Associate Ad Product ProducerGameloftHo Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City vn17 minutes agoApplyJob DescriptionAssist in the production and delivery of rich media ads, ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.Track project progress using tools (e.g., JIRA) and escalate issues to senior producers when necessary.Communicate with external partners to clarify briefs, provide feedback, and ensure timely, high-quality deliverables.Maintain clear documentation and regularly update internal tracking sheets for outsourced work.Review deliverables to ensure they meet creative standards and technical specifications.Collaborate with QA, developers, and cross-functional teams to resolve issues and maintain alignment throughout the project lifecycle.Qualifications1–2 years of experience in digital production, advertising, or game-related project management.Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.Proficient in English (written and spoken) and skilled in Google Workspace as well as task tracking platforms (e.g., JIRA,Confluence)Effective communicator and team player, with a proactive mindset and strong problem-solving skills.Familiar with mobile ad platforms and basic technical knowledge of mobile ecosystems; data analysis experience is a plus.Quick to adapt and eager to learn new tools, technologies, and workflows.Additional InformationRecruitment Process:(1) Screening call ( Only candidates whose qualifications align with the role will be contacted. We sincerely appreciate your understanding)(2) Test(3) Interview(s)(4) OfferWork Location and Hours:Work location: 26 Ung Van Khiem, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.Work hours: 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM, Monday - Friday.Why Join Gameloft?You want to work in an exceptional industry and create games downloaded more than 1 billion times per year.You want to be part of a talented and supportive team of pioneers who have a passion for creating video games.You want to contribute to a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.You want to join a global company and meet great people around the world.You will work on an employment contract with competitive remuneration and benefits package.You are looking for a fun place to work in the heart of the city.What We Offer:A hybrid working model.A dynamic workplace environment, with over 18 nationalities, where hundreds of world-renowned game titles were born.A range of well-being events and policies to support employees physically, mentally, and emotionally.An open-space office, a cafeteria, a terrace and a Gaming Area.Various training packages, including internal training, sponsorship training, and e-learning (iLearn, Udemy,...).Opportunities to collaborate and train with Gameloft worldwide experts and develop yourselves.An attractive monthly salary alongside Tet and other performance bonuses.Minimum 12 days of paid annual leave, plus 5 days of paid sick leave, Christmas leave, Birthday leave,...100% coverage of mandatory insurance and extra healthcare insurance.A monthly allowance to support lunch meals and working-from-home electricity and Internet bills.Other benefits from one of the best employers in Vietnam.What's more?Want to know more? Visit our websites:Company DescriptionJoin The Game!Leader in the development and publishing of multiplatform games, Gameloft® has established itself as a pioneer in the industry, creating innovative gaming experiences for 25 years. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, from mobile to cross-platform titles for PC and consoles. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Dragon Mania Legends, March of Empires, and Dungeon Hunter, and also partners with major rights holders including LEGO®, Universal, Illumination, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Lamborghini®, and Ferrari®. Gameloft distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs 3,000 people worldwide. Every month, 1 billion unique users can be reached by advertisers in Gameloft games with Gameloft for brands, a leading B2B offering dedicated to brands and agencies. Gameloft is a Vivendi company. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

End-of-life data management, be it deletion of what is no longer required, or data removal from hardware before it’s decommissioned, may not get the attention that data loss through breaches generates, but it’s equally critical

JUnit 5 is the de facto standard for developing unit tests in Java. A robust test suite not only gives you confidence in the behavior of your applications as you develop them, but also gives you confidence that you won’t inadve

SYNDICATE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS is partnering with a leading-edge client to identify a Staff Rendering Systems Engineer / Architect in Newark, CA. This opportunity is ideal for a technical visionary ready to lead rendering infrastructure initiatives at the forefront of visual effects, automotive visualization, and simulation technology. We are specifically seeking individuals with world-class experience at studios involving high-performance render-intensive environments. If you’ve helped build the rendering backbone behind iconic animated or VFX-heavy productions, we want you on this team. About the Role The Staff Rendering Systems Engineer will architect and optimize rendering infrastructure for high-performance, scalable operations. You will work cross-functionally with engineering and production teams to enhance pipeline efficiency, implement automation, and solve complex technical issues in rendering workflows. You’ll also provide thought leadership in infrastructure planning and help shape a secure and future-ready rendering technology roadmap. Key Responsibilities Define and implement architectural strategies for scalable rendering infrastructure and workflows. Oversee and optimize Deadline render farm configuration for performance, efficiency, and scalability. Automate rendering pipeline tasks using Bash, Python, SQL, and Ruby to improve throughput and reduce manual overhead. Lead research and implementation of cloud-based rendering technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot rendering issues and ensure system performance. Establish and maintain best practices for security, reliability, and system scalability. Advise on OS lifecycle management, virtualization, and package management. Participate in high-level architectural planning to align with business and technology goals. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or equivalent technical field. 8+ years of hands-on experience managing render farms, preferably within CGI/VFX production environments. Strong experience with rendering pipelines and farm management tools such as Deadline. Proven expertise in large-scale rendering infrastructure design and maintenance. Background working in or supporting large design studios specializing in visual effects, animation, or interactive content production. Technical Skills Strong knowledge of server hardware, storage systems, and GPU/CPU rendering technologies. Fluency in scripting languages (Bash, Python, SQL, Ruby). Familiarity with virtualization, OS management, and performance optimization. Understanding of render farm automation, security principles, and DevOps-style deployment. How to Apply Submit your resume to Resumes@swfs.ai today and take the next step in your professional journey with SYNDICATE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS – Empowering Talent. Advancing Technology. Driving Innovation.

As the Nintendo Switch 2 launches, these are our hopes and dreams for the console Image credit: Nintendo Feature by GamesIndustry.biz Staff Contributor Published on June 5, 2025 With the Nintendo Switch 2 launching today, it closes out a rocky pre-launch period of tariffs, fiery price discussions around software and hardware, and some retailers cancelling pre-orders. Much of that will feel like a distant memory once the hotly-anticipated console is in players' hands, and they're trying out the first new Mario Kart game in more than 11 years. There's always something special about Nintendo hardware. Even with the Wii U, the console manufacturer's biggest dud in recent memory, that was still the case. While the Switch 2 is firmly an evolution of 2017's Switch and not anything bolder in terms of input or form factor, Nintendo's unbelievable run of great software over the past eight years looks set to continue. The downside for consumers, of course, is that they will be paying much more for some of those titles than they did on the last console. Below, to celebrate its launch day, the GamesIndustry.biz team shares its realistic hopes and dreams for the years to come on Switch 2. A fresh take on exclusive IP Nintendo has already demonstrated that it's willing to switch it up in terms of new takes on its iconic franchises, with the destructible levels of Donkey Kong Bananza and the open roads of Mario Kart World. But I have an appetite to see the same approach taken with continuations of beloved franchises like The Legend of Zelda, 3D Mario, and Pokémon. While Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are getting enhanced versions and the newest Pokémon Legends title launches this fall, Nintendo has the opportunity to revitalise some of its beloved IP with boosted hardware and fan interest. Not only that, but it could flip the script entirely and debut a brand new franchise unrelated to anything that’s come before it – something that would become intertwined with the Switch 2 and inspire a new generation of players and developers. – Sophie McEvoy The end of bad Switch ports While games like Doom and The Witcher 3 demonstrated that miracles were possible with the Nintendo Switch's limited hardware capabilities, numerous ports from more powerful platforms fell short. From the notoriously rough visual downgrade of Batman: Arkham Knight to the choppy port of WWE 2K 2018, sometimes visually intensive games have made their way to the console with a whiff of 'buyer beware' about them. In some cases, like the Kingdom Hearts games, 'cloud' versions bypassed trying to run natively on the hardware altogether, which was a compromise too far for many players. That's a trend the Switch 2, with its out-of-the-gates impressive ports of Cyberpunk 2077 and Civ 7, could really do without. Inevitably, we will reach a point with the next Xbox and PlayStation consoles where the disparity with the Switch 2 becomes too great, and we could potentially see a similar downslide in ports. But hopefully the quality level reached with this first wave of releases sets a high standard for what's to come. Users' tolerance for lower quality multiplatform releases has been tested too much during the latter years of the Switch's lifecycle. – Samuel Roberts Switch 2 is at the heart of indie games Image credit: ConcernedApe The early years of the Switch were a honeymoon period for indie games, causing a gold rush of publishers and developers getting their back catalogues on the platform. As the eShop became swamped with shovelware, while Nintendo did little to improve discoverability (until very recently), Steam quickly became the de facto home for indie games again. There's still nothing like playing an indie game on Switch. The portability remains a cut above other devices with a similar form factor, like the Steam Deck. While Nintendo shows it values smaller games with its Indie World showcases, there's still a disconnect between the intent of those presentations and how easily indie games are actually discovered on Switch. Using the eShop to celebrate good taste in games should be a goal of Nintendo's during this generation. A golden age of indies comparable to the original Switch launch seems unlikely – the moment has probably passed on that. But more consistent curation would have a massive amount of value. – Samuel Roberts Nintendo shows that the mouse has the magic The unveiling of the Switch showed that Nintendo learned a lot of lessons from the Wii U, itself a failed follow-up to the Wii: the company didn't rock the boat. It's the same form factor you know from the original Switch, with a clear '2' in the name. All its more novel secondary features – like the Joy-Con's mouse controls – are not at the centre of the marketing messaging like the Wii Remote or DS touchscreen were for those consoles. This was wise in a few practical ways. It means there are no interface-based headaches in porting a game onto the console, paving the way for (theoretically) good third-party support. Consumers, developers, and publishers know what they're getting. Still, it means the console is going to feel largely familiar as an experience. The hope, then, is that deeper into the generation, Nintendo and other developers find new and interesting things to do with the mouse. Competitive wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive is Nintendo's first attempt at this, but the drab art style doesn't inspire much confidence. Previous breakthrough exclusives like Arms and Splatoon felt like a much bigger deal. – Samuel Roberts More than just a console As a handheld device, the Switch ended up being more than just a games console. Subscription-based services like Crunchyroll and InkyPen provide access to anime, comics, and manga, while the YouTube app lets players watch a (albeit limited) selection of movies and shows. With the improvements in screen resolution, the Switch 2 would benefit from integrating more streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. Sure, you can use these apps on phones and laptops, but it would be convenient to have everything on one device – particularly a handheld console that's a popular traveling companion. And with social connectivity being a major selling point of the new console with GameChat, there's an opportunity to host streaming parties of shows and films on top of playing games. – Sophie McEvoy The GameCube library isn't left to fester on Nintendo Switch Online On day one, Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack brings GameCube games to Switch 2 players: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. More will be coming, but if Nintendo's previous form with its classic console libraries are anything to go by, it will be a glacial wait. I hope I'm proven wrong. Possibly complicating matters is that some key GameCube titles have already been ported to Switch, like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Pikmin 1 and 2, and Metroid Prime. The console's best game, Resident Evil 4, has been widely available for years on other platforms. The best case scenario here, then, is that Nintendo brings some more unusual or unexpected games to the service – the coming inclusion of Chibi-Robo, a cult GameCube game that's been hard to get hold for many years, is a strong indicator that the company is thinking outside the more obvious Mario and Zelda games. Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes would be on my personal wishlist. And maybe Starfox Adventures, too, just to hear everyone complain about it again. – Samuel Roberts A new take on Zelda in time for the movie This one is pretty much guaranteed. After reinventing the Zelda series with the open world games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, both of which celebrated player freedom and ingenuity, it will be fascinating to see what tack the team behind these games take next. "I think [TOTK] is – to use a bit of a term – an apotheosis, or the final form of that version of The Legend of Zelda," said producer Eiji Aonuma in a 2023 interview with Game Informer. "In that regard, I don't think that we'll be making a direct sequel to a world such as that that we've created." My prediction: in the same way Super Mario Wonder gave players a fresh spin on a classic Mario 2D platformer experience following 2023's (terrible, if you ask me) Super Mario Bros. movie, I could see a similar tack taken with 2027's live-action Zelda movie. A game that seems superficially familiar, but is bursting with new ideas, would bridge the gap between veteran Nintendo players and newbies. – Samuel Roberts

Heydar Aliyev Center | © Olivier Blanchette via Unsplash In contemporary architectural discourse, the building envelope is no longer a passive partition but a dynamic interface capable of interaction, regulation, and adaptation. Amid rising environmental complexity and performance demands, composite materials are emerging as enablers of this transformation. Their potential goes far beyond lightweight strength; composites are redefining what intelligence means in architectural materiality. As the industry pivots toward energy-conscious design, real-time responsiveness, and multi-functional skins, composites provide structural solutions and performative systems. In this context, the envelope becomes a site of intelligence. From Passive Shells to Active Systems For centuries, architectural skins served primarily as barriers, blocking weather, enclosing space, and symbolizing permanence. But the 21st century demands more. We require façades that filter air and light, mediate thermal flux, integrate sensors, and generate power. Traditional materials, limited by monolithic performance and weight, have struggled to adapt. Composites, by contrast, are inherently systemic. They are engineered layers rather than singular substances. Through the integration of fibers and matrices, composites enable architectural envelopes that perform structurally while accommodating embedded systems such as thermal insulation, acoustic control, impact resistance, and photoreactivity. These characteristics make them prime candidates for high-performance envelopes in buildings and infrastructure alike. In the Qatar Integrated Railway Project, composite roofing and FRP façade panels were employed to meet the demands of the harsh desert environment. This solution reduced structural loads and improved thermal performance while ensuring long-term durability in a climate defined by extremes. Performance Layering and Embedded Intelligence What distinguishes composites from conventional materials is their capacity to combine multiple performance layers in one unified system. Instead of applying insulation, waterproofing, and cladding in sequence, a composite panel can consolidate these into a single prefabricated, high-performance element. A compelling example is the Eco Casa in Australia, designed by Ian Wright, which used frameless DuFLEX composite panels. The result was an environmentally conscious home with significantly reduced material waste, enhanced thermal performance, and minimized emissions. These outcomes demonstrate how composites offer design efficiency and ecological responsibility. The capacity for prefabrication and integration is particularly valuable in settings where labor conditions, transportation logistics, or weather exposure make traditional multi-layered construction inefficient or impractical. Composites with a Nervous System: Sensing the Built Environment Recent innovations in smart composites extend these capabilities further. By embedding fiber-optic or piezoresistive sensors into composite assemblies, architects and engineers can develop building skins that sense stress, temperature changes, humidity, or vibration in real-time. These responsive façades can feed data into building management systems, enabling performance optimization or alerting maintenance teams to signs of wear or structural fatigue. This functionality has been successfully explored in transport infrastructure. The King Abdullah High-Speed Rail Station in Saudi Arabia used 27-meter composite sandwich panels to span vast distances with minimal support. The lightweight system reduced the need for extensive reinforcement while enabling thermal and mechanical performance in a climate that demands resilience. Such examples are foundational to a future in which architecture does not merely resist the environment but interprets it. Formal Freedom Meets Functional Responsiveness Guangzhou Opera House | © Scarbor Siu via Unsplash Beyond embedded intelligence, composites also expand formal expression. Their moldability, especially with parametric design and digital fabrication, allows for envelopes that curve, fold, and morph in unattainable ways with conventional rigid materials. The Guangzhou Opera House, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a defining example. Advanced composite assemblies that merged structural demands with formal ambition enabled its seamless curvatures and sharp transitions. These systems supported high-precision details and complex geometries while reducing material weight and installation complexity. This freedom extends to smaller-scale yet equally ambitious projects. At the Tilburg School for VAVO, translucent composite panels embedded with knitted textiles reference local craft while offering thermal performance and design cohesion. Such examples show that intelligence in architecture includes cultural sensitivity as well as technical adaptability. Toward Circular and Regenerative Envelopes The sustainability potential of composites is often overlooked. While early generations relied heavily on fossil-derived materials, newer systems use bio-based resins, natural fibers like flax and basalt, and recyclable matrices that fit into circular design models. Composite panels can now be designed for disassembly, repurposing, or reintegration into new construction, minimizing waste and conserving embodied energy. The Pasarela de Almuñécar in Spain exemplifies this ethos. As the world’s longest carbon-fiber walkway, it replaced heavier materials and extended structural lifespan while reducing maintenance. The project signals how composites can fulfill both technical and ecological ambitions. Efforts to embed digital tracking into panels, such as RFID tags, also support long-term monitoring and facilitate reuse planning. This vision aligns with emerging concepts like material passports, which will play a critical role in lifecycle accountability. Pasarela de Almuñécar in Spain | © Luis Garcia, CC by 3.0 Overcoming Barriers to Adoption Despite the clear advantages, composite adoption in architecture still faces notable hurdles. First is the challenge of integration with legacy materials such as concrete, stone, or steel. Connection detailing requires careful coordination to ensure structural continuity and thermal performance. Second is the perception of cost. While composites may require a higher upfront investment, their lower maintenance demands, improved energy performance, and reduced structural requirements often result in favorable long-term economics. Finally, regulatory frameworks continue to evolve. Building codes have been slow to reflect the unique properties of composites, although this is changing as standardization increases and successful pilot projects proliferate. A Vision for the Future: Architecture as Adaptive Intelligence Composites are not merely substitutes for traditional materials. They represent a paradigm shift in how we understand performance, integration, and the role of material in space-making. As architecture becomes increasingly data-driven, climate-responsive, and energy-conscious, the intelligent envelope will become the norm rather than the exception. Composites make this future feasible by offering structural capability, aesthetic freedom, environmental stewardship, and embedded intelligence within a single engineered solution. From high-speed rail terminals to cultural landmarks, these materials are shaping a new kind of architecture that listens, learns, and evolves. It is no longer sufficient for architecture to stand still. The next generation of buildings must adapt, interact, and perform. Composites make that future tangible. Learn More Explore how composite materials are redefining the building envelope in the construction sector and beyond: Visit Composites.Archi by ArchEyes Team Leave a comment

The Digital Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Institute (MxD) has released its Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for 2025-2027, presenting a detailed roadmap to bolster the competitiveness, resilience, and cybersecurity of U.S. manufacturing.  Shaped by insights from manufacturers, technology providers, academic institutions, and government partners, the plan lays out a targeted investment strategy in digital engineering, factory modernization, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.  Published on March 19, 2025, the SIP identifies core areas for MxD’s focus over the next three years: digital engineering and design, future factory systems, supply chain visibility, and cybersecurity integration. These initiatives aim to address persistent challenges within the industrial base, particularly among small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) that often lack the resources needed to adopt and scale digital manufacturing solutions. “We will continue to prioritize projects and proposals designed to meet the evolving needs of the industrial base, relying on your insights and involvement throughout. Our collaborative approach has proven to be effective during MxD’s first decade and continues to be the model driving this SIP and MxD forward,” Berardino Baratta, CEO at MxD. Illustration of the product lifecycle and how the flow of data represents a complex interconnected web among all aspects. Image via MxD. Data lifecycle framework and investment focus At the center of the SIP is a technical framework called the data lifecycle. This framework maps the flow of data across the various stages of a product’s lifecycle, from development and manufacturing to deployment and support. MxD underscores the importance of seamless data movement and high-fidelity data collection, which are vital for unlocking capabilities such as predictive maintenance, quality control, and secure information sharing throughout supply chains. MxD’s data lifecycle approach has already been applied in 189 research, cybersecurity, and workforce development projects totaling $415 million in public-private investments. One example, Project 22-06-01, titled “Proactive Worker Safety for Industry 4.0 Using AI,” employed artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to reduce worker fatigue, addressing a $136 billion annual challenge for US employers. For the 2025-2027 period, MxD plans to prioritize projects that promote technology adoption across supply chains, supported by new playbooks and guides to help manufacturers modernize, close digital gaps, and apply lessons from pilot programs. This approach aims to foster coordinated, sector-wide adoption. Another central pillar of the SIP is interoperability and data standards. MxD is working on a Machine-to-X Data Standards Playbook to consolidate and harmonize data standards used by manufacturers. This effort addresses the challenge of fragmented data formats and standards across different systems, which can hinder consistent data flows and semantic interoperability. To support digital engineering and design, MxD is updating model-based definition assessments to address the shortcomings of current evaluations and provide clearer guidance for manufacturers aiming to improve digital maturity. These updates will bolster MxD’s broader goal of enhancing collaboration and data sharing across product lifecycles, enabling better designs, improved performance, and reduced costs. Future factory development is another key emphasis of the SIP. MxD’s projects in this area aim to build digital environments that support real-time process optimization, data-driven decision-making, and production lines that can adapt quickly to disruptions and new customer demands. Initiatives around digital twins, 5G/6G integration, and cybersecurity best practices will help shape these future factories. In terms of supply chain resilience, the SIP outlines plans for new risk assessment tools and visibility platforms. These tools will rely on secure data-sharing practices and advanced analytics to reduce disruptions and improve the agility of domestic manufacturing in a volatile global landscape. Cybersecurity is also a core focus of the SIP, reflecting MxD’s role as the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing. With manufacturing identified as the most targeted sector for cyberattacks in recent years, MxD’s cybersecurity projects aim to enhance protections for both operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) environments.  Two engineers walking through a manufacturing facility. Photo via MxD. The Digital Education, Resilience, and Innovation for Supply Chain (DERISC) initiative, carried out with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), is an example of how MxD is equipping U.S. manufacturers with the tools and protocols needed to secure their supply chains against digital threats. Workforce training and capability roadmaps On the workforce development front, MxD’s Virtual Training Center (VTC) offers around 20,000 courses tailored to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers.  These courses include advanced role-based training programs in data analytics, cybersecurity, and extended reality applications. As an affordable and scalable learning platform, the VTC aims to close the gap in workforce training for SMMs that often lack access to comprehensive learning management systems. MxD’s training programs, such as the Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning Program (CAPITAL) and Cybersecurity for Manufacturing Operational Technology (CyMOT) initiatives, are designed to prepare workers for digital manufacturing roles while also supporting national defense efforts by delivering specialized cybersecurity training for supply chain participants. The SIP identifies these workforce initiatives as critical, noting that 1.9 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2033 without targeted upskilling efforts. Beyond individual projects, the SIP features an Appendix of Capability Advancement Roadmaps. These roadmaps chart technical progress across multiple domains, emphasizing that data standards, architecture, and interoperability are essential to enabling future-ready manufacturing.  For instance, roadmaps for digital twin deployment and supply chain visibility outline clear timelines and performance milestones, providing a transparent view of how MxD plans to scale its impact. MxD’s structured approach and technical framework are designed to help manufacturers adopt secure, data-driven practices that align with broader economic and defense objectives. As digital manufacturing influences operational practices and product standards, the SIP provides a framework that supports a more adaptable and resilient US manufacturing sector. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. What 3D printing trends should you watch out for in 2025? How is the future of 3D printing shaping up? To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter, or like our page on Facebook. While you’re here, why not subscribe to our Youtube channel? Featuring discussion, debriefs, video shorts, and webinar replays. Featured image shows illustration of the product lifecycle and how the flow of data represents a complex interconnected web among all aspects. Image via MxD. Ada Shaikhnag With a background in journalism, Ada has a keen interest in frontier technology and its application in the wider world. Ada reports on aspects of 3D printing ranging from aerospace and automotive to medical and dental.

The original Switch is still a better option than the Switch 2 – Reader’s Feature GameCentral Published June 1, 2025 1:00am The Switch 1 isn’t going anywhere (Nintendo) A reader argues that the original Switch will still be relevant even after the Switch 2 launches, and that for some it will be the preferred choice. I haven’t been playing games as much as I did, say, three years ago, mainly because I’ve found interest in other things, such as reading and creating content. However, I still delve into games and my love for Nintendo is still there, but I did consider parting with some of my gaming collection – which is mostly a curated list of mainly Nintendo games and consoles. I did see the announcement of the Switch 2 in early April and initially I was hyped for it but I think that has subsided somewhat, mainly due to the pricing of both the consoles and games; I am still going to be receiving it day one though. I don’t think Nintendo has done themselves any favours though and the landscape has changed, with regards to mobile gaming in general, with the advent of the Steam Deck and other options from different manufacturers which makes this a crowded market. [The Steam Deck has only sold around 4 million units worldwide, compared to over 150 million for the Switch, and yet it’s still the most successful of the PC handhelds – GC] I find myself purchasing games on Steam vs. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. In fact, I ended up parting ways with my Xbox Series X and am considering the same with my PlayStation 5, as I mainly play games in portable form, with the Steam Deck and Switch being enough for me. With Nintendo it is mainly the first party titles that I would purchase on Switch 2, but it will make me think twice due to the price tag on the games (£60+) and with Nintendo the pricing of their games don’t really go on sale that much, if at all. I know a lot of people are still considering getting rid of their original Switch in favour of the Switch 2, however I think it is still relevant in 2025 and beyond. Games, Games, Games With over 10,000 games, the Switch has a diverse library of titles. I love the fact the I have a big and robust library of physical games that I can play for years to come. The pricing on new games are anywhere between £25 to £50, with Zelda being the exception at £60 to £70. A lot of third party games you can pick up on sale. A lot of games are physical and most come with the game on the actual cartridge, so even in the future, if Nintendo decide to pull the eShop for the original Switch, you can still play games offline. Games are still being released for the original Nintendo Switch for the foreseeable future. It will stop being supported one day but there is still plenty to choose from, both used, digital, and new. I truly believe that the Switch 2 won’t be as popular as the first Switch, mainly due to pricing £60+ on games and switching their strategy on physical games, with partial downloads or game key cards, which in theory is easily shareable but having to download the entire game isn’t the most user friendly and there is still a reliance on the digital ecosystem. Backwards Compatibility Watching a YouTube video by ModernVintageGamer, I’ve come to learn that backwards compatibility with Switch 2 isn’t all it is cracked up to be. Nintendo is fully supporting backwards compatibility with most of their games, however third parties are left to patch games on their own discretion due to different system architecture in comparison to the original Switch. So it will be a bit hit and miss, more than likely they would rather release another ‘remastered’ version which they can sell to consumers again, rather than patch games. Also, bearing in mind some publishers don’t want the costs associated with patching a game. Different consoles At this stage in the original Switch’s lifecycle there are a bunch of form factors to choose from. I have all three and use them in different environments; my Switch OLED gets used at home in portable mode and connected to the TV, while the original Switch is good for family party gaming, which I take around for family gatherings. The Switch Lite is small and portable and that it is great for single-player games with the cross-key but also great for travelling and going on holidays. You can pick up the Switch Lite for dirt cheap now, used, and I expect prices to fall further whilst they clear stock. Simultaneous play I haven’t seen too much details around this but Nintendo did announce original Switch compatibility with the Nintendo Switch 2 to allow for simultaneous multiplayer gaming with one cartridge, so that Nintendo Switch 2 acts as the main (host) console whilst the original Switch can be used for multiplayer gaming. So in essence you can all play Mario Kart from one Switch 2 console, by having your own screen, similar to the Wii U. I think this will be valuable for me with family gatherings, as most of us have Switches. Cost So, I did mention costs for games earlier. However, as the original Switch has matured there are a plethora of cheap accessories that can be had on the cheap, compared to Switch 2, such as extra Joy-Cons, controllers, games, cheap microSD cards, plus others. Best Nintendo console? I still love my Switch, and it won’t be going anywhere, and I think it is Nintendo’s best console in the past 20 years. I have a special place in my heart for the NES, SNES, Game Boy and GameCube, as being S-tier consoles but I think the Switch could be argued as being their best console. Ask me on a random day and my answer will probably change, because Nintendo have created timeless consoles as far as I am concerned, so it is difficult to choose one. But the original Switch makes a compelling choice especially for the younger generation. More Trending By reader wetbandit Not everyone’s going to jump in straight away (Nintendo) The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. 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French startup Mistral AI on Wednesday unveiled Codestral Embed, its first code-specific embedding model, claiming it outperforms rival offerings from OpenAI, Cohere, and Voyage. The company said the model supports configurable embedding outputs with varying dimensions and precision levels, allowing users to manage trade-offs between retrieval performance and storage requirements. “Codestral Embed with dimension 256 and int8 precision still performs better than any model from our competitors,” Mistral AI said in a statement. Codestral Embed is designed for use cases such as code completion, editing, or explanation tasks. It can also be applied in semantic search, duplicate detection, and repository-level analytics across large-scale codebases, the company said.“Codestral Embed supports unsupervised grouping of code based on functionality or structure,” Mistral AI added. “This is useful for analyzing repository composition, identifying emergent architecture patterns, or feeding into automated documentation and categorization systems.” The model is available through Mistral’s API under the name codestral-embed-2505, priced at $0.15 per million tokens. A batch API version is offered at a 50 percent discount, and on-premise deployments are available through direct consultation with the company’s applied AI team.The launch follows Mistral’s recent introduction of the Agents API, which the company said complements its Chat Completion API and is intended to simplify the development of agent-based applications. Enterprise interest in embeddings Advanced code embedding models are gaining traction as key tools in enterprise software development, offering improvements in productivity, code quality, and risk management across the software lifecycle. “Models like Mistral’s Codestral Embed enable precise semantic code search and similarity detection, allowing enterprises to quickly identify reusable code and near-duplicates across large repositories,” said Prabhu Ram, VP of the industry research group at Cybermedia Research. “By facilitating rapid retrieval of relevant code snippets for bug fixes, feature enhancements, or onboarding, these embeddings significantly improve maintenance workflows.” However, despite promising early benchmarks, the long-term value of such models will depend on how well they perform in production environments. Factors such as ease of integration, scalability across enterprise systems, and consistency under real-world coding conditions will play a crucial role in determining their adoption. “Codestral Embed’s strong technical foundation and flexible deployment options make it a compelling solution for AI-driven software development, though its real-world impact will require validation beyond initial benchmark results,” Ram added. Further reading Vector Institute aims to clear up confusion about AI model performance When LLMs become influencers Researchers reveal flaws in AI agent benchmarking What misleading Meta Llama 4 benchmark scores show enterprise leaders about evaluating AI performance claims How CIOs navigate generative AI in the enterprise

Over a century ago, Henry Ford pioneered the mass production of cars and engines to provide transportation at an affordable price. Today, the technology industry manufactures the engines for a new kind of factory — those that produce intelligence. As companies and countries increasingly focus on AI, and move from experimentation to implementation, the demand for AI technologies continues to grow exponentially. Leading system builders are racing to ramp up production of the servers for AI factories – the engines of AI factories – to meet the world’s exploding demand for intelligence and growth. Dell Technologies is a leader in this renaissance. Dell and NVIDIA have partnered for decades and continue to push the pace of innovation. In its last earnings call, Dell projected that its AI server business will grow at least $15 billion this year. “We’re on a mission to bring AI to millions of customers around the world,” said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer, Dell Technologies, in a recent announcement at Dell Technologies World. “With the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, enterprises can manage the entire AI lifecycle across use cases, from training to deployment, at any scale.” The latest Dell AI servers, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, offer up to 50x more AI reasoning inference output and 5x improvement in throughput compared with the Hopper platform. Customers use them to generate tokens for new AI applications that will help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, from disease prevention to advanced manufacturing. Dell servers with NVIDIA GB200 are shipping at scale for a variety of customers, such as CoreWeave’s new NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system. One of Dell’s U.S. factories can ship thousands of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to customers in a week. It’s why they were chosen by one of their largest customers to deploy 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs in just six weeks. But how is an AI server made? We visited a facility to find out. Building the Engines of Intelligence We visited one of Dell’s U.S. facilities that builds the most compute-dense NVIDIA Blackwell generation servers ever manufactured. Modern automobile engines have more than 200 major components and take three to seven years to roll out to market. NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 servers have 1.2 million parts and were designed just a year ago. Amid a forest of racks, grouped by phases of assembly, Dell employees quickly slide in GB200 trays, NVLink Switch networking trays and then test the systems. The company said its ability to engineer the compute, network and storage assembly under one roof and fine tune, deploy and integrate complete systems is a powerful differentiator. Speed also matters. The Dell team can build, test, ship – test again on site at a customer location – and turn over a rack in 24 hours. The servers are destined for state-of-the-art data centers that require a dizzying quantity of cables, pipes and hoses to operate. One data center can have 27,000 miles of network cable — enough to wrap around the Earth. It can pack about six miles of water pipes, 77 miles of rubber hoses, and is capable of circulating 100,000 gallons of water per minute for cooling. With new AI factories being announced each week – the European Union has plans for seven AI factories, while India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Norway are also developing them – the demand for these engines of intelligence will only grow in the months and years ahead.