife, Becky, and infant son, Jack. Though Becky is in on this ruse, Powerplex proves unable to control his power and unleashes an electric explosion that kills both her and their child.While Powerplex never posed that big of a physical threat to a half-Viltrumite, the incident he incites becomes the latest in a long line of painful learning experiences for poor Mark Grayson. In that regard, the relatively weak Scott Duvall proves to be more than a B-list villain. Or at least Invincible comic creator and show producer Robert Kirkman thinks so.Listen, Powerplex is A-Minus at [worst], Kirkman jokes. I think this season is about the shifting ground under Mark. This is his transition from his late teens into adulthood. This is when you start realizing what it is you stand for as a person. To have a character like Powerplex shining a light on some of the darker aspects of what Mark has done in the past [allows him to] question where he stands. Its very important to have that rug pulling moment in Marks evolution as a character.The episode ends with Powerplex imprisoned and Donald Ferguson (Chris Diamantopoulos) telling Mark that they wont be able to remove the powerful disks from his body without killing him, leaving rehabilitation as the only option. That represents not only another learning moment for Mark, who has previously been skeptical of supervillain rehabilitation, but also the possibility that Powerplex could return as a hero or at least a useful government asset. Should that be the case, Kirkman and Racioppa are confident they have the right actor for the role going forward.Aaron Pauls body of work pretty much speaks for itself, Kirkman says. When it was clear that there was a possibility that he would take on this role, we were over the moon. We knew that we were in good hands with that character.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Invincible season 3 episode 6 is available to stream on Prime Video now. New episodes premiere Thursdays, culminating in the finale on March 13.