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 hereThe new Marvel Rivals Season 1.5 update, startled players with its mid-season shakeup, adding two new heroes, Human Torch and The Thing, as well as a series of balance modifications. This patch, as outlined in the patch notes, includes a mix of nerfs and buffs targeted at changing the meta, with adjustments to practically every hero.Standouts include Captain Americas increased survivability, Venoms beefed-up ultimate, and significant nerfs to support Cloak & Daggers ultimate, which now takes longer to charge. Storms long-range damage was reduced, but Iron Fists health and healing were increased, sparking controversy about the games future direction.Ninja, a popular streamer on the other hand, criticized the update, where heroes like Venom and Captain America gained substantial power, and the streamer believes Marvel Rivals made a huge mistake by over-tuning the tank class.Ninja slams latest Marvel Rivals update for unnecessarily buffing VanguardsPopular Fortnite streamer Ninja switched gears to streaming Marvel Rivals ever since the game came out and has been a vocal advocate about the free-to-play title while grinding in its competitive lobbies. In his recent video, the streamer was seen playing with his team and losing rounds as a Strategist when his frustration kicked in.Around the 11 minute 18 second mark, Ninja begins blasting the update by saying, You know what Marvel Rivals has done by the way, lately which is really really annoying? And this is not a good look. This is a terrible trend. First off, Vanguards did not need buffs. Tanks were f***ing busted already. Im going to throw that out there.In the comments above, the streamer refers to Venoms ultimate buff which allows players to recharge his ult quicker than before and Captain Americas movement and attack buffs that change the endgames in competitive lobbies. But soon enough, he shifted his focus to the trend he referred to earlier, where whenever players learned to master a new character, thus making the hero rise in the ongoing meta, Rivals devs further buffed up that character according to player favorability.People started to learn how good these characters were, Captain America, Wolverine, and then theyre buffing them. Then everyone started to realize when Lunas ult swaps to damage boosts, Venom one shots through it, so people started playing Venom, and then they buffed his ultimate. Right as the meta changed, they buffed Venom!, exclaimed Ninja further to his comments.However, soon enough Ninja switched his character to Adam Warlock, thus securing a Victory at the end of the video. The conversation around the hero balance isnt anything new, rather players have been suggesting Rivals to add more Vanguards in the game to balance the meta.But instead, NetEase is focused on making bug fixes with each update, as the upcoming March 6 update is said to bring another round of adjustments to some characters which are becoming popular each day.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

The best laundry hampers are essentials that ensure your space isnt swallowed up by piles of dirty clothes. Still, you dont have to sacrifice anything in the style department if you want to avoid an unsightly basket killing the vibe in your bedroom or closet. No matter if youre looking for a slim bin for your first apartment or a laundry sorter for a designated basement space, our picksfrom popular jute and rattan carriers to industrial designs get the job done and are anything but an eyesore. Some of our choices have even been personally tested by AD editors. If thats not a motivation for a full-on laundry room refresh, then we dont know what is. Scroll to shop our favorite laundry baskets (that can easily double as storage bins), and youll never spy an errant sock again.Our Top Picks for the Best Laundry Hampers:Best Metal Design: Yamazaki Laundry Basket, $72Best Open Top Hamper: The Citizenry Mercado Storage Basket, $139Best Closed Hamper: Quince Rattan Hamper with Lid, $200Best Space Age-Style Hamper: West Elm Jasper Wood Lidded Storage Bin, $160Best Laundry Cart: Rejuvenation Steele Canvas Laundry System, $330Yamazaki Wood Handle Round BasketThis Japanese basket is the ideal storage solution for laundry, toys, or just about anything else that needs organizing. The steel frame is easy to wipe down, and the open design keeps it from trapping fusty odors.The Citizenry Mercado Storage BasketThese handcrafted baskets come in bundles and various sizes (from medium to oversized), meaning you can create a cohesive storage system throughout your home. Besides sorting lights and darks, you can designate these carriers for clean laundry, such as spare linens and towels. Or use these as makeshift clothing bins if your apartment is lacking in closet space.Quince Handwoven Rattan HamperThe handles on this Quince basket make it a breeze to transport this easy-to-tote vessel from your bedroom to the laundry room. Reviewers specifically called out that this basket is a great size for an average washing machine load. It might be pricier than your average hamper, but the quality of the durable rattan material more than makes up for it.Photo: Julia HarrisonPhoto: Julia HarrisonHawkins New York Essential HamperCommerce writer Julia Harrison appreciates the height, durability, and high-quality weave of this Hawkins New York hamper. One way I combat being a fairly disorganized person is by aestheticizing my mess, she says. This hamper helps me to achieve that. Youd never guess she has two weeks worth of laundry in this beautifully woven basket.West Elm Jasper Wood Lidded BasketThis is the best laundry basket in terms of its ability to cameo as something other than a laundry basket. In fact, were tempted to use it as an impromptu side table, thanks to the smooth and sturdy wooden lid.Photo: Audrey LeePhoto: Audrey LeeOpen Spaces Laundry HamperWith rounded edges, a removable lid, and neutral canvas exterior, this Open Spaces hamper has enough capacity to house even the fluffiest linens that would otherwise be scrunched in a laundry bag. Im really fond of the removable and washable interior laundry tote that has handles for convenient transport, says commerce editor Audrey Lee. Another perk? Its technically a collapsible laundry basket thatd be easy to transport (youll need to assemble it when it arrives).Steele Canvas Laundry SystemAll hail a double laundry hamper with enough room for multiple loads. The industrial-inspired laundry cart features designated divider bags that separate not only lights and darks but delicates too so you dont accidentally shrink that Merino wool sweater.McGee & Co. Cannon BasketBaskets holding quilts, throw pillows, and smaller household items are sprinkled throughout the Shea McGees home tour. Eagle-eyed readers know the designer has a knack for finding attractive storage containers made of wicker and rattan in various sizes. Unsurprisingly, we found plenty of attractive hamper options on McGee & Co.s retail site, like this two-tone design that we like for its pop top lid that hides your unmentionables.STO STO Laundry HamperThe removable bag from this rolling laundry hamper makes it easy to dump dirty clothes into the washing machine. Its available in two- and three-section versions, in case you want something that can handle multiple loads of laundry.Anthropologie Scallop Wicker Lidded HamperAnd the award for the cutest clothes hamper goes toAnthropologie. Weve spotlighted this lidded option with scalloped edges, but for you can find even more whimsical rattan designs shaped, like a buzzing beehive and a stylish pineapple.Ecole Basket by J'JuteThe braided handles on this jute basket are giving us major Rapunzel vibes. In other words, if youre looking for a clothes basket with unexpected charm, youll find it with this pick.Serena & Lily Westchester Storage BasketYou might intend to use this beautiful rattan basket as a towel holder, plant vessel (pictured on the website), or even a design-forward trash canbut we think its the perfect pick for a beach house clothing hamper.Zara Home Children's Circus Paper HamperDarling is one way to describe these striped hampers fit for a circus-inspired childrens bedroom or nursery. To see it done tastefully, we refer you to this Parisian apartment.Gueevin Corner Bamboo Laundry HamperInstead of tossing dirty laundry in a corner of a bedroom, store it neatly in a wicker hamper thats perfectly designed to fit in any 90-degree angle. Better yet, you can pop the removable liner in the washer when its ready to be cleaned.Joseph Altuzarra Woven Moon & Stars HamperIn case you were majorly inspired by the nursery in Joseph Altuzarras Hamptons home, get the look with the designer dads West Elm collab. A sweet option for a not-so-in-your-face celestial motif.Laundry Hamper with 2-Tier Shelves & Tilt Out BasketReviewers say this tilt-out bamboo hamper is easy to assemble and the perfect size for small spaces. Plus, it even has convenient shelving to store extra towels and toiletries.Wayfair Basics Rolling Laundry HamperThis simple yet sophisticated hamper with a sleek chrome frame and removable canvas bag is trs chic and sure to make laundry day less of a hassle.

Like any relationship, its establishing a good foundation to build from.When people talk about collaboration, we so naturally go to the architects, the upholsterers, the specialist painters, but the most important collaboration is with the client because without their collaboration what do you do? When they arrive at the end and they feel like it's their house, like they're walking into their own taste and lifestyle rather than it being a Rita Konig house and I've put my five things that we always dofor some clients and designers, that's the experience and that's what everybody wants. But that's what I find very exciting: the discipline to work through these things and create beautiful, sophisticated, and comfortable interiors for clients.How do you manage client fatigue?One of the things that I do and try to instill in my team is to always put yourself in the clients shoes. It doesnt happen often, but things do go wrong. Something arrives broken or in the wrong color. I feel the less a client can be subjected to that and the more it's not their problem, the betterit reduces the areas for fatigue. We are in the service industryIts all client experience. I would want somebody to say to me, This will be taken care of. You will not be billed for this.Konigs Elizabeth Chintz fabric for Schumacher upholsters an antique sofa in her London home.Budgets can also rear fatigue. Any tips for stopping it before it starts?You have to put every little thing in your budget to begin with. I never want to say to somebody, Thats not in your budget. Its so annoying, and again, that's just putting yourself in somebody elses shoes. Whether you're spending $2 or $2.5 million, it's all huge money. Its all a frog to swallow when you get to the bill, so tell them $2.5 millionnot $2 millionso that every time you're doing something you say, Yes, its in the budget. If somebody is always telling you thats not in your budget you just perpetually feel like youre getting the cheapest version. In every room, we build in a sum for everythinglighting, china, glass, everything. That is where the fatigue comes from. Its really annoying to be told that you cant afford lights. It shouldnt be an extra.How do you keep in touch with clients longterm?Theres a reality that comes that year following installation. The client moves in and realizes that actually this doesnt work as well as they thought, or they need to change that, or add a couple of extra things here. That's another area where you can get client fatiguethey move in, you move on to the next job, there are always things that will go wrong. So you have to always make sure that there is space in your team for that aftercare because you can deliver the most beautiful thing and everybody's delighted, but it can sour quickly when youre not tying up those loose ends in the six to 12 months following.This interview has been condensed and edited for brevity and clarity.APPLY NOWGrow your business with the AD PRO DirectoryArrow

Taiwans government has suggested a $100bn semiconductor deal between Donald Trump and the Taiwanese chip maker TSMC is not guaranteed, saying it must still go through government assessment and ensure its most advanced tech will stay onshore.The surprise announcement on Monday by Trump and the chief executive of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), CC Wei, has prompted controversy in Taiwan, where the industry is crucial to both its economy and its national security.On Monday, TSMC said it would increase its existing US investment by $100bn, building five new cutting edge facilities on US soil.Trump said the deal meant TSMC would avoid the industry-wide 25% tariffs amid efforts to bring more manufacturing to the US and assert US trade dominance over rivals and allies. Wei said the deal meant TSMC was producing the most advanced chip on US soil.But statements from Taiwan government officials on Tuesday suggested the terms of the deal may have caught some unawares. Taiwans cabinet suggested TSMC had not yet applied for government approvals required for foreign investments of that size.The presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo, said the assessment would take into account the interests of investors and the country. Kuo also said the government would ensure TSMC will keep its most advanced manufacturing processes in Taiwan.TSMC produces almost all of the worlds most advanced semiconductors, and the industry is often referred to as Taiwans silicon shield, incentivising the US and allies to support Taiwan against Chinese invasion in order to keep the tech out of Beijings control.Opposition figures have said the deal would reduce Taiwans defences. The defence minister, however, said he was still convinced the US would protect Taiwan.Taking away Taiwans technology sector will reduce the power of Taiwans silicon shield, said James Yifan Chen, the assistant professor in the department of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in Taiwan. Taiwan without semiconductor and tech industries will be like Ukraine without nuclear weapons.The deal drew criticism from the opposition in Taiwan. The leader of the KMTs legislative caucus, Fu Kun-chi, asked Where is Taiwans national security if TSMC become ASMC and the sacred mountain that protects the country is gone?The more TSMC produces in the US, the lower Taiwans geopolitical importance will be, and the less incentive the US will have to help Taiwan in the future, said the KMT legislator Ko Ju-Chun.On Monday, Trump said that an invasion of Taiwan would be catastrophic but the TSMC investment reduced the impact on US interests. [It] will at least give us a position where in this very, very important business, we would have a very big part of it in the US, he added.Trumps second presidential term has been marked by an upending of US foreign policy, including a stunning rejection of Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Business TodayFree daily newsletterGet set for the working day we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionTaiwan has long seen parallels between Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas own invasion threats, but despite Trump repeatedly questioning the worth of continuing to support Taiwan, the government in Taipei has been hesitant to criticise or question the leader of its most powerful and significant supporter.The Taiwan defence minister, Wellington Koo, said he was still convinced that the US would not abandon Taiwan. Koo said the rapid and strange changes in the international situation had raised questions about Trumps core interests, but he believed the cost of a Taiwan war was too high for the US to allow it to happen.I think it is impossible for the US to withdraw from the Indo-Pacific because it is the core interest of the US, whether from the perspective of economic growth, political views or military security, he said.Taiwans government has scrambled to deter Trump from imposing tariffs on Taiwan and crucial industries. It has sent government delegations to Washington, and promised to increase defence spending and reduce its trade surplus with the US. The TSMC deal was widely seen as a move to avoid tariffs, an outcome Trump said had been achieved, but the Taiwan minister of economic affairs, Kuo Jyh-Huei, on Tuesday rejected suggestions it was related.TSMC already has plants in the US and Japan, and its now building new a plant in Germany, Kuo said. These have nothing to do with tariffs. TSMCs global expansion is a crucial development.Additional reporting by Jason Tzu-kuan Lu and agencies

By Matt Novak Published March 4, 2025 | Comments (0) | Hundreds of demonstrators gather to protest against Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts outside the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on March 03, 2025 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The White House is preparing to cancel the leases for important weather forecasting offices, including the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Maryland, according to new reports from the Verge and Axios, citing officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And its just the latest bad news for Americans who like accurate weather forecasts and not dying from severe storms. The building lease on the chopping block includes the National Weather Services National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which produces forecasts for the Air Force, the Navy, and the FAA, according to the Verge. Those are, of course, the kind of organizations that rely on accurate weather forecasting to perform. Cuts at the FAA have already raised growing concerns about an increase in aviation accidents. And more slash-and-burn tactics by DOGE arent going to make anyone safer. Theres some confusion about whether the NOAA leases have actually been cut yet or whether its just in the pipeline. But that kind of confusion is fairly typical of whats happened over the past month as Elon Musks DOGE has taken a chainsaw to the U.S. federal government. Contracts have been cancelled, and thousands of workers have lost their jobs as President Donald Trump has tasked Musk with cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget. Trump and Musk insist DOGE is just cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, but the oligarchs have yet to present any evidence of fraud in what theyve announced. In reality, Musk appears to be making a unilateral decision over what should be funded, a completely illegal move that circumvents Congress, which has the actual power to spend money on behalf of the government. About 10% of NOAA employees have already been laid off, according to the Verge, and reports indicate DOGE is trying to eliminate 50% of the agency. Thats obviously a terrible idea if you want to have accurate weather forecasts, but its become increasingly clear that Musk doesnt care what kind of damage he does to Americans and our quality of life.An anonymous NOAA employee who spoke with Axios described the cuts as a nightmare scenario with another worker telling the Verge that you may not know all the work that goes on behind the scenes, but if these cuts continue, you will feel them personally at some point when that work is gone. Another building that could get its lease canceled is the Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, which is run by NOAA but partners with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense to maintain weather radars. But its not like the FAA or Army need radar, right?Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By AJ Dellinger Published March 3, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published March 3, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 3, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published March 3, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 3, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published February 28, 2025

ReclaimedAcclaim rises from the dead, with help from the founder of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion's publisher, and a guy who once said "It's Mr Slap Nuts to you"The classic publisher is being resurrected, with the goal to "support indie developers and reignite classic franchises".Image credit: Acclaim News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on March 4, 2025 Remember Acclaim, the publisher of a bunch of classic 90s games including NBA Jam, Turok, and the original Mortal Kombat (alongside Midway), declaring bankruptcy in 2004? Well, it's being ressurected as a fresh venture which will aim to "support indie developers and reignite classic franchises". No, we don't know if it'll be doing stuff like offering people cash and an Xbox to change their name to Mr Turok this time.This revival, which comes just over 20 years after the original Acclaim bit the dust, is being headed by CEO Alex Josef, who previously founded and led Graffiti Games, the publisher of indie puzzlers Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, Turnip Boy Robs A Bank, and several games that don't involve a boy that's a turnip.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Now, he's in charge of this relaunch, which hopes to "provide much-needed resources such as funding, marketing and PR support, giving independent studios the opportunity to bring their creative visions to a broad audience". Plus, it'll be aiming to bring back a bit of the old Acclaim, by embarking on a mission to "resurrect and revitalize [the classic publisher's] beloved portfolio of classic IP enjoyed for years by millions of players"."Its an absolute honor and pleasure to be leading the charge in bringing Acclaim back to the forefront of the games industry, Josef said Were fortunate that we have an extremely talented team and that weve already signed some incredible indie titles, which well be revealing soon."If you need a refresher, in addition to the titles mentioned earlier, the list of Acclaim published games from the halcyon days of Blur, Michal Jordan in a Bulls jersey, and Tony Blair also includes Criterion's first two Burnout games, the distribution of Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo across Europe and Australia, plus a bunch of WWF and ECW wrestling games.That last bit also factors into this revival, with one of the people on new Acclaim's advisory board being wrestler Jeff Jarrett, who featured in some of those 90s wrestling games, before going on to found his own promotion, and wrestle for a bunch of other companies. He's long been associated with the catchphrase "Slap Nuts" or "Slapnutz", often said not long before Jarrett hits someone over the head with a gimmicked guitar. One time in the 90s while wrestling for WCW, he did this to four foot three man, and then proceeded to say something to the effect of: "It's Mr Slap Nuts to you"."For more than three decades, I've had the privilege to have been a part of both the wrestling and gaming universes, and I'm thrilled to now be a partner in the revival of Acclaim, an iconic publisher known for releasing some of the most legendary games of the 80s and 90s," Jarrett said.Are you excited to see the Acclaim name back in the news? Do you want Jeff Jarrett to slap your nuts? Let us know below!

Marchs Humble Choice games are here, and this awesome mix features intergalactic conquests, dad jokes, apocalyptic drivers, and lots more!Drive to survive in Pacific Drive. Conquer space one quadrant at a time in Homeworld 3. Discover hilarious satire, throwback 2D platformers, and a whole lot more with your membership this month!Explore March ChoiceYour curated collection of games in March 2025Check out all 8 of the games that are yours to own forever when youre a Humble Choice member this month!Pacific Drive + 4 Cosmetic DLCIts just you, your car, and the haunting Olympic Exclusion Zone. Make it out of the Pacific Northwest alive in Pacific Drive, a fresh take on the survival genre. The first-person driving mechanics, combined with the ominous and dark setting, create unmatched in-game tension. Outrun the storm and its strange dangers as they ravage the Exclusion Zone in your trusty, 1980s-inspired station wagon. Customize your vehicle with a wide variety of resources and upgradesbut be careful. Always remember the golden rule of the Zone: nothing ventured, nothing gained. Check your map, pack some gear, and hit the road for answers in Pacific Drive.Homeworld 3The genre defining and GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS franchise Homeworld returns with an epic third installment. Homeworld 3 is a tacticians dreamcommand your own intergalactic space fleet and lead your troops to victory. Ambush, flank, or barrel straight through your opponents in PvP battles, co-op play, and Homeworld 3s gripping story. Collect powerful modifiers hidden amongst the stars that upgrade your ships with improved power, weapons, and speed. Soak in the jaw-dropping beauty of space and your fleets incredible sense of scale against the backdrop of an alien planet or asteroid belt. Leave Earth in the dust and blast off into the cosmos with Homeworld 3.WILD HEARTSWILD HEARTS offers players a break from the hyperrealistic world of hunting games with bombastic and breathtaking hunts. Play as an unknown hunter armed with a powerful and ancient technology known as Karakuri, and wield your deadly Karakuri weaponry to defeat giant, nature-infused beasts called Kemono.Learn the attacks, behaviors, and weaknesses of the mighty Kemono in a satisfying, Soulsborne-like loop, and save the land of Azuma from their destructive rampages. Lure these voracious beasts into specialized hunting grounds designed to counter their elemental properties, then lay them to rest with your blade. Make the Kemono fear your skills in WILD HEARTS.Tales of Kenzera: ZAUOvercome the grief of losing your father with aid from the supernatural, the mystical, andabove allthe powerful in Tales of Kenzera: ZAU. Embark on an emotional journey exploring the complexities of life and death as a young shaman named Zau. Confront the emotions tied to the loss of his Baba and harness his strength to defeat enemies across a mystical realm inspired by Bantu tales.Wield cosmic masks to defend yourself and unlock new abilities as you traverse beautifully designed 2.5D Metroidvania-style worlds. Guide Zau through his compelling journey scored by multi-award-winning composer Nainita Desai today!Gravity CircuitRetro-inspired action done rightthats what you get with Gravity Circuit. This flashy 2D platformer boasts a polished 32-bit aesthetic and tight, responsive gameplay thats second to none. Play as Kai, a noble hero wielding the mysterious powers of the titular Gravity Circuit to take down the sentient machines of the Virus Army. Battle these evil forces as the worlds last hope for survival across 12 thrilling single-player stages, each featuring unique settings and challenges. If you love classic titles like Mega Man, then Gravity Circuit is a must-have for your game library.Sir Whoopass: Immortal DeathYup, youre not dealing with a game that takes itself seriously. Welcome to Sir Whoopass: Immortal Death, a fourth wall-breaking adventure with a real sense of humor. Crack dad jokesand skullsin this hack-and-slash action RPG that fully embraces the ragdoll effect.Wield swords, maces, or magic to unleash cans of Whoopass as Sir Whoopass, a well-intentioned knight with a few screws loose. Explore the world of Weirdwood, scouring the land for The Legendary Villain-Beating Artifact to well, beat the game. All jokes aside, Sir Whoopass: Immortal Death is an action filled thrill that perfectly understands its own brand of humor.RacineRacine is like a delicious video game stewa blend of carefully chosen ingredients that come together to create something both satisfying and complex. This unique title fuses real-time strategy with autobattlers, roguelikes, and deckbuilders for a dynamic gameplay experience.Think fast and make lightning-quick decisions to survive intense card-based combat while managing your characters stats. Uncover lost shrines and sacred sites to acquire rare cards and items, then customize your deck with dungeon-specific cards that give you the upper hand as battles grow more challenging. Dive into Racines dark fantasy setting and striking retro visuals today.Cavern of DreamsCavern of Dreams is a love letter to the late 90s and early 00s, bringing back the magic of old-school adventure games. This charming 3D platformer features vibrant, colorful worlds to explore and fun puzzles to solve. Play as Fynn, a young dragon (no, not that other purple dragon) on a quest to rescue his unhatched siblings from the perilous Cavern of Dreams. Put your platforming and puzzle-solving skills to the test as you collect hidden eggs and treasures in each worldall in a non-violent, combat-free adventure.Round up the gang and dive into this family-friendly title today!Marchs Featured Charity: Care.orgAs always, 5% of your membership will help support our featured charityCare.org, a long running charity that saves lives and helps millions of people find the way to a better life worldwide.Thanks for your incredible support, and we hope you enjoy March Choice!Explore March Choice

Image: Take-Two InteractiveAfter surprising us all by launching on Switch last month, Sid Meier's Civilization VII has today landed its first update.There's a boatload to cover in this one, though the headline additions include the arrival of the Bermuda Triangle, updates to the Modern Age Geographic Society victory path and the ability to convert holy cites. Naturally, Firaxis has also implemented a bunch of UI and gameplay tweaks for good measure, so things should run a little smoother in ver. 1.1.0.The full patch notes were shared by Take-Two Interactive on the Civ VII website. The list of changes is so beefy that the publisher split things into PC- and console-specific lists, so, assuming you lovely lot will want to hear about the Switch additions first and foremost, we have copied over all of the Switch-relevant notes for you to check out below.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube797kWatch on YouTube And yes, it's a beefy one. So grab yourself a cuppa, and let's dive in...Sid Meier's Civilization VII Ver. 1.1.0 (4th March 2025)New FeaturesModern Age Geographic Society Updates:Natural History Mastery now grants Explorers +1 Sight and the ability to gain artifacts from Natural Wonders.Completing Future Civic now grants +1 Artifact in the Modern AgeCompleting Hegemony Civic now grants +1 Artifact when an Explorer researches Artifacts.Explorers have had their cost increased now that Artifacts can be acquired from more sources.Explorers can no longer create a new Dig site on top of an existing Dig site.The Continents lens has been updated to show Natural Wonders that can provide Artifacts.Hegemony has switched places with Militarism and now requires Nationalism and Globalism.Increased the number of Artifacts that are spawned on Tiny maps.Holy Cities can now be converted. Note that when players create their own Missionary Units, they will always follow the players chosen Religion.City States will now turn into Friendly Independent Powers on Age Transition instead of disappearing completely and will also now start with more units in Exploration and Modern Ages.Completing the final milestone of a Legacy Path no longer adds Age Progress in the Modern Age to ensure you have more time to complete a Victory.Leaders & CivsLeadersNapoleon, Emperor**: Napoleon, Emperor can no longer reject Sanctions for free.Isabella: Addressed an issue that some users reported experiencing where the 300 Gold from discovering a Natural Wonder while playing as Isabella was not being granted.CivsAmerica: America now receives +2 Resource slots upon constructing their Unique Quarter.Buganda: Adjusted Nyanza Civic Effect for Modern Buganda to award +1 Happiness and +1 Culture on Quarters adjacent to Rivers or Lakes.Meiji Japan: Added +1 Resource slots to the Zaibatsu Unique Quarter.Siam: Increased cost of Siams Itsaraphab action to be 50% more than the standard Befriend Independent action.Siam: Addressed a reported issue where Siam was sometimes not properly unlocked in the Modern Age after unlocking them during the Exploration Age.GameplayAIAI will now perform better at completing the Modern Cultural Legacy Path, by gaining Artifacts from Natural Wonders, researching at Museums/Universities, completing Civics, etc. (No more AI explorer stacks of doom!)Addressed a reported issue where the AI would sometimes fail to spend all of their points during an Advanced Start setup.In Modern, AI will now declare war less often at the start of the age.In Modern, AI will now consider Ideology more before Declaring War or offering Peace.Other Leaders now have a decreased desire for war if neither party has an Ideology.Other Leaders now have an increased desire for war with players of Opposing ideologies.Other Leaders now have a decreased desire for Peace with players of opposing Ideologies.AI will now offer high-value Cities less often during Peace Deals.EconomyOil Rigs now benefit from Warehouse bonuses granted by the Ironworks and Combustion Tech Masteries.City Patron Pantheon effect decreased from +3 to +2 Influence on Altars.In-progress Buildings that are instantly granted to the player will now auto-complete.Improvements to Rail Networks aimed at increasing the reliability of Settlements connecting to the Rail Network over water by building Ports. This should apply as long as the Capital either has a Port or is connected by rail to a settlement with a Port.Addressed an issue that some users reported experiencing where Sea Trade and Rail connections sometimes failed in Settlements where the City Center was not adjacent to the coast.Addressed an issue that some users reported experiencing where the Factory was unavailable when a Distant Lands Settlement was connected to a Homelands Settlement in the Modern Age.Addressed a reported issue where too many bonuses to Growth where Food needed for the next growth event became negative.Towns will now switch their focus back to Growing town automatically if they are no longer eligible for their chosen Focus (for example, if their population decreases) until they are eligible again.DiplomacySanctions can now be used at Neutral Relationship and their cost will decrease as the Relationship gets more hostile.CrisesAddressed a reported issue with Revolutions Crisis applying more Unhappiness in Settlements than stated.Made improvements to the Loyalty Crisis in the Antiquity Age, including giving the ability to purchase Villas in towns during this crisis, giving another way to manage the happiness of your settlements.MilitaryNaval Units can now disperse Independent Powers.Refinements made to the Army Unpacking action. Players now have the option to select the Commander hex when choosing an unpack direction. Doing so will unpack the strongest unit in the Commander Unit's hex and arrange any remaining Units on adjacent hexes based on the current facing direction of the Commander. If the player indicates a direction to unpack by selecting an adjacent hex, the strongest Unit will unpack in that direction, with the next strongest Unit unpacking on the Commander hex. Remaining Units will then unpack on adjacent hexes based on the unpack direction.Addressed a reported issue with Harassment promotion unintentionally stacking too high.Addressed a reported issue with incorrect Bombard strength being used for Garde Imperial and Sepoy Unique Infantry Units.Duplicate Aerodrome Commanders should no longer appear when conquering a Settlement in the Modern Age.A "ghost" Unit (or multiple Units of any class) can no longer be created when Units are deployed by an AI Commander Unit during normal gameplay.Bombers can now deploy Nuclear Weapons when packed into an Aerodrome, Carrier, or Squadron Commander (previously only Heavy Bombers could do so).Updated the description of the Produce Nuclear Weapon to reflect this.Added an additional Military Advisor notification for when you have produced a Nuclear Weapon but do not have a Bomber.Addressed reported inconsistencies with Naval Combat.Naval Units will use the correct Combat Strength values when attacking another Naval Unit in all instances.Naval Units will properly take reciprocal damage after attacking another Naval Unit.Naval Units will more consistently move into the attacked tile after defeating another Naval Unit.Natural WondersAdded Bermuda Triangle Natural Wonder for all players.[Crossroads of the World DLC*] Added:Machapuchare - TropicalMount Fuji GrasslandVinicunca DesertVihren PlainsMemento BalanceWe have made many changes to Mementos to make more of them feel like viable choices. Some Mementos were overshadowing Leader and civ abilities and needed to be toned down, while others were not quite impactful enough to take often.We have made many changes to Mementos to make more of them feel like viable choices. Some Mementos were overshadowing Leader and civ abilities and needed to be toned down, while others were not quite impactful enough to take often.All-T'oqapu Tunic: Now grants +1 Sight for Scouts adjacent to Mountains (was +3 Sight).Altar Set: Now grants +1 Culture from Specialists (was +1 Culture and Gold from Specialists).Chalcedony Seal: Now grants +1 Culture and Gold for Unique Buildings and Improvements (old effect: "+3 Culture and Gold for Unique Buildings and Improvements if you have 3 or more Unique Buildings or Improvements").Crown of Napoleon: Now grants 200 Gold per Age when a Formal War is declared against you (was 100 Gold per Age).Dong Son Drum: Declaring a Formal War against another Civilization grants a Tech Boost (old effect: "Declaring War against another Civilization grants a Celebration").Eagle Banner: Now Cities gain +2% Science per Great Work on Display, Max 20% (old effect: "Cities gain 5% bonus Science Efficiency per Great Work they contain, Max 25%").Great Imperial Crown: Now grants +2 Science per Age on Towns in Tundra. (old effect: "Cities gain +5% Science per Great Work on Display, Max 25%").Imago Mundi: Now grants +2 Sight instead of +1 for Scout's Search and Lookout abilities (was +3 Sight).Joyeuse: Now grants +2 Happiness for every Cavalry Unit (old effect: "+2 Happiness per Age for every Cavalry Unit").Merchant's Saddle: Now grants +1 Movement for Scouts, Merchants, Settlers, and Explorers (old effect: "+1 Movement and Sight for Scouts, Merchants, and Settlers").Padrn Real: Now grants +2 Happiness per Age on Natural Wonders (old effect: "+100% yields on Natural Wonders, if you are working the most Natural Wonder tiles. +2 Combat Strength for Naval Units if you are not").Queen's Jewelry: Now grants +2 Gold per Age on Natural Wonders (old effect: "+2 Gold on Natural Wonders").Uraeus: Now grants +10% Culture in Cities with at least 1 Wonder (old effect: "+10% Culture if you have the most Wonders. +10% Production towards constructing Wonders if you do not").Memento Text UpdatesDiamond Throne+1 Happiness per Age on Quarters during a Celebration. (Previously read: "During a Celebration, +1 Happiness per Quarter per Age.")Lotus BlossomGain Science and Culture per turn equal to 4% of your Gold income. (Previously read: "+4% of your Gold income as additional Science and Culture.")Yata no KagamiGain 20 Culture per Age at the start of every Celebration. (Previously read: "+20 Culture per Age at the start of every Celebration.")Addressed IssuesFuture Civic is now repeatable in all Ages. The cost of Future Tech and Future Civic will now increase more when repeated.Addressed a reported issue with Epic and Marathon game speeds that was causing Ages to be shorter than intended.Addressed an issue where some users reported experiencing Specialists being removed from Settlements when confirming the Legacy Cards from Age Transition.UIText changesUpdated Maya's K'uh Nah Unique Building text to state +3 Science instead of +4 Science.Updated text for the following to reflect changes received in a previous patch:Majapahit - Nusantura Civic: Exploration Age Culture Buildings receive a +1 Culture Adjacency for Coast.America - Steel Mill: +6 Production. Gold Adjacency for Resources and Wonders. American Unique Production Building. Ageless.Prussia - Ruhr Tier 1 Civic Tree Improvement: All Buildings gain a +1 Production Adjacency for Navigable Rivers.NotificationsAdded a notification for when an enemy attacks a player's Unit in single-player.The "Not enough gold in treasury" message now correctly appears when attempting to purchase an item the player cannot afford.Added a notification for completed Espionage actions, so that you can more easily check the results of their Espionage actions.The game is waiting on you message in multiplayer will now only appear for the last human player taking their turn.The notification menu now opens correctly at the start of the next turn, even if no units were moved.Alignment & SpacingContinued to address alignment issues some users reported when playing in Simplified Chinese. We will continue to make improvements here in future patchesAddressed some text alignment issues when language is set to Simplified Chinese.The lines connecting the Tech and Civic trees now align properly with their respective nodes.Improved the alignment of leader names and portraits on the Age Summary, when viewing the Overview screen of the Victories Rankings.Improved Image and Font alignment in the City details menu.Improved spacing and alignment on the War Declaration screen.Improved text alignment in the Global Yields Breakdown.Improved image and text alignment on the Progress menu.Improved the text alignment for the Description of Continents when using the Continents Lens during Exploration and Modern age.Improved the spacing between Civ descriptions, unique Units, and Building icons on the loading screen.TooltipsUnit action tooltips now stay within screen boundaries.Addressed a reported issue where advisor recommendation tooltips will appear on non-recommended items.Tooltips updated with Wonder icons, descriptions, and status for buildings.The Social panel icon now displays tooltips when hovering the mouse cursor over it in the Main Menu.Addressed a reported issue where no tooltips for Leader's name would appear when hovering over a non-selected leader when in the pre-game lobby screen.Addressed a reported issue where tooltips for a civilization were not appearing properly on the pre-game lobby screen.Addressed a reported issue where Tech and Civic Tree tooltip font didnt scale.Performance & ResolutionVarious performance improvements.Addressed a reported issue where progress bars for Age Progress, Tech, and Civics would present incorrectly at higher resolutions.Addressed a reported issue where the Commander Unit Panel would run off screen at 1024 x 768 in Windowed mode.Addressed a reported issue where hotkeys were inactive when the chat window was open in multiplayer.Corrected inconsistent controls when in the technology tree menu.The Scientific Attribute tree now displays correctly in 720p resolution without being cut off.Graphics Profile options now display correctly when changing settings in the Options menu, instead of always showing High.GeneralThe Victory Achieved popup now takes you to the correct Civilopedia page if it is the final milestone, and the correct tab in the victory progress screen otherwise.Descriptions for a civs Unique Units will no longer mention their Tier when loading into the game.Social Policies and Crisis Policies can now be slotted separately when you unlock both on the same turn. This had previously made the screen appear stuck when either table had an empty slot.The Plot cursor effect should now be more visible during a Growth Event or when placing a Building.Selecting Factory Resources no longer highlights invalid slots.A new icon for Natural Wonders in the Continent lens has been added, so its easier for players to see where to dig up Modern Age Artifacts.Updated and Improved the Leader Attribute Menu.Leader portraits now properly update when Relationships change during gameplay.Scrollbars now properly respond to mouse wheel input.Leader portraits now properly display in the My Progress menu.Scrollbars now properly respond to mouse wheel input.Addressed a reported issue where enabling or disabling lenses would hide Resource icons.Addressed a reported issue where Resources were unable to be assigned to their origin City after being unassigned.The current player's religion is now displayed first in the belief picker tabs.Replaced the Simplified Chinese font with the font used in Civilization VI while we work on additional improvements for future patches.Addressed a reported issue where the Settlement menu fails to open when clicking on a non-player's Settlement Banner in gameplay.Addressed a reported issue where some text was cut off on the Global Yields Breakdown screen.City projects no longer appear to be purchasable.Addressed an issue some users reported experiencing where a Districts health bar would remain on-screen after being fully healed.Addressed an issue some users reported experiencing where the background color remained the default color when the user changed it in the Player Customize tab.Addressed a reported issue where yield icons would fail to update in the City production list when upgrading a Town to a City.Addressed various memory leaks in various UI elements.Added resource yields on tiles that do not produce yields.Addressed a reported issue on Age Transition where available civs would not fill horizontally across the screen when playing in Windowed mode.In-game time now correctly matches system time instead of always displaying in UTC.The pre-options menu now properly returns to the previous selection if a player selects the wrong option during gameplay.Addressed a reported issue with the attribute menu displaying incorrect artwork when viewed during gameplay.Peace Deals now correctly display the intended leader icon and name.Selected Legacy cards now correctly appear in the Advanced Start menu during gameplay.The Dawn of Man tutorial no longer closes automatically after exiting the Welcome to Civilization fullscreen tutorial.The entire Science tab is now clickable when navigating between Age Progress and Victory tabs.Disabled content no longer automatically re-enables when restarting the game after being disabled.The Diplomatic menu no longer closes automatically when selecting a leader portrait after choosing a Diplomatic Action.The option to revisit the guide no longer appears during the FTUE slideshow when Tutorials are enabled in Antiquity gameplay.The cursor no longer displays as a forbidden icon in the Your Progress menu after reconnecting to the network at the Main Menu.The "Journal" Quest no longer switches to a "Legacy Path" quest when opening the "Leader Screen" or "Diplomatic Action" menus during gameplay.Added the description text for 'Gunpowder Empire' when viewing the thumbnail in the civic menu and tree.The Range prompt now correctly appears when launching the Carpet Bomb ability in the Aerodrome Commander's action panel.Addressed a reported issue where the aerial reconnaissance ability had unlimited range.Users can no longer choose Reliquary Beliefs for other leaders while researching the Reformation Civic if they haven't selected Reliquary Belief during the Exploration Age.Removed a redundant 'Confirm' button appearing when viewing the Promotion tree loading menu during Gameplay.Addressed a reported issue where leaders would remain on the screen if two wonders are built on the same turn.The Diplomacy ribbon now correctly appears after accepting Military Aid from an AI leader during gameplay.The Rankings screen can now be toggled with shortcut keys.Removed an unneeded red dot when no policy slot is available.The Religion UI button and information panel now correctly appear during Modern Age gameplay.Addressed a reported issue where Encampments are missing the White Dotted/Dashed Hex Borders UI after reloading save data.Addressed a reported issue on the Keyboard + Mouse hotkey menu where the hotkey description text would stop appearing after changing the resolution.The Crisis Page now correctly labels policies as "Your Crisis Policies"Addressed a reported issue where the text-to-speech hotkey fails to function when used on a checkbox or slider in various menus.Addressed a reported issue where the Narrator fails to have function when hovering the cursor on some items in the Your Progress menu.Shawnee is now listed with the Exploration Age civilizations when viewing the Player Unlocks menu.Addressed a reported issue where Shawnees unlock notification fails to display when befriending two City-States during Antiquity gameplay.Addressed a reported issue where The Independent power characters remain on the screen after opening and closing the diplomacy menu several times.Addressed an issue that some players reported experiencing where the Unique Quarter description appears cut off when viewing in the Building Breakdown screen.Addressed an issue that some players reported experiencing where unlocalized text appeared when viewing the "Nuclear Weapons Available" warning pop-up in Modern Age.Improvements to the Age Transition Spend Points screen.Improved the performance of the City Details screen when viewing a large City.Improved Progress Bar information consistency (HUD Progress wheels go the right way now).The Esc key can be used to back out of the Independent Power screen.Added Building icons to the plot tooltip with their status. Added Wonder icons to the plot tooltip with the gameplay effect. Made resource icons larger on improved tiles, and smaller on unimproved tiles. "Thank you for the inspiration Sukritact!"Addressed an issue some users reported experiencing where yield icons failed to populate on the 'now available' Buildings when converting a Town to City.The correct citizen character set is now being displayed for Korean Independent Powers.NarrativeNarrative EventsAddressed various issues that were occurring on some Narrative Events.QuestsAddressed a reported issue where the Great Library III Legacy Path Quest wasnt completing if an academy was purchased.Addressed reported issues with incorrectly displayed quest text.Loading ScreenCorrected typos and other loading screen text issues.MiscellaneousAdded additional Audio for various UI events, including First Meet diplomatic events.The correct citizen character set is now being displayed for Korean Independent Powers.Addressed a reported issue where the name of the Maintenance Yield name audio does not play when the user hovers over the text for yields with narration enabled.Addressed a reported issue where the background flashes when the user switches the submenus in Age Progress.Platform-SpecificGeneral ConsoleAddressed a reported issue where the input prompt to loop between Units stacked on a tile was appearing at the wrong place.Addressed a reported issue where it was possible to convert a Town to City without having enough gold.Addressed reported issues with incorrect input prompts appearing.Addressed reported issues with controller focus.Addressed a reported issue where platform friends couldnt be added as 2K Account friends.Addressed a reported issue where some multiplayer invites were not received in game.Addressed a reported issue where cross-platform lobbies and cross-play saves were not available on first title launch.Addressed a reported issue where the tooltips for items on the Tech and Civic Unlocked pop-ups were inaccessible on controller.Addressed a reported issue where the Heroic Assault ability could be used without a target on controller.Addressed a reported issue where the Great Banker unit could teleport into FOW tiles when using a controller.Addressed a reported issue where the confirm button would appear offset from the tile highlight.Addressed a reported issue where diplomacy scenes would fail to exit completely when backing out of them using a controller.Addressed a reported issue where menus would automatically scroll when the user switches to another tab while scrolling.Addressed a reported issue where the player could not navigate through the Civilopedia search results with a controller.Addressed a reported issue where the Research/Excavate tooltip was not visible when playing with a controller.Addressed a reported issue where the game was blocked after triggering the lenses in some specific setup on Xbox & PlayStation.Addressed a reported issue where autosaves were not created after hitting a certain limit on Xbox & PlayStation.PlayStationAddressed a reported issue where players joining a private lobby through join code where not reported as in a multiplayer gameXboxAddressed a reported issue where the Attributes sections names were on two linesAddressed a reported issue where players were not moved to the lobby when rejoining a game.Addressed a reported issue where autosaves were not created after hitting a certain limit.Addressed a reported issue where customization items from purchased DLC could appear as locked until a new game is launched.SwitchAddressed a reported issue when trying to join a lobby with a Standard map size twice.Addressed a reported issue where a player could appear twice in the friends list.We had a great time with Cvi VII on Switch last month, but felt it was let down by its performance. Let's hope today's update goes some of the way towards fixing that, eh? Short of CivilliantSwitch has been very, very importantHave you tried out Civ VII on Switch yet? Is there anything that you're excited to see in this update? Let us know in the comments.[source civilization.2k.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Confirms Removal Of Switch Online SNES GameSuper Soccer will "no longer be available"Nintendo Highlights Four Brand New Games "Coming Soon" To SwitchMarch is going to be an exciting monthStunning New Physical Edition Of Stardew Valley Is Now Available At FangamerIncludes comic, poster, art cards, and moreStardew Valley's New Update For Nintendo Switch Is Now LiveUpdate: Creator acknowledges "error" in Switch patchNintendo Switch Online Announces Removal Of Super Famicom TitleGoodbye, Super Soccer

Pre-empting a battle with the PS6.As it enters its ninth year, it's fair to say that the Nintendo Switch has been quite the sales hit. Like, 150 million units, third best-selling console of all time, kind of a hit. We've previously heard analysts make the low-hanging fruit prediction that Switch 2's sales numbers might not live up to that of its predecessor, but that doesn't mean that it won't come out of the gates at a full-on sprint at least, that's what Toyo Securities analyst Hideki Yasuda is expecting.In a recent blog post on the Japanese GamesIndustry.biz website (via Tech4Gamers), Yasuda stated that he expects the Switch 2 to shift an impressive six million units in its first quarter the second quarter of FY 2025/26 assuming the console lands a July release. This, according to Yasuda would be an "incredible number" and could "completely shatter the widespread industry superstition that game consoles must be released during the year-end sales season" (translated via Google).Read the full article on nintendolife.com

The founder and CEO of IPO-bound fintech Klarna took to X to once again explain why his company ditched Salesforces flagship CRM product about a year ago in favor of its own homegrown AI system.But this time, Sebastian Siemiatkowski emphasized that he doesnt think others will or should follow his lead. I dont think it is the end of Salesforce; might be the opposite, he wrote.The news that Klarna had developed its own in-house AI system based on OpenAIs ChatGPT that allowed it to drop its contract for Salesforce CRM went viral in September. This came after Siemiatkowski spoke about it during an investor day, explaining that the project led to replacing 700 full-time contract employees and a savings of approximately $40 million annually.Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff then expressed skepticism about how, exactly, Klarna is managing its customer data and meeting its compliance needs. Suddenly, @Benioff was asked on stage why Klarna was leaving Salesforce. I was tremendously embarrassed, Siemiatkowski wrote.So, as news circulates that the company could go public next month meaning Klarnas confidential financial information should be made public soon Siemiatkowski is clarifying.As a fintech in a highly regulated industry, he doesnt want the public to think that Klarna is uploading all of its customers data into OpenAI. Instead, he said on Monday that the project involved taking the data stored in the many SaaS systems Klarna was using including Salesforce and consolidating onto its own internally developed tech stack.While Siemiatkowski didnt detail exactly where Klarna moved all of this data, he did name Swedish company Neo4j and its graph database as a product Klarna is using.So no, we did not replace SaaS with an LLM, and storing CRM data in an LLM would have its limitations. But we developed an internal tech stack, using Neo4j and other things, to start bringing data=knowledge together, he wrote.We allowed our internal AI to use this knowledge, and we realised with the help of @cursor_ai we could quickly deploy new interfaces and interactions with it, he explained.This is all the latest iteration of an ancient debate when it comes to enterprise software: build it versusbuy it.Siemiatkowski doesnt think most companies will opt to build their own next-generation AI-centric software.But he still thinks that the SaaS industry is heading for major consolidation. Will all companies do what Klarna does? I doubt it. On the contrary, much more likely is that we will see fewer SaaS consolidate the market, and they will do what we do and offer it to others, he wrote.