EA's Hazelight Studios has earned its reputation for engaging gameplay and well-written narratives in games that require two players -- the last of which, It Takes Two, won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2021. Their next game, Split Fiction, is an evolution of their house style and approach to collaborative video game storytelling. Any couch or online co-op fans should take notice, especially since its Friend Pass feature lets buyers bring a friend to play for free.Split Fiction, out March 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, tells the story of two writers: the tight-lipped science fiction fan Mio and the friendlier, freewheeling fantasy aficionado Zoe. Both meet for the first time at the invitation of a fiction publishing house keen on testing their new immersive machines that realize creators' stories in virtual reality.Players take on either Mio or Zoe, who get their own unique gameplay mechanics in each stage that complement each other, requiring them to work together. Both characters also have their own backstories that unfold as the game progresses and the two strangers become friends -- a traditional arc amplified by all the delightful, inventive and engaging puzzles and fights Hazelight throws at players.By and large, Split Fiction is another success in Hazelight's oeuvre, showing how no other studio quite delivers the tailored cooperative experience like they do. A game built out of successive fantasy and science fiction short stories that switch up the setting and mechanics every hour or two could be seen as too frenetic to be cohesive. But playing through enough of each vignette's climactic finales makes it clear how closely Hazelight fine-tuned its set pieces to give players the thrill of close escapes after escalating stakes. Split Fiction, the next game by EA's Hazelight Studios, alternates between split-screen and shared screen gameplay. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETAnd all of that pays into the growing relationship between Mio and Zoe, who share more about their lives deeper into the game. Each chapter brings one of their creative fiction stories to life as a setup to peel back a layer of backstory; early on, Mio denies that her personal experiences end up in her stories, but even she later admits how much of her psyche and trauma spills onto the page -- or in this case, gaming levels."Every [one of our] games has a word to it: Brothers is 'sorrow,' A Way Out is 'trust,' It Takes Two is 'collaboration,' and this one's about friendships," Hazelight cofounder and Split Fiction director Joseph Fares said at a preview for the game in February, describing it as a "buddy movie" featuring two strangers who grow closer throughout the game. "We're going to go deep into their trauma, their back stories and learn more about them."Since the game is built on the premise of strangers becoming friends through novel gameplay and shared storytelling, we thought it would be appropriate for our review to include the voices of both CNET writers who played through the game together: Senior Mobile Reporter David Lumb and Contributor Oscar Gonzalez. We've played around seven hours of the game together, taking on main and side stories, and are heading toward the end of the game. Since the game is so reliant on each player supporting the other, we're reflecting the highs and lows of Split Fiction through conversation. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETSplit Fiction is a dialogue between cooperating playersDavid Lumb: First, I want to say it's been really fun to play this game with you. Much like Mio and Zoe, we hadn't worked together much before firing up Split Fiction -- do you feel we know each other a little more after playing together? How have you liked the story?Oscar Gonzalez: I think we've bonded a bit more like Zoe and Mio did. As someone who's been reviewing games for a long time, this was my first co-review and one review where you had a bit more experience than I did since you handled the preview for the game.As for the story, I liked it since it revolves around two strangers learning about each other as we watch it play out as the game progresses. There were some clear telegraphed moments as the stories laid out during the levels provide hints to what's motivating the characters. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETDL: I really enjoyed the pace of each chapter, with new mechanics slowly developing into more complicated gameplay. Often, we'd start a level opening doors or hitting switches for each other, only to end up having to hit our respective mechanics in high-stakes boss fights. How'd you feel about these? I kind of liked the level of difficulty the game sets -- just enough stakes, just enough tension.OG: You explained it perfectly, and it was clear that was the developer's intentions. I think I said while playing is that the game clearly doesn't want you to feel dumb. The developers are guiding us by making it very clear on what to look out for with each sequence to a point where the new mechanic is starting to feel like second nature.DL: I also really dug the variety of levels -- one chapter an action-packed science fiction adventure, the next a slower puzzle-filled fantasy section. What stood out to you? Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETOG: Side Stories -- optional smaller levels found in each chapter -- were a great distraction but in a good way. Usually, side quests in a game give you something, whether it's money, experience points or an item, but these Side Stories were clearly there to kind of excite the brain by changing things on the fly. What's great is that they're short, say 10-15 minutes, they're full of excitement or some weirdness, and some are intended to spur up some past gaming experience. My favorite was the futuristic snowboarding that was a definite nod to the old SSX games.DL: That's a great point -- in my preview, Fares mentioned nods to other games are sprinkled throughout Split Fiction. It felt like every few levels we'd get a wink at a popular game franchise, from diving into a haystack from a great height (Assassin's Creed) to a Black sergeant barking an inspirational speech at a group of sci-fi soldiers before a drop (Halo). The references kept the tone light-hearted but not too distracting -- and as you noted, were pretty fun when combined with brief gameplay vignettes.But how could I not love those Side Stories -- where else will I get to play a pig and, later, a hot dog bouncing myself onto a grill? Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETWriters on in-game writing: Split Fiction's idea of creativityDL: Okay, let's acknowledge the elephant in the room: we're games writers who are writing about a game thatis all about the creativity in writing stories. How do you feel this translated to a narrative while we played? I thought it was pretty novel (har), but I'm pretty sure I'm biased. I think players will enjoy its broad commentary on creativity.OG: I mean it's a stark contrast to the last game where you played a writer telling their story: Alan Wake 2. What really stuck out was how much the message of having this grand sense of wonder when the real world may not be the happiest of stories.DL: Agreed, it's pretty grounded for a game about imagination. I was worried Split Fiction's focus on creativity could get a bit navelgaze-ey and indulgent, but so far, the "writer" elements are mostly used to explore Mio and Zoe's backstories.OG: Right, and what really helps is that they're both each other's foils. Some of the funniest moments are when one looks at the other and says what most players are thinking, "Why on Earth did you come up with that idea?" Then there's an explanation involving something in their background, and it all makes sense. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETDL: It really focuses on the power of creativity and what it can do for people who need to process their lives. The foil to these creators in the game is, of course, the evil publishing company whose CEO wants to steal their ideas and control storytelling. As Fares told me at the game preview, it's a bit of a reference to AI, which some tech companies are using to harvest created material for profit (OpenAI used web-crawling datasets that reportedly scraped fan-fiction site Archive Of Our Own when training ChatGPT, for instance). So Split Fiction lionizes the human power of creativity amid corporatized exploitation, a great and timely theme (and something far, far different from Alan Wake 2's thoughts on the power of writing). Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETHow's Split Fiction stack up to Hazelight's other games?DL: I'll come clean: this is my first Hazelight game. It was still fun for me, but I know I'm missing out on the studio's older games. To help shed some light on how it stacks up to Hazelight's earlier games, we're bringing in a ringer to our review, CNET Video Producer Sean Booker. Sean, how did you like Split Fiction? How's it compare to It Takes Two and earlier games?Sean Booker:I've played Fares' debut game Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons along with all three of Hazelight's titles and, recency-biased-aside, I think Split Fiction is my favorite of the group. What I like so much with Split Fiction is the variety of gameplay segments. It Takes Two is the closest comparison point but I felt like both of the protagonists were pretty much the same outside of their personalities (and specific set pieces where the characters were separated).Split Fiction gives each player a completely different set of abilities and options for the entire game. It then switches these up every time a new stage or side story gets introduced. This gives the game a much better incentive to play through it a second time and get access to all the areas and powers that only your friend had. As someone who rarely has time to replay games, this is the first time I've really wanted to go back for a second dip.I also feel like Split Fiction is easier, or more forgiving, than It Takes Two was. As much as I love co-op games, sometimes you want to play with someone who isn't very familiar with the medium. It Takes Two felt quite hard at times, especially the boss fights, and this made it challenging for me to play with someone who, for example, struggled with using both analog sticks at the same time. Split Fiction does get challenging but I felt it had a smoother introduction and ramp up than its predecessor. This is particularly great for me since I'm hoping my second playthrough will be with someone less comfortable with game controllers.OG: I remember when It Takes Two came out, and I didn't see the appeal. Hazelight's previous game, A Way Out, was a title permanently in my backlog, so I figured their second game would join it. Then I was with my girlfriend on a quick weekend trip, and she always says how much she likes watching me play games, so I decided, why don't we play a game together. It Takes Two came up as the top game to play co-op with someone who is a novice, and she certainly was.She struggled at times as she could barely wrap her head around the idea of 3D controls, but we worked through the game slowly, and that's when I saw in real time what Hazelight was trying to accomplish. It was about creating this experience with a partner, and it was special. I get a similar feeling when it comes to Split Fiction, while at the same time, it feels like Hazelight wanted to also play around with the formula they created. That instead of having a puzzle every ten minutes that you and a partner have to figure out together, maybe there are some times when you just want to shoot stuff together. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETIn summary, does Split Fiction live up to its promise?DL: Okay, I've enjoyed both playing and writing together -- I think what strikes me most about Split Fiction is that it's a great co-op experience. I've had higher thrills surviving bug swarms with friends in Helldivers 2 or finishing a particularly devious end-dungeon boss in Destiny 2. But in Split Fiction, I've had a rich time just playing through these levels, seeing evocative landscapes, tickling my brain with puzzles and ekeing out wins over spicy bosses. What's your take on what this game is whether it lives up to its promise?OG: It definitely lived up to its promise. What I love seeing is when a developer creates a genre that's distinctly theirs, and they build off of it, kind of like FromSoftware, which started what we call the Soulslike genre with Demon's Souls back in 2009 and kept at it with Elden Ring.DL: I do think Hazelight is great at what they do, and there's a lot of very subtle game craft in here that makes it clear they tinkered carefully to make sure these cool set pieces and story climaxes are memorable and unique. Fares told me at the preview that they'd spend around 18 months on a sequence like parts of the dragon level that might take ten minutes of player time, then move on without bringing it back: "If you look at a great movie, you have a great scene, you don't repeat that scene, because it takes the edge out of it," he said. I'd say that Split Fiction is full of moments that are memorable for being great without overstaying their welcome. Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETOG: And you can really feel the effort taken when it came to developing certain sequences. I think I said while playing that I can just imagine those team meetings where they were figuring these sections out because it didn't feel like they were crammed together with no rhyme or reason.DL: Rather than write a traditional review, I wanted to format it this way to reflect how much playing this game felt like a dialogue between us as we played. Not just our characters exchanging lines and building their friendship from scratch but working through increasingly tough challenges as the game pushed us to collaborate more precisely. I'm recalling that ape-and-fairy shapeshifting puzzle along with taking down a giant cat boss by alley-ooping each other's signature abilities. How do you feel about our playing styles after playing through most of the game together, as compared to if we'd played any other co-op game? Screenshot by David Lumb/CNETOG: It was pretty clear that I was happy to get myself killed over and over again. I'm sure you heard me say plenty of times "Oops, I died," but that's because I could lean on you to be the patient one who was still alive. What's different about Split Fiction than other co-op games is that we weren't in competition with each other except for those sequences when that was intentional. I wasn't competing with you for better items or more kills, we just needed to solve puzzles and progress further, which we did.DL: Totally -- thanks for playing and glad we could get to know each other as coworkers as our characters went from strangers to friends. I think it's safe to say Split Fiction is a fun game for anyone who's got another player ready to try it out. Whimsical, lighthearted, action-packed and thoughtfully-made, it feels ready for any co-op team from strangers to best friends.Split Fiction releases on March 6 for $50 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.CNET's Sean Booker contributed to this story.

Those dark winter days are almost done, but while extra daylight in the afternoon is welcome, you better be ready to smack your snooze button as the clocks move forward an hour on Sunday. Daylight saving time is coming to most of the US on March 9, with the official chance happening at 2 a.m.The "spring forward" time change is notorious for disrupting sleep patterns and schedules, and some politicians push to abolish time changes. But DST 2025 is coming whether we like it or not.When does daylight saving time begin?Daylight saving time in the US starts at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 9 and runs until 2 a.m. local time on Nov. 2. The time changes always happen on a Sunday. The start of DST comes with the cute motto of "spring forward" thanks to the season and having to set your clocks an hour ahead. The US isn't alone in observing daylight saving time. Check out this list of other countries that use DST, along with their start and end dates.DST vs. standard time Enlarge Image The Time.gov website shows official US time and where the time zone boundaries are located. Time.gov screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNETThe exact start dates for daylight saving time and standard time float a little. DST kicks off on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November with the return of standard time. We spend around eight months of the year in DST.We can thank the Uniform Time Act of 1966 for bringing some order to what had been a complicated history of time changes in the US."Motivated by transportation improvements, this act mandated standard time within the existing time zones and established a permanent system of uniform DST, including the dates and times for twice-yearly transitions," the Bureau of Transportation Statistics said in a history of time zones.The country's time zones date back to the railroad boom of the late 1800s. DST formally entered the chat in 1918, but its application was inconsistent until 1966. The country tried out a year-round daylight saving time in January 1974 under President Richard Nixon as a way to address the energy crisis. It didn't go over well. Congress and President Gerald Ford restored standard time in October 1974.If you truly hate time changes, then consider moving to Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation) or Hawaii. Those states are on standard time all year long and don't have to deal with the physical and mental health impacts of the change. Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands also skip DST.Read more: Why Is NASA Working on a Time Zone for the Moon?Sleep experts want standard time year roundOrganizations like the National Sleep Foundation, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms are united in calling for permanent standard time -- saying it's better for human biology."There's a mismatch between the outside world and our internal clocks during daylight saving time that can result in some negative health consequences," says Joseph Dzierzewski, senior vice president of research and scientific affairs at the National Sleep Foundation.Dzierzewski cites mental health concerns and upticks in cardiovascular events and drowsy driving. He also calls out safety issues with young children walking to school or sitting at bus stops in the dark. Those safety issues were a big reason why permanent DST didn't last in 1974.A push to ditch time changesTime changes aren't popular. An October 2024 YouGov poll (PDF link) of over 1,100 adult US citizens found that 63% would like to see the changing of the clocks eliminated. Only 17% wanted to keep time changes, and 20% weren't sure.Efforts to end the time changes have so far failed to pass into law. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, which would have made daylight saving time permanent, passed the Senate in 2022 but went no further. The bill's cosponsors are still pushing for it."It isn't just a nuisance -- changing our clocks also has a very real impact on our economy, our health and our happiness," Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts said in a renewed call for the bill's passage in 2024.While most people agree on eliminating time changes, the schism between daylight saving time and standard time remains. Standard time may have a bit of an image issue compared to DST."Part of the issue is that people associate daylight saving time with summer. People love summer, right?" Dzierzewski said. "But the simple fact of the matter is, it would still be summer if we were on permanent standard time."President Donald Trump came out against time changes in a Truth Social post in late 2024:"The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!" Trump wrote. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation."Bills and resolutions at the state level haven't had any real-world impacts yet. Politicians are still split on whether they want permanent daylight saving or standard time. Dzierzewski is hopeful that permanent standard time will win out."This is the first time in several years where I've seen more legislation introduced at a state level in support of permanent standard time as the solution," he said.If you'd like to see time changes end and want to advocate for either daylight saving or standard time, contact your state and national representatives and express your opinion.Adjusting to daylight saving timeDaylight saving time is happening, so now it's a matter of figuring out how to deal with it. It's not just about the day of the time change."You're in a better situation to cope with the effects of the clock change if you have good sleep health generally," Dzierzewski said. He recommends exposure to bright light in the morning, physical activity during the day, eating meals at regular times and practicing a relaxing wind-down routine at night.The majority of Americans struggle to get the National Sleep Foundation's recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep for most adults. A CNET survey found more than half of US adults use some method to cope with sleep-related challenges. Check out these expert-backed tips for improving your sleep quality."If you're doing these healthy sleep behaviors, you're probably more resilient to some of these changes," Dzierzewski said. "If you have poor sleep to begin with, you're probably gonna feel it a little bit more."Establishing a better sleep routine can take time, and DST is coming up fast. There are two things you can do in direct response to the time change. Dzierzewski suggests adjusting your bedtime and wake-up time gradually ahead of the change. For example, you could shift your schedule by 15 minutes per day and ease yourself into DST. He also recommends getting a good dose of bright morning light on the day of the time change to help set your internal body clock.Think of DST as another kind of wake-up call, one that can motivate you to evaluate your sleep routine and quality and make positive changes. Start with these six simple habits. And don't forget to change your clocks. Do it the night before and you won't have to worry about it later.

March 4, 20252 min readThe AI Future Is HereAIs integration into everythinguntangling traffic snarls, dictating drug prescriptions, rewriting the rules of scientific discoveryis accelerating quicklyBy Andrea Gawrylewski Scientific AmericanIn January, Chinese artificial-intelligence start-up DeepSeek blew up the dam. The company released a chatbot that rivals industry leaders such as OpenAIs Chat-GPT o1 and Anthropics Claude, and its code is open source and freean intelligence untethered. No more gatekeeping by tech behemoths; now anyone with an idea and an Internet connection can summon machine intelligence to solve problems, write computer code or dream up something entirely new. The result? AIs integration into everythinguntangling traffic snarls, dictating drug prescriptions, rewriting the rules of scientific discoveryis likely to accelerate. For better or worse, AI is our future.For better or worse, AI is our future.Artificial intelligence is built to mimic our thought processesnew models can contain up to a trillion electrical connections that resemble neuronal synapses and run on circuitry engineered to work like the human brain. AI systems are trained on the entirety of the Internetmillions of websites, social media posts, reviews, recipes and forums. Those data, run through statistical algorithms, have helped large language models (LLMs) master human language. But LLMs are in no way capable of higher reasoning, memory, spatial perception, or myriad other skills. Those abilities are the basis of an as yet unachieved goal: artificial general intelligence.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.Because LLMs are programmed to train themselves behind the scenes, much of what goes on inside these models is a black box even to the people who create them. Chatbots are prone to inventing information out of thin air or giving downright dangerous medical advice. A field called explainable AI has emerged to help scientists uncover how chatbots think.AI is quickly popping up in all facets of life. Several U.S. cities are experimenting with AI models to improve the flow of traffic. AI systems track users buying habits to set personalized product prices. Several models advise on financial investments, although their success rates are low. Soon AI agents may act as human proxies on the web, picking out books and groceries and making travel plans that align with their users preferences. Because chatbots are trained on the personal data of millions of peoplewithout permission in most casesthey replicate human biases, often in detrimental ways.Generative AI has thoroughly infiltrated scientific publishing, according to analyses by Scientific American and others. Scientists have used AI tools to decode ancient Roman scrolls and interpret animal communication. Such tactics may someday help humans achieve previously unattainable greatness in fields such as mathematics or talk to alien civilizations across light-years. LLM technology far outpaces that of robotics, but researchers are pushing hard to incorporate chatbot technology into moving machines.A future defined by artificial intelligence will not be without challengesthe industry must confront its tremendous energy and water demands. And, as Nobel Prizewinning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz notes, without market regulation, unfettered technological innovation does not necessarily lead to societal well-being. It will be up to us to determine whether AI transforms human civilization for good or ill.

Firaxis has released its development roadmap for Civilization 7, promising UI updates and more refinements starting from today. Read more

Fantastic from start to finish, Split Fiction is one of the most inventive and joyful co-op games to date, and a testament to the power of human imagination.Split Fiction isn't your dad's It Takes Two - which is just as well, as that dad's currently a tiny wooden puppet being serenaded by a singing couple's counselling book. It might look and feel very similar to It Takes Two, particularly in the way its dual protagonists Zoe and Mio can leap, bound and grapple with playful exuberance through its bevy of winding and fast-paced action sequences. But it doesn't take long to realise this is an altogether different beast that's easily Hazelight Studio's most ambitious and inventive co-op adventure yet.Split Fiction reviewDeveloper: Hazelight StudiosPublisher: EAPlatform: Played on PS5Availability: Out on 6th March on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, EA App), PS5 and Xbox Series X/SIt's chock full of so many great and brilliantly realised ideas that you keep waiting for the moment it will run out of steam, only it never does across the whole of its ten-hour run-time. It's a staggering feat of imagination, which - for a game about an evil publishing company using an ominous machine to siphon ideas straight out of writers' brains to regurgitate them into easily marketable virtual reality slop - is a pleasing and emphatic middle finger to the ongoing debate about the threat of AI. Only precise, human craftsmanship can produce a game of this calibre, and the way it constantly surprises and delights through its tactile controls and strong, empathetic storytelling is a league above anything else this studio's attempted before.Watch on YouTubeIt's also quite a bit more demanding than It Takes Two, so before we go any further, consider this a warning to any parents eyeing up the possibility of playing this with their kids. There may be more tantrums than triumphs if your would-be co-op partner doesn't already have some It Takes Two muscle memory under their belt, as Split Fiction builds on that game's snappy, platforming moveset while also piling on dozens - and I mean dozens - of new challenges and dextrous button wrangling in the process (though generous checkpoints and a plentiful supply of control and difficulty settings will no doubt take some of the edge off here). Image credit: Eurogamer/EAStill, assuming you and your co-op partner are up to the task, Split Fiction easily purloins It Takes Two's crown as the best co-op game around. It gets so much mileage out of its central conceit of a fantasy writer and sci-fi novelist getting mixed up in virtual simulations of each other's stories, taking us from Dune-like industrial escapes and rainy, cyberpunk highways to shape-shifting forest realms and dragon nests high in the mountains, and plenty more besides, as they try and find a way home. They do so by following a trail of purple glitches, zapping them from one story idea to the next, and giving each a deeper glimpse into what makes their newfound partner tick.Mio is a cool, no-nonsense lover of sci-fi, for example, and her stories tell of daring escapes, secretive break-ins and loud and explosive open rebellions against huge, faceless authorities. Zoe, on the other hand, can't resist a happily ever after, taking comfort in the cosy and altogether more hopeful possibilities afforded by the fantasy genre. The two couldn't be more different, and at first, they're both very unwilling participants in each other's respective storylines. But as with all good buddy yarns, there's a gradual thawing and understanding that takes place as they get to know each other, and its lean and entertaining script does a great job of bringing you along for the ride. They're much more agreeable hangs than that dreadful singing and dancing book from It Takes Two, even if Zoe's obsession with trying to psychoanalyse Mio's plotlines can be a little on the nose at times. Image credit: Eurogamer/EAUnsurprisingly, there are indeed deeper, personal traumas driving both young women, but the way those fears and feelings are teased out onscreen through your actions is expertly done. I'd be loath to spoil too much, as this is a game whose twists and surprises are best discovered for yourself, but if you'll indulge me with just one example that really made a big impression, it's this. Late on in the game, there's a level whose big, emotional story beat is centred around the idea of letting go of negative emotions. And throughout, you and your co-op partner are constantly activating abilities by holding and releasing various buttons, avoiding obstacles by clasping on tight to peg-studded wheels before one player lets go to swing the two of you across to the next wheel to return the favour, and in one particularly memorable moment, you end up riding a Phogs-like creature with two heads, with one end clamping down on a water drain, while the other turns its gob into a makeshift hose to create a path forward. It's a truly masterful melding of subject matter through play, and it's this kind of sophistication that's on show throughout. Image credit: Eurogamer/EAThis deep connection between its story and your individual objectives is what elevates Split Fiction beyond just being an enjoyable whirlwind of ideas being chucked at you one after another. The sheer variety in what it asks of you here is astonishingly broad, and just as with It Takes Two, Split Fiction's best moments come when Zoe and Mio must use their respective powers in tandem to help them both progress. These powers are unique in every level, whether it's operating a pinball machine with one player as a ball and the other on paddle duty, switching gravity plains to perform stomach-lurching perspective tricks, transforming into a piranha-repelling otter to heave a bamboo reed through a watery gauntlet of man-eating plants, adopting a Diablo-esque isometric perspective to belch acid and charge into enemies as two colourful dragons, or even having one player trying to deactivate a self-destruct sequence on a speeding motorbike by means of a ludicrous homage to Google's Captcha tests. On their own, these would all be brilliant little snippets of asymmetric magic, but it's the way Hazelight uses them to reveal more about their winning heroines over time that really makes them shine. And don't worry - I know I said I'd try and avoid spoilers, but the examples I've listed here are just the tip of the iceberg. There's plenty more to discover along the way here.Admittedly, given that these fantasy and sci-fi-scapes are both meant to be living, breathing representations of story ideas in each writer's head, it is somewhat amusing to see how much they both fall back on certain platforming tropes: wall-running across flat surfaces, hopping between long poles and grapple-hooking across great swathes of sci-fi and fantasy real estate. But if anything, these moments of swift and snappy traversal are what's considered downtime in Split Fiction - something to keep your fingers busy as the game lays down a touch more exposition before the next big puzzle moment, or just giving you an opportunity to catch your breath after a climactic chase sequence. Image credit: Eurogamer/EAThe best breathers, however, are Split Fiction's Side Stories, which you'll find dotted throughout its main levels. These portals take Zoe and Mio to little, self-contained locations that are entirely unrelated to the main plotline, but whose 'unfinished draft' status give Hazelight a brilliant excuse to go truly hog-wild on some ridiculously fun outtakes. One sees Zoe narrating and drawing a story in a notebook, for example, rubbing out weapons and scratching in obstacles on the fly. Another transforms them both into pigs, one of whom can fly through the power of farting rainbows out their bum while the other can send themselves skyward with a snap of their slinky-esque torso. My favourite was a fantasy night market where seeking out ghostly cats to open a series of locked gates had little nods to everything from Baba Yaga to Dark Souls. Others are more throwaway - exhilarating one-and-done feats of desert surfing, wind gliding, or careening through space wreckage to give you a little blast of adrenaline. Or, indeed, shock and appall you with comedic grimness. If you're still recovering from It Takes Two's elephant scene, just wait until you get to the sugary sweet children's party story. Image credit: Eurogamer/EAThe best thing about the Side Stories, though, is that they're always the opposite genre of what you're playing in the main story. So if you're in one of Zoe's fantasy stories, for example, all the Side Stories will be Mio-flavoured sci-fi jaunts, and vice versa. They're entirely optional, and some are quite well-hidden, but they always come at just the right moment to give you a blast of something different before you carry on. The main levels are quite lengthy affairs, but the Side Stories do a brilliant job of keeping the game's pace up, and ensuring that no one idea outstays its welcome for too long. Without fail, my co-op partner and I always felt refreshed and ready to carry on with the task at hand once we'd finished these little side diversions - although I'd go as far as saying they're as integral to the main plot as anything else here, as they're not just brilliantly conceived levels in their own right, but the diversity of ideas on show here is still doing the work of telling us more about its two main characters. Image credit: Eurogamer/EASplit Fiction accessibility optionsOn/off toggle for controller vibration, camera shake and inverting vertical and horizontal camera controls. Sliders for camera sensitivity and aim/focus camera sensitivity. On/off toggle for camera assistance. Rebindable keys and game pad controls. On/off toggle for subtitles, closed captions, subtitle backgrounds. Customisable settings for button mash, stick spin and stick wiggle prompts. Can swap left and right sticks. On/off toggle for persistent aim dot and reducing enemy damage. Dedicated sliders for master, dialogue and music volume.That's not to say Split Fiction is all serious business all the time. Just like It Takes Two and A Way Out before it, there are plenty of signature Hazelight moments of pure, unadulterated play to be found here, too - activities that (mostly) don't have any achievements related to them, or any real point in being there at all beyond just mucking about. Water slides and chilling out in donut rubber rings in a swimming pool, skimming stones across a lake, drinking potions to turn into balls of yarn you can roll around and unravel in real-time, or indeed turn into each other to do your best mock-impression of them They're all completely unnecessary - the kind of excess that normally gets expunged in the modern development landscape. But they all contribute to the feeling that these worlds are alive and fizzing with possibility. They make these spaces feel more human - more playful - even though they're all just, in theory, simulations of words on a page or half-formed ideas. Heck, while the evil publishing house that's trapped Zoe and Mio here may have the worst of intentions, their technology sure does a great job of making the prospect of these Ready Player One-like realities seem very appealing indeed.If all that wasn't enough, Split Fiction tops it off with an almighty finale, upping the stakes of its ideas and inventiveness even further in ways that truly dazzle and delight at every turn. It sticks the landing in terrific fashion here, making your eyes, fingers and thumbs thrum with excitement. Everything feels so polished, and is executed with such confidence and style that it's impossible not to fall in love with it. And as the credits roll and you look back on everything you've done - all the wild places you've been, all the mad moments you've experienced, and all the properly great fun you've had together - it doesn't take two to realise that, co-op or not, there's really nothing else quite like Split Fiction in games today.

You 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 hereSince its initial launch, Marvel Rivals has surpassed 20 million players, combining chaotic 6v6 gameplay with a consistent stream of content that keeps the community on edge. From the Winter Celebrations frigid Jeff the Land Shark takeover to the Season 1.5 updates Fantastic Four update, each event has brought new heroes, skins, and free rewards for players to enjoy.Furthermore, the recent Marvel Rivals Invitational 2025 EMEA regionals increased competitiveness, with top teams vying for bragging rights and cash, while Twitch Drops and crossover teases kept casual players interested. Now, as Season 1.5 progresses, the focus switches to a leaked mid-season event in March that points to major changes and a free Black Widow skin.Marvel Rivals event release date and free Black Widow skinThe new Marvel Rivals event will kick off on March 7, 2025, and will run until April 11th, which is the speculated date for the upcoming Season 2. Based on past update times, we speculate that this one will go live on March 7 at 1 am PST / 4 pm EST / 9 am BST / 10 am CEST. The event has been officially announced by NetEase on X (formerly Twitter).New Marvel Rivals event will bring a free Black Widow skin. Image by VideoGamerThe reward in question is the free Black Widow skin based on the Marvel 1872 comic series where Natasha Romanoff is in a western themed timeline and married to Deputy Barnes. The skin will sport a cowboy hat, a six shooter pistol with holster and leather boots and gloves when its released.At the moment, we dont have details on how to unlock the free skin for Black Widow. However, it will most likely be a final event reward that will be unlockable after completing all the quests.But thats not all, whats coming right before on March 6th is a patch that NetEase is bringing with several hero fixes and adjustments in the game, which will reduce the effectiveness of Human Torchs abilities and will also fix some bugs that have been recurring for quite a while. The patch will also add a new Lord icon for the latest Fantastic Four member that players will earn through proficiency rewards.Another exciting addition to the game is a new Clone Rumble mode where teams will be able to play as the same hero as their teammates and will battle it out in a 6v6 arena. Safe to say that the upcoming update is bringing tons of content that will once again shake up the meta and switch Marvel Rivals into high gear right before Season 2 knocks on the door. Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterRelated TopicsMarvel Rivals Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You 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 hereEpic Games just released another Fortnite update! The update isnt huge, so it requires no download and has been automatically applied. Next time you launch the game, you will see all the new content. However, if you are in Brazil, Oceania, the Middle East, or Asia region, you may also notice that one game mode is gone.In this article, we will take a detailed look at the latest update and reveal all the changes.Patch notes for todays Fortnite updateThe next major Fortnite update is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11. However, between major updates, Epic Games will release several smaller ones. These updates generally dont require any download as they contain smaller changes. Todays Fortnite update brought back eight items, but it also removed one Zero Build mode.The OG mode now has a Chug Jug and Cozy Campfire, two fan-favorite items. The current OG Season is set to end on March 25, and they will most likely stay in the game until then. Fortnite Reload has also received a couple of big changes, as the following items were unvaulted on Tuesday:Double Barrel Shotgun Heavy Shotgun Flowberry Fizz Combat SMG LMG Silenced SniperTodays Fortnite update unvaulted many items. Image by VideoGamerBesides these additions, Epic Games removed the OG Ranked Zero Build mode. The game developer announced this decision in late February, citing the lack of popularity as the reason for its removal. This mode is still active in Europe and NA-Central regions, and players can play it by simply changing the region. However, Epic will completely remove it with the end of the OG Season 2 on March 25.Todays update for Fortnite introduced no changes to the regular Battle Royale mode, which isnt surprising with a major update set to arrive next Tuesday. That update is expected to bring a wealth of new content, including map changes and fresh cosmetics. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerRelated TopicsFortnite Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Following Wang Shu in in 2012, Liu is the second architect from China to be lauded with the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and he has dedicated his practice to designing in and for his native country. His major projects include the Luyeyuan Stone Sculpture Art Museum (2002) in Chengdu, China, which intertwines a traditional garden and the brut concrete-walled gallery building; the Department of Sculpture at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (2004) in Chongqing, China, a contextually sensitive rust-colored building whose upper levels are angled outward to ensure maximum light and air for academic occupants; and the block-wide commercial courtyard West Village (2015) in Chengdu, China, which features a community sports field at its center. The Suzhou Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick (2016) in Suzhou, China, is a flat-roofed modern take on the traditional material that it exhibits; and the renovation of the cliffside Tianbao Cave District of Erlang Town (2021) in Luzhou, China, calls upon traditional Chinese pavilion architecture to both reveal and hide the new structures accommodating visitors to the worlds largest liquor storage caves.In a world that tends to create endless dull peripheries, he has found a way to build places that are a building, infrastructure, landscape, and public space at the same time, said the Pritzker Architecture Prize jury chair and 2016 laureate Alejandro Aravena of Lius oeuvre. His work may offer impactful clues on how to confront the challenges of urbanization in an era of rapidly growing cities.West Village, a commercial courtyard in Chengdu, ChinaPhoto: Chen ChenIn addition to using architecture to create community, protect aesthetic context and heritage, and integrate landscape into rural and urban surroundings, Lius projects create poetic interaction between light, shadow, and materials. For the latter, he prioritizes sourcing local goods that support traditional craft and seeks those with texture and visible imperfections to add character to his buildings. Shopfronts at the aforementioned West Village complex, for example, are embedded with what the architect calls rebirth bricks, a fortified material he invented by mixing rubble from the ruins of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake with cement and local wheat fiber. Stronger and more economical than typical brick, they are also ingrained with cultural significance. In 2009, in Chengdu, China, just 50 miles from the deadly 7.9-magnitude earthquakes epicenter, Liu previously used the material to create his smallest work, an intimate Memorial to Hu Huishan. Designed to honor a teenage girl who died during the natural disaster, it takes the shape of a refugee tent and is as much an ode to an individual memory as it is to the collective.

The best compliment for us is when a client returns to use our services again after a positive experience, says the mother-daughter duo from Kazakh interior design studio Sdelaemremont. After successfully completing two projects, Elina and Diana Mussakulova received a very special third request from their client Saltanat, after she bought her sister a 600-square-foot home.When we first saw the apartment, it was basically a blank canvasan open floor plan in a new building with no internal partitions or special features. But the windows! The first thing we noticed was the breathtaking view of the high, green mountains, the interior designers recall about their first visit to the apartment in a new building in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was immediately clear to them that the view had to be a central element of their design: We designed all the rooms so that it wasnt obstructed and natural light could pour in.The bedroom is to the left of the open-plan living area. Double glass doors and windows facing a hallway and living area provide natural light to the room, which doesnt have its own outside window.It was crucial not to block the light or the view, yet the apartments open floor plan had to be efficiently organized and partitioneda challenge given its compact size. A cube would become one of the basic design elements. It separates the sleeping area and a small workspace from the rest of the apartment, but is fitted with glass windows and doors so that light enters from two sides. Although the room does not have an outside window of its own, this architectural trick makes it feel bright and airy. The interior designers also found a clever solution for the kitchen. They concealed a spacious laundry cupboard in an alcove behind the shiny gold kitchen island. The washing machine as well as laundry disappear. One of the surprising stars of the apartment, however, is a painting in the apartments dining alcove.The interior designers explain that it was commissioned from the young artist Moldir Qarubaiqyzy: It was the very first work we introduced into the project and it served as an inspiration for the entire design. Weve been following Moldirs artistic career for some time and were fascinated by this particular work, says Elina. In keeping with the image, she used warm, natural colors and textures typical of midcentury design throughout the apartment. Lots of wood, rattan, and veneers create a cozy and lively atmosphere while textiles provide an additional layer of interest: a milky white sofa, an olive-green velvet armchair, and curtains reminiscent of burlap create structure while the green walls of the living room echo the greenery outside.The most striking element of the interior is the kitchen island paneled with golden mirrors. The pendant lights above the island are from &Tradition, the fixtures are from Blanco, and the oven is from Bosch.It is the kitchen island with it golden mirrored panels, however, that steals the show. It is not only functional, but also gives the room depth, light, and a touch of glamor: The golden, mirrored kitchen island was a long-cherished dream. We wanted to create a wow moment and the mirrors were the perfect solution. The shiny surfaces open up the space and the gold tone gives it warmth and depth: It grabs your attention and transforms the kitchen into a really stylish space. Its not for everyone, but Madina rarely cooks, so its suited to her lifestyle, says the interior design duo.Rather than considering the kitchen as a separate, self-contained room, the studio integrated it seamlessly into the rest of the apartment. It had all the practical functions that Madina required, but it isnt overloaded with appliances. Two distinct zones were created: the island, which serves as the main workspace, and a built-in unit that houses the refrigerator and provides additional storage space. That installation is located in front of the dining area. Our main goal in designing the open space was to create a sense of lightness and a good flow. We achieved this by taking a minimalist approach to the kitchen design, keeping it simple and uncluttered. The laundry was cleverly hidden behind folding doors to maintain the clean aesthetic. It is virtually invisible when not in use, but easily accessible when needed. This kept the kitchen area free of clutter and maximized the use of the space that was available.Aside from the glamorous island, the kitchen is decidedly practical.A cupboard contains a hidden laundry area with a washer-dryer and plenty of storage space.I think its often small, thoughtful details that really enhance a space. For us, art played a crucial role in this project. The painting by Moldir Qarubaiqyzy in the dining room sets the tone for the apartment, while the reproduction of William Merritt Chases painting A Girl in Japanese Gown (The Kimono) in the bedroom formed the basis for the color palette in that part of the home: think mustard yellow walls, the deep red fabric used on the closet doors, and other matching accents. And there are also subtle elements from Japanese art found throughout the apartment. They give the rooms a unique character and prevent them from looking too generic. Its about finding the perfect balance between an aesthetic concept and individual details, say the interior designers. After all, Madina is young, energetic, and stylish, and she wanted her apartment to express this. The open floor plan embodies her dynamic spirit, while the color accents underline her style. The light, airy atmosphere reflects her own lightness. Its a space thats vibrant, chic, and full of personality, just like the woman who lives there.This 600-square-foot home was originally published in AD Germany.The limited space didnt allow for a bedroom with a window, but we created an alcove separated from the living room by a wood and glass wall, Elina Mussakulova says. The lamps next to the bed with the generous headboard are from Aromas del Campo. The picture above it is a reproduction of William Merritt Chases painting A Girl in Japanese Gown (The Kimono), circa 1887.The first thing that catches the attention of visitors to the apartment is the oak parquet flooring.All of the apartments built-in units as well as door and window frames were made of oak or oak veneer, stained in different shades. The oak chair is from La Redoute.Rattan chandeliers, a mobile pendant lamp, and a painting by Kazakh artist Moldir Karabaykyzy lend character to the dining area.An alcove opposite the seating area.Behind its cabinet doors are a refrigerator and floor-to-ceiling storage.Different textures create a unique atmosphere in the living room: The designers combined a custom, creamy white couch and matching curtains with an armchair upholstered in an olive-colored velvet. One of their maxims is You can never have too much ambience. The screen with a work by Klimt is The Frame by Samsung, while the extra-deep couch is an especially comfortable place to relaxTextiles complement the midcentury atmosphere. The velvet armchair is from Sit, the side tables are custom.The bedrooms palette was inspired by the colors in the reproduction of a painting by William Merritt Chase hanging above the bed.View from the bedroom into the living room. Ceiling lights from La Redoute. All the wooden installations are custom.The mustard yellow walls of the bedroom create a playful contrast to the closet doors covered in a deep-red fabric.A window facing the kitchen provides natural light in the small work corner of the bedroom (the area can also be shut off from light with blinds). The desk chair is vintage.The striking mirror in the black and white bathroom is custom, the wall lights are from Lightstar, and the bathroom fixtures are from Bravat.The golden, mirrored kitchen island was a long-cherished dream! We wanted to create a wow moment and the mirrors were the perfect solution, Elina says.

CLOSE X By James Bickerton US News Reporter Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday that he would block energy exports to the United States "with a smile" if U.S. President Donald Trump moved ahead with plans for a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods.Trump announced on Monday that tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would go into effect on Tuesday.Newsweek contacted Ford's office for comment via email outside regular office hours.Why It MattersIn response to Trump's tariffs, Ottawa and Beijing have announced plans to retaliate, sparking fears of a global trade war.The U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 percent of Canadian goodsexcept for energy products, which face a 10 percent tariff. It also put a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and an additional 10 percent on Chinese goods.According to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Canada is by some margin the largest source of American energy imports, with 59 percent of all crude oil imported into the U.S. in 2019 coming from the country. So energy imports give Canada a powerful lever to hit back at the Trump administration in a way that is likely to raise prices and stoke inflation in the U.S.Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, at Canada's Premiers Conference in Toronto on December 16 and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 3.Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, at Canada's Premiers Conference in Toronto on December 16 and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 3.GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/ROBERTO SCHMIDT/GETTY What To KnowSpeaking at a mining convention on Monday, Ford, a progressive conservative, addressed the Trump administration directly."I don't start a tariff war, but we're going to win this tariff war," he said, adding, "If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everythingincluding cut off their energy with a smile on my face, and I'm encouraging every other province to do the same."Ford added: "They rely on our energy. They need to feel the pain."In an NBC interview on Monday, Ford said Canadian energy kept "the lights on for 1.5 million homes and manufacturing [facilities] in New York, in Michigan and in Minnesota."Trump said the tariffs were being introduced in response to Mexico and Canada failing to stem the tide of fentanyl and illegal migrants across their respective borders. He also argued that Mexico and Canada, which had trade surpluses with the U.S., had been taking advantage of the country.The tariffs were initially intended to come into effect in February, but Trump delayed them for a month following conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.According to federal figures, 0.2 percent of U.S. fentanyl seizures took place at the Canadian border in the 2024 fiscal year, compared to 96.6 percent at the Mexican border. Last year, there was an increase in illegal immigration across the border between the U.S. and Canada, though the level remained far below migration across the southern border.Trump has expressed a desire for Canada to become the U.S.'s 51ststate, and he has taken to referring to Trudeau as "governor." In response, some Canadians have booed the U.S. national anthem at various sporting events in Canada, while others have launched a boycott of American products.In 2024, Canada provided more than 4 million barrels of oil to the U.S. per day, more than all the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries combined, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.What People Are SayingOntario Premier Doug Ford told NBC on Monday: "I'm going after absolutely everything, and I don't want to. We keep the lights on for 1.5 million homes and manufacturing in New York, in Michigan and in Minnesota. If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going down to the U.S., and I'm telling you we will do it."President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on February 27: "We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled."Canadian Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly said on Monday: "If Trump is imposing tariffs, we are ready. We are ready with $155 billion worth of tariffs, and we're ready with the first tranche of tariffs, which is $30 billion."What Happens NextIf Canada restricts energy exports to the U.S., it is unlikely to cause power shortages. However, it will likely increase prices for businesses and private households, causing further inflation.It remains to be seen whether business interests on both sides of the border will put pressure on their respective governments to agree to a deal that would end the tariffs. fairness meterfairness meterNewsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Click On Meter To Rate This ArticleConfirm your selectionComment on your rating Share