The Franck–Hertz experiment was a pioneering physics observation announced in 1914 which explained that energy came in “packets” which we call “quanta”, marking the beginning of quantum physics. Recently, [Markus …read m

If, like me, you’re slightly addicted to your astrology app and love checking your daily horoscope, you may have wondered just how much stock you should put into it. Allow me to tell you that it may be more revealing than you think. Sure, your zodiac sign can give you guidance on when to make a big move or when to save a certain conversation for a better, star-blessed date. But, did you know it can also help you decorate? That’s right. Your astrological sign can give you insight into what no-regret color you should choose for your kitchen, living room, bedroom or if you *actually* should go all in on maximalism (looking at you, Virgo). To answer all your decorating questions, we sat down with astrologer Sam Manzella to chat about the impact astrology can have on how you decorate your home and to find out what she thinks are the best paint colors for each astrology sign.Want even more astrology content? Check out these stories.Meet Our AstrologerSam Manzella is a Brooklyn-based astrologer and multi-award winning journalist. She practices a Hellenistic tradition, working from ancient frameworks, including the Whole Sign house system, sect, and traditional rulerships. Additionally, her practice is based around the planetary rulers that were visible to the naked eye in the age before telescopes, also called the seven core planets, meaning that the outer planets of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto won't be making an appearance in this article. The Signs, Their Rulers, and Their Color FamiliesLet’s start with the basics: There are 12 signs in Western astrology. You’ve probably heard of them—think Aries, Cancer, Libra, etc. While most modern mainstream astrology focuses heavily on the signs, it’s actually their relationship to the planets that has the biggest impact on your day-to-day. “In astrology, planets, not zodiac signs, are the main players,” says Sam. This more nuanced and wholistic approach to astrology uses planets to determine what will happen, while signs only dictate the how. “Pop astrology often relies too heavily on zodiac sign archetypes, in my opinion,” says Sam. “Place a planet in a specific sign? Now we’re cooking, baby.”When it comes to matching up planets and colors, millennia of traditional associations guide the way. Sam’s color coordination is based on two works: The Complete Picatrix, a Medieval text on astrological magic, and Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune, a traditional astrology manual written by storied astrologer Chris Brennan. Below, we’ll break down the seven core planets, the signs that correspond with them, and their traditional color associations.MarsSigns: Aries, ScorpioColor Associations: Strong, aged shades of red and rust. VenusSigns: Taurus, LibraColor Associations: Sumptuous natural shades, such as greens, pinks, whites, and pastels.MercurySigns: Gemini, VirgoColor Associations: Orange is a good color for Mercury, but mixes of patterns and colors also works well for these Mercurial signs. SunSigns: LeoColor Associations: Classic sunny shades, such as golds and yellows. MoonSigns: CancerColor Associations: Silvery shades and crisp whites. JupiterSigns: Sagittarius, Pisces. Color Associations: A mix of royally influenced shades, such as purples, blues, and yellows. SaturnSigns: Capricorn, AquariusColor Associations: Dark and moody shades, such as browns, blacks, and grays. How Can You Use Astrology to Help You Decorate? The best place to start is at the very beginning. Sam’s advice? Call your mom. “I highly recommend calculating your full birth chart—to do so, you’ll need the exact date, time, and location of your birth.” This will give you the proper framework from which you can build your astrologically inspired home. Once you have your complete birth chart, look at your various planetary alignments. While your sun sign can tell you a lot about who you are, it’s actually your Venus placement that Sam recommends consulting. “This planet governs art, beauty, and romance—if it’s sweet, enjoyable, or aesthetically pleasing, then it probably falls under Venus’s purview. Whatever zodiac sign this planet occupies in your birth chart can tell you a lot about the vibes, color palettes, and visual aesthetics you gravitate toward.” Not sure you have all the information you need for a full birth chart? No worries, we’ve pulled together the best paint color for you based on your zodiac sign and planetary ruler below. If you want to dive a little deeper, Sam recommends checking out the planetary placement in your Fourth House. “The Fourth House represents our home and family life. Whatever planet rules this house, and its placement by zodiac sign, reflects the energy that feels like home to you.”The Best Paint Colors for Every Zodiac Sign:

In the Northern Hemisphere during the spring, the bright star Regulus is easy to spot above the eastern horizon. The alpha star of the constellation Leo, Regulus is the spiky star centered in this telescopic field of view. Regulus is a hot, rapidly spinning star that is known to be part of a multiple star system.   CREDIT: Markus Horn Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. June 1Crescent Moon Visible Between Mars and RegulusJune 11Full Strawberry MoonMid JuneMercury Shows Off June 16-18The Red Planet Meets the Blue Heart of Leo June 20Summer SolsticeJune 30International Asteroid Day While the relatively short nights of summer mean less dark skies for stargazing, this month should still provide plenty to occupy those of us given to looking to the sky. June will feature several opportunities to see Mars and the moon in close proximity to Regulus, the iconic blue star(s) that shine from the heart of Leo, along with two weeks’ worth of excellent opportunities for observing Mercury. And did you know that June 30 is International Asteroid Day? June 1– Crescent Moon Visible Between Mars and Regulus The first evening of June will find the crescent moon sitting squarely between Mars and Regulus, the brightest member of the constellation Leo. Interesting fact: while it looks like a single object, the blue “star” we see as Regulus isn’t just one star. It’s actually four. The largest and brightest, Regulus A, is significantly hotter than our sun and way, way brighter than our sun, and is believed to be in a binary orbit with a much smaller object. This object is most likely a white dwarf, but it has never been observed directly. The other two stars–Regulus B and C–are also dwarf stars, and are also locked in a binary orbit. Anyway, keep Regulus in mind, because we’ll be returning to it later in the month. June 11– Full Strawberry Moon This month, the moon will reach peak illumination in the early hours of June 11. If you’re on EDT, the full moon will be at 3:44 a.m. This month’s moon is called the Strawberry Moon, and of all the lovely names for the full moon, June’s might just be the prettiest. The name refers to the berries that ripen as the summer solstice approaches, not the color of the moon itself, which will remain resolutely silver. Several Native American languages use this term, including Ojibwe, Oneida, and the Mahican dialect of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Wisconsin. Other languages have similarly poetic names: in the Catawba language it’s the “River Moon” and in Cherokee it’s “They Are Arriving/Plants in Garden are Sprouting Month”, while in Seneca and Tunica it’s simply the “Summer Moon.” Mid-June– Mercury Shows Off Our solar system’s innermost planet can be difficult to observe—it’s small, dim, and a lot of the time, it simply gets lost in the glare of the sun. However, this month marks one of the regular periods when Mercury appears far enough removed from the sun to be visible to the naked eye. Throughout June, Mercury will approach its maximum eastern elongation,the point at which it appears furthest east of the sun. Unfortunately, its magnitude—i.e. its apparent brightness—will decline over the course of the month, and by the time it hits maximum elongation in early July, it’ll be dim enough that you might struggle to spot it without the aid of a telescope or some binoculars. This means that mid-June will offer the best balance of elongation and magnitude. As per the ever indispensable Farmer’s Almanac, Mercury should be visible between 9:00 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. local time, low in the sky to the west-northwest. On June 26, it’ll peek out from slightly below and to the left of the crescent moon.  [ Related: Mercury stuns in incredibly detailed new images. ] June 16-18– The Red Planet Meets the Blue Heart of Leo So, another thing about Regulus: it sits close to the plane of the solar system, which means that it is often seen in close proximity to the moon and the planets. This month brings one such occasion: for the nights of June 16, 17, and 18, Regulus will appear right next to Mars. The proximity of the Red Planet and the blazing blue heart of the constellation Leo should make for a pretty spectacular celestial juxtaposition. June 20– The Summer Solstice In the Northern Hemisphere, June 20 is the day on which the sun is highest in the sky, aka the summer solstice! This is the day on which the North Pole is tilted most directly toward the sun, bringing 24-hour daylight to the Arctic Circle and the longest day of the year to the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Summer is here, y’all! June 30– International Asteroid Day June 30 marks the anniversary of the Tunguska Event, a frankly terrifying asteroid strike that remains the largest asteroid impact event in recorded history. On June 30, 1908, an asteroid estimated to be  about 160 to 200 feet wide exploded several miles above the surface of a remote area of Siberia. The force of the detonation is estimated to be comparable to  between 3 and 50 megatons of TNT, and registered on seismographs around the world. For comparison, the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki had yields of 0.015 and 0.021 megatons, respectively.) The resultant shockwave flattened an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles and broke windows hundreds of miles away. In 2014, a group of scientists proposed that June 30 be designated International Asteroid Day. The UN adopted the idea two years later. The day recognizes the potentially calamitous effect of asteroid impacts—what might have happened had the Tunguska asteroid hit a city instead of a barren part of Siberia doesn’t really bear thinking about—and to raise awareness about the importance of asteroid-tracking endeavors. Anyway, hopefully June’s stargazing endeavors won’t reveal any terrifying asteroids hurtling toward us. Whatever you’re setting your sights on, though, you’ll get the best experience if you get away from any sources of light pollution—and you make sure to check out our stargazing tips before you head off into the darkness. Until next month!

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Billions of years from now, the Sun will swell into a red giant, swallowing Mercury, Venus, and Earth. But that’s not the only way our planet could meet its demise. A new simulation points to the menacing threat of a passing field star that could cause the planets in the solar system to collide or fling Earth far from the Sun. When attempting to model the evolution of the solar system, astronomers have often treated our host star and its orbiting planets as an isolated system. In reality, however, the Milky Way is teeming with stars that may get too close and threaten the stability of the solar system. A new study, published in the journal Icarus, suggests that stars passing close to the solar system will likely influence the orbits of the planets, causing another planet to smack into Earth or send our home planet flying. In most cases, passing stars are inconsequential, but one could trigger chaos in the solar system—mainly because of a single planet. The closest planet to the Sun, Mercury, is prone to instability as its orbit can become more elliptical. Astronomers believe that this increasing eccentricity could destabilize Mercury’s orbit, potentially leading it to collide with Venus or the Sun. If a star happens to be nearby, it would only make things worse. The researchers ran 2,000 simulations using NASA’s Horizons System, a tool from the Solar System Dynamics Group that precisely tracks the positions of objects in our solar system. They then inserted scenarios involving passing stars and found that stellar flybys over the next 5 billion years could make the solar system about 50% less stable. With passing stars, Pluto has a 3.9% chance of being ejected from the solar system, while Mercury and Mars are the two planets most often lost after a stellar flyby. Earth’s instability rate is lower, but it has a higher chance of its orbit becoming unstable if another planet crashes into it. “In addition, we find that the nature of stellar-driven instabilities is more violent than internally driven ones,” the researchers wrote in the paper. “The loss of multiple planets in stellar-driven instabilities is common and occurs about 50% of the time, whereas it appears quite rare for internally driven instabilities.” The probability of Earth’s orbit becoming unstable is hundreds of times larger than prior estimates, according to the study. Well, that just gives us one more thing to worry about.

From the first moment you step into the brutal lands of Shu, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers makes one thing clear: survival isn’t gifted, it’s earned. Throughout your journey, you’ll need to master an arsenal of weapons, spells, and abilities to overcome the harrowing challenges of this Soulslike action-RPG set in the waning years of the Ming dynasty. With the July 24 launch fast approaching, we’re giving PlayStation players a closer look at some of the game’s most defining tools of survival, power, and identity. We’ll highlight just a few of the devastating weapons, arcane spells, and unique abilities you’ll wield as you carve your legacy through ruin and revelation. These tools don’t just shape your playstyle, they shape the legend of Wuchang herself. A diverse arsenal of blades and brutality Each weapon in Wuchang is tied to a piece of the game’s worldbuilding, from sacred relics to myth-imbued prototypes. Every blade tells a story, and every strike leaves a mark. The Dragoncoil Lance, a Deluxe Edition spear, is a striking silver-white weapon featuring a traditional design. A coiled dragon motif wraps around the junction of the shaft and spearhead, symbolizing the wielder’s courage and valor. Weapons in Wuchang each have their own unique skills, and with the Vortex Thrust skill for the Dragoncoil Lance, you can unleash shockwaves with devastating force, making it ideal for punishing multiple enemies at once. Abilities that shape the warrior Combat in Wuchang is fluid, fast, and fiercely deliberate, with a broad range of abilities that define how you approach each fight. One standout is Blade Dance, a whirling assault that slices through enemies while showcasing your mastery of dual blades. The Crescent Arc, a forward-lunging slash imbued with ethereal energy, closing distance and shifting momentum with measured precision. Prefer power over speed? Colossal Smash delivers a thunderous overhead strike that leaves a trail of destruction in its wake, ideal for breaking enemy posture or interrupting spellcasters mid-cast. Every ability in Wuchang evolves through skill trees and Red Mercury enhancements, adding layers of strategy beyond raw force. Spells drawn from myth and madness Wuchang’s spell system is one of the most visually striking elements of its design, drawing from Taoist ritual, ancient folklore, and operatic symbolism. These aren’t just tools of destruction. They’re storytelling vessels that bind your journey to the world’s unraveling lore. Infernal Flames casts a searing mask that torments enemies with divine rage, based on an ancient opera ritual meant to summon wrathful spirits. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Lotus Soulflame, a ritual spell used in spirit exorcisms that unleashes devastating elemental damage. Another standout is Echo of Liu Cheng’en, a chilling surge of ice named after a loyal Ming general. The spell can knock targets back with enough force to disrupt aggressive momentum and create space in critical encounters. Feathering, the price of power At the heart of Wuchang’s identity lies the Feathering system, a supernatural affliction that grants immense power at great personal cost. As Wuchang absorbs Red Mercury and defeats corrupted monstrosities, she unlocks devastating abilities and spells rooted in transformation. Feathering allows players to unleash deadly skills and spells mid-combat, turning the tide of battle in an instant. But each use chips away at stability, demanding tactical restraint. Do you risk transforming in the middle of a fight to deliver explosive damage, knowing it may leave you vulnerable? Or hold your strength in reserve until the moment you’re truly cornered? Pre-order bonuses and Deluxe Edition content Players who pre-order Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will receive two exclusive outfits, White Spectre and Night Spectre, offering ceremonial elegance steeped in decay. You’ll also unlock the Vermillion War Club, a brutal axe weapon with powerful combo potential, along with a Glistening Red Mercury Skill Upgrade to enhance your build from the very beginning. For those seeking even deeper customization, the Deluxe Edition adds four rare outfits: Soul Ritual Robe, Tiger of Fortune, Overlord’s Regalia, and Draconic Resurgence. It also includes powerful weapons such as the Moonlight Dragon, Watcher’s Gaze swords, Eternal Sovereignty, and Dragoncoil Lance. You’ll also receive the Blood of Changhong, a special Skill Upgrade Item designed to support diverse builds and encourage early experimentation. Prepare for launch Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is more than a battle for survival. It’s a meditation on power, sacrifice, and transformation. Every spell you cast, weapon you wield, and enemy you overcome deepens your understanding of Wuchang’s intricate lore. Mastery isn’t just rewarded, it’s essential to unlocking the truths buried in the land of Shu. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches July 24 on PlayStation 5. Pre-order now to unlock exclusive content and prepare for the journey that awaits.

From left to right: BI's Ben Bergman, Mercury's Dan Kang, Cribl's Zach Johnson and Vercel's Marten Abrahamsen. Photo Courtesy of CRV, Tyler Mussetter 2025-05-26T16:00:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? CFOs of late-stage tech startups face challenges amid market uncertainty and IPO jitters. Mercury, Vercel, and Cribl's CFOs spoke on a panel this week at VC firm CRV. Executives are hopeful that advances in AI can yield returns later this year. With a shaky IPO market, tariff uncertainty, and stock market jitters, these are not easy times to be the chief financial officer of a late-stage tech company.Against that precarious backdrop, I sat down last week with the CFOs of Mercury, Vercel, and Cribl at the San Francisco office of CRV, one of Silicon Valley's oldest venture firms and an early investor in all three startups."I'm expecting a lot more uncertainty," said Daniel Kang, CFO of Mercury, a fintech banking startup that recently doubled its valuation to $3.5 billion after raising $300 million in its latest funding round. "There's a lot of impact from what's happening in DC."All the turmoil means CFOs have to be more nimble, said Kang.Marten Abrahamsen, Vercel's CFO, was more upbeat. He does not expect a recession this year and predicts a stock market rally in the fall."I think a lot of this is going to be fueled by some of the investments we see in AI, and we're already seeing it for some of our products that weren't even here a year ago," said Abrahamsen. "I'm very, very bullish on the remainder of this year and beyond."After President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports from other countries on April 2, investors panicked and companies from the payments lender Klarna to the physical therapy startup Hinge Health halted their IPO plans.The pause turned out to be short-lived.Markets have rebounded after Trump rolled back the most severe tariffs and he said he would not fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Bankers are telling companies to go public while the window is open.This week, Hinge Health shares jumped 17% in its market debut after eToro, an Israeli trading platform, made a successful public debut on the Nasdaq, opening 34% above its IPO price. (Klarna's IPO is still on hold after the company reported mounting losses.)Abrahamsen does not think companies should wait until a better market comes along to IPO; instead, they should focus on what they can control."There has been a fear of going public in Silicon Valley," he said. "Great companies can go public even if there's not a hot market out there. If you're an outstanding business, there's always going to be an opportunity."Asked why so few companies are going public, the panelists said companies do not want to deal with the headaches of being a public company when there is so much private financing available. There is also little pressure to IPO from investors and employees, according to Zachary Johnson, CFO of Cribl, a data management solutions startup that raised $319 million last year at a $3.5 billion valuation."They understand that we're trying to build something that's going to be generational," said Johnson. "When we think about how we want to build this company, it's really about focusing on that durability and sustainability of growth."Johnson is hopeful that advances in AI can make Cribl even more attractive to investors when it goes public. He recently tasked everyone on his executive team to come up with an AI initiative."There's some work to be done, but I'm optimistic that we can actually get some real returns on that by the end of this year," he said. "We're still in the early innings of AI."

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Impressive connectivity 100W power for charging laptop Competitive price Gaming port for wireless keyboard/mouse Cons Just one USB 4 port No Thunderbolt support Modest data transfer speeds Unclear info relating to dual-display support Our Verdict The use of USB rather than Thunderbolt means that the USB 4 Dock isn’t aimed at professional users who need high-speed data transfer. However, it does provide dual-display support (60Hz) along with an impressive selection of ports and connectors for general use in an office, and a competitive price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Type: USB-C/USB-A dock Ports: 14 (13 available for peripherals) Power: 100W for laptop; 180W max External Displays: 1x 4K at 120Hz, or 2x 4K at 60Hz Razer is best known for its range of high-end gaming gear, which is mostly designed for Windows PCs, but it also makes a number of more down-to-earth accessories that are suitable for general use at home or in an office. It makes several docks and hubs that can be used with Macs and PCs, including a fairly expensive Thunderbolt 4 dock that weighs in at around $300/£300. Now it has launched the less expensive ‘USB 4 Dock’, which manages to provide dual-monitor support along with an impressive selection of ports and connectors for the considerably lower price of $229.99/£229.99 (and Razer prefers USB 4 rather than the official USB4). Available in black or Mercury White – which is really just silver, and very similar in tone to the M4 Mac mini – the USB 4 Dock is neatly designed and very sturdily built. The body of the dock is made out of anodized aluminium, which feels very solid and also has a smooth, scratch-resistant finish that looks very smart. It’s quite compact too, given that Razer has managed to squeeze in no less than 14 separate ports and connectors – although it’s worth noting that the main USB4 port is used to connect the dock to your Mac, leaving 13 ports that are available for connecting a monitor and other accessories. The USB 4 Dock measures just 22mm high, 190mm wide and 80mm deep, and is fairly light too, weighing 1.1kg, and Razer’s web site does make a point of referring to its “portable design”. However, it neglects to mention the additional mains power supply that is also included in the box. The power supply is almost as large as the dock itself, and slightly heavier, so the USB 4 Dock really isn’t going to stray very far from your desk at home or in the office. It is, however, very versatile, as that chunky power supply provides 100W of power for charging a MacBook or a PC laptop, along with additional power for all the other ports and connectors on the dock. On the back of the dock you’ll find the main USB4 port – with USB-C connector – which is used to connect your MacBook or other computer to the dock (with USB4 cable included in the box). Alongside this are both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 connectors for connecting external monitors – but, again, Razer’s web site proves to be a little unclear here. The website refers to the dock’s support for dual displays and seems to imply that the first display can run at 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, with a second 4K display running at 60Hz. However, our discussions with Razer confirmed that the USB 4 Dock can run a single 4K display at 120Hz, or two 4K displays at 60Hz, so that’s something to remember if you’re planning to use the USB 4 Dock as part of a multi-monitor set-up. The rest of the dock’s features are more straightforward. Also located on the back panel is a Gigabit Ethernet port for a wired network connection, and three USB-A (3.2) ports, two of which provide data transfer of 10Gbps while the third runs at 5Gbps. There are even more USB ports on the front as well – two USB-C and one USB-A, with all three running at 10Gbps. And, to keep Razer’s gaming audience happy, there’s one last USB-A port located all on its own on the left-hand edge of the dock, which is specifically designed to hold a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that can provide a low-latency connection for a wireless keyboard and mouse. The dock provides good audio support too, as the front panel houses a 3.5mm audio connector, which can work with either a microphone or a set of wired headphones. There are also two slots on the front for SD and MicroSD memory cards, for transferring photos or video from a camera. It’s worth noting though, that there’s just that one USB4 port on the back, which is used to connect your MacBook to the dock, with all the other USB ports supporting USB 3.2. If you need higher performance – perhaps for backing up large video or graphics files onto an SSD – then you may need to look at a more expensive Thunderbolt dock instead. However, the strength of the USB 4 Dock is its sheer versatility, with 13 ports and connectors available for attaching peripherals and accessories, and the ability to power and charge multiple devices all at the same time. Should you buy the Razer USB 4 Dock? Professional users who need the full speed of Thunderbolt 4 – or even Thunderbolt 5 on the latest Macs with M4 Pro chips – might prefer a more expensive Thunderbolt dock for working with large video or graphics files. The USB 4 Dock isn’t in that league for sheer performance, but its versatile selection of ports and connectors will be a real boon for people – like me – who have a selection of SSDs, webcam, keyboard and other accessories in their office that they need to use with their Mac every day. For more USB Docks to consider for your Mac, read our round up of the Best Thunderbolt and USB-C docking stations. Connectivity 1x USB4 (USB-C) for host computer 1x HDMI 2.1 1x DisplayPort 1.4 2x USB-C (10Gbps) 3x USB-A (10Gbps) 1x USB-A (5Gbps) 1x USB-A (for wireless adaptor) 1x Gigabit Ethernet 1x 3.5mm audio in/out 1x SD 1x MicroSD

Should Sony embrace a PC future? (Sony/Metro) The Thursday letters page is surprised that Nintendo Switch 2 stock is relatively easy to find, as one reader looks forward to Hellblade 2 on PS5. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk Box it up Hearing about the rumours of the next gen Xbox being basically an ordinary PC makes perfect sense and is not a surprise to me. I think it’s the only logical move left for Xbox, even if I’m not sure how they’re going to make any money from it if Steam and the other stores are going to be on there.PC gaming is quickly taking over, so my question is whether the PlayStation 6 could also be a ‘PC in a box’. It may sound crazy but a few years ago, so too would the idea of Sony games appearing on PC. I really don’t see what the argument would be against it, especially given how expensive the PS5 Pro already is. Making the next PlayStation, or at least the PlayStation 7, a PC means Sony don’t have to spend nearly as much on hardware R&D and can instead concentrate on making games. Something that they don’t seem to have had the time or money for this gen. I think especially as streaming starts to take off, as the preferred casual method for playing games, it will only be the PC that is left as an alternative. It’s sad in a way but, personally speaking, as long as the games are still good I don’t really care that much.Purple Ranger Doomed highlight I’ve just beaten Doom: The Dark Ages and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think your review was accurate but since I was playing it for free on Game Pass the faults didn’t really bother me. However, I have to comment on the story, or rather the fact that Bethesda chose to highlight as one of the most important new features of the game.It’s a complete non-event: boring and cliched, with no characters of any interest. Even the game seems to lose interest because there are very few proper cut scenes in the second half, not that that’s a problem. None of it is a problem, really, because who wants a story in a game like Doom? So why did Bethesda make so much of a fuss about it? If it had been good that would’ve been one thing. If there’d been a lot of cut scenes that would’ve been something else. But it was just nothing. I really don’t understand why they ever thought to mention it.James Speed of Mercury Is there a chance you will review Blades Of Fire, please? I’m very interested in MercurySteam games; I love both of their Metroid games and I’m that one person that liked all three of their Castlevania games (yes, Lords Of Shadow 2 was unfocused and padded out, but I loved what it got right so much).Your reviews are the ones I trust the most so if you do have the time I’d appreciate it, the few I’ve seen have been quite mixed. Thank you, keep up the excellent work.Beastiebat (PSN ID) Currently playing: Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, Metroid Dread, and Elevator Action -Returns- S-TributeGC: Thank you. We’re trying to get it done but we’re a bit behind this week, due to staff holidays and press events. Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk News update There’s a couple of things I’ve not seen yourselves or any readers mention lately, so I thought I should bring them up.The Sea Of Stars DLC is out now! It’s absolutely free too, which seems crazy because it looks quite substantial. I’m looking forward to playing it this weekend when I have more time. Another thing I’ve not seen mentioned is that Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2 can be bought at a huge discount if you own the game on Switch. Around £10 reportedly. You can even buy the game on Switch in the sale now and then buy the Switch 2 version, costing under £30 in total, it seems, which is a great deal. It’s not an upgrade as the Switch 2 game isn’t a port. Keep up the great work! I don’t write in much, but I still read every morning. I finally prefer this than the Teletext days now.Fatys Henrys GC: Thank you for your patronage. Old and new Excited to hear some actual news about the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel and that it will feature at least one whole new city. However, I hope that the game features both the whole of Night City and the new one. Strangely, I can’t think of any sequels that do that. With GTA, they don’t include the previous game and the new one, and I’m not sure anywhere else does either.Weirdly, the only example I can think of that did that is Pokémon Gold and Silver, which had the whole of the map from Red and Blue (thanks to no less than Satoru Iwata himself). I’m sure there’s technical reasons it doesn’t happen usually but while the PlayStation 5 and beyond may no longer show much of a graphical improvement perhaps there’ll be able to do things like this more easily.Kankor The end of the beginning So, after being reminded that my mother’s partner doesn’t like me very much I’ve cheered up with two lovely pieces of news. Stellar Blade is getting a sequel, very soon. It releases on PC next month. The second announcement is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 on PlayStation 5 in the summer. This is something I was highly anticipating. Just the graphics alone makes it worth the time. So, after this and Gears Of War also releasing on PlayStation I’m not asking if Xbox is truly dead. It’s a fact that Xbox is indeed only kept afloat by Game Pass.This is only the start. Halo will release on PlayStation 5. Fable. Avowed. State Of Decay 3. Starfield. The list goes on. In hindsight this is deserved. Because of the Xbox One’s failure Microsoft lagged behind an entire generation and Sony raced ahead, never looking back. I never brought an Xbox One, actually. The PlayStation 4 was my choice in 2013 and after picking up the last one, at Argos in 2014. I never gave the Xbox One a second look. Today, Microsoft are still suffering from their malignant decisions and it is thoroughly deserved. If I was Phil Spencer I’d cancel the upcoming handheld, because that is leading up to a fail, much more so than the Xbox One. Not even ASUS can save Xbox.Shahzaib Sadiq Direct from the source I’m always fascinated by Nintendo’s Ask the Developers interviews, they’re so in-depth and genuine and I don’t think they get enough recognition. Nintendo’s reputation is of being secretive and distant, but Sony and Microsoft would never do something like this. They just have carefully worded developer quotes that were probably written by a marketing person anyway.Who would’ve guessed they’ve been planning Mario Kart World for eight years or that they were already making Switch 2 games, based on preliminary specs, in 2020? I guess that’s the sort of time you need but it’s very interesting to get exact dates and to hear it from the horse’s mouth.Onibee In stock now I’ve managed to bag myself a Switch 2 pre-order after you put your article up on where to buy it. I was going to hold off; eventually decided I can’t resist the temptation to play the new Mario Kart. But I think it will be a good long term investment and there’s no ruling out that there might be an eventual price increase of the unit, like there’s been recently with other consoles.After I managed to get my pre-order done about a week ago or so I’ve visited some of those retailers, websites just to see how lucky I got managing to pre-order it in the first place. I’ve been able to see deals every time; different deals but there’s always been at least one available with Mario Kart or the Zelda pack or camera or SD card bundle. I’ve checked out of curiosity about four or five times and could have dropped on a pre-order again and again, so does that mean Nintendo is actually beating the scalpers? Or is it too expensive or is there a lack of interest? I couldn’t for the life of me get an Xbox Series X day one, at the start of the generation because of the use of online bots, but it seems something has changed for the better with the latest Nintendo console release. That’s got to be a good thing for everyone, except the scalpers.Nick The Greek GC: It’s hard to tell but there’s no indication of a lack of demand, given analysts think Nintendo is being too cautious in its sales predictions. They always said they wanted no shortages at launch, so we guess their plan worked. It was probably helped by the fact that the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 came out at the same time, during Covid, and so were competing for manufacturing time and resources. By contrast, Switch 2 has a clear run at a quiet time of year for games. Inbox also-rans I had literally no idea that Fortnite wasn’t on mobile for the last five years. I would’ve figured that was its biggest format, but I guess you’re saying it wasn’t?MouseGC: No, it’s one of the smallest. Apparently not even Fortnite fans want to play with touchscreen controls. I would never, ever in a million years pay £80 for a video game. Even if I got it for cheap later, the fact that it was at one point that much would still put me off.Gribbly More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk The small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. 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