“The President of Super Earth has been killed in action by the Illuminate during the fall of Prosperity City.” That was the message that greeted Helldivers 2 players when they logged on last night in one last bid to repel their invading squid-like foes. Some truthers think the hit was inside job. When the dust settled Friday morning, the battle to save Super Earth was over and players had succeeded in winning the extraction shooter’s biggest showdown since it launched. Pus they got a new battle station to celebrate. Suggested ReadingThe Week In Games: Co-Op Bug Blasting And More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglishSuggested ReadingThe Week In Games: Co-Op Bug Blasting And More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglishThe Week In Games: Co-Op Bug Blasting And More New Releases“The devastation wrought upon our home is immense,” read the latest in-game dispatch from Arrowhead Game Studios. “Only two Mega Cities remain standing: Prosperity City and Equality-on-Sea. The remainder have been vacated by the enemy, having suffered catastrophic damage at their hands.” New Major Orders are still pending, but in the meantime players get to vote on where to move the new DSS battle station that aided in the fight, and that provides extra military bonuses to Helldivers fighting on whatever planet it orbits. For anyone who missed the last two weeks, a brief series of entries on the Galactic Map recaps the events from the Illuminate’s arrival and torching of Mars and other planets, all the way through players’ epic last stand to protect Equality-on-Sea (Helldivers’ version of Shanghai). A lot of creative military tactics were improvised and deployed to take down the massive invading Leviathan ships, and a wave of negative Steam reviews, purportedly from Chinese players angry, due to a potential mistranslation, about why they couldn’t seem to fully liberate Equality-on-Sea, appears to have subsided.What happens next is anyone’s guess. Arrowhead Game Studios might take some time before kicking off whatever it has planned to let players catch their breath. Maybe the development team is lining up a revenge campaign, or maybe there’s still another shoe to drop and Super Earth isn’t quite in the clear after all. A new president? In this economy? Maybe they’re just an Illuminate plant after all, ready to control Super Earth from within. The beauty of Helldivers 2's fascist space satire is that nothing is ever quite out of the question. May kicked off one of Helldivers 2's biggest balance patches and content updates in some time, including a new Warbond battle pass with additional melee weapons and the ability to level up and customize most of the shooter’s guns. I wouldn’t bet on any other big updates anytime soon. That said, Summer Game Fest is just around the corner and Arrowhead used host Geoff Keighley’s last big gaming showcase to announce the addition of the Illuminate to the fray. Who knows what’s in store for the second half of Helldivers 2's second year?.

Technical Artist - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA or Albany, NYBlizzard EntertainmentIrvine California 92618 United States of America1 hour agoApplyTeam Name:Unannounced ProjectJob Title:Technical Artist - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA or Albany, NYRequisition ID:R025437Job Description:At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations -- only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.We are looking for a Technical Artist to help us craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for supporting and optimizing art production through technical and artistic expertise. You understand how to effectively problem solve, innovate, and collaborate to monitor and address performance problems that arise. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work from home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA or Albany, NY.Responsibilities:Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:Directly contribute to establishing and improving artist workflows for performant content in Unreal engine.Demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following areas: creation of dynamic systems such as water/wind/weather, VFX content and material optimization, building and maintaining pipelines, procedural approaches to world content generation.Collaborate with artists and engineers to monitor content and provide documentation on best practices.Be a force multiplier providing technical support for a small team of artists and designers.Remain current on industry trends including advancement in commercial game engines and workflow efficiencies.Experience5+ years of experience in AAA tech art game teams.Knowledge & SkillsIn-depth knowledge of AAA game engines with an understanding of art implementation and integration methods.Comprehensive understanding of art pipelines and good practice including proficiency in industry-standard 3D and 2D creation software (Houdini, Substance Designer, Maya, Gaea, etc).A portfolio with examples and detailed breakdowns showcasing your practical work.Strong understanding of physically -based rendering.A strong foundation in scripting (blueprints, Python, HLSL, C++).Key AttributesA team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration and partnering with all departments.The ability to inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.Self-motivated ability to solve problems proactively.Solid understanding of game development outside of technical art (e.g. lighting, VFX, characters, animation, audio, rendering, systems).Extra PointsExperience working through early development R&D phases of a project is a plus.Unreal Engine editor utility widgets, profiling, validatorsPassion for playing a wide variety of video games.Your PlatformBest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.Our WorldActivision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.RewardsWe provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/ .In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $29.81 - $55.14 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Menu Home News Hardware Gaming Mobile Finance Deals Reviews How To Wccftech Microsoft Debuts Windows Update Orchestration Platform For Updating All Apps From A Single Place Sarfraz Khan • May 30, 2025 at 10:42am EDT To simplify the process, Microsoft has rolled out a new orchestration platform that can help developers update their apps through Windows Update. Microsoft Says That Through Windows Update Orchestration Platform, Users Can Have Access to a Simplified Update Process and Will Also Help Developers in Managing Their Apps Conveniently Windows' built-in update feature usually updates the OS components, but Microsoft's line-of-business as well as third-party apps are still managed independently. Apart from aiming to manage its LOB apps in a single place for easier updates, Microsoft is also interested in managing third-party apps from its latest platform. Microsoft calls it the Windows Update Orchestration Platform, a new feature that will allow Windows users to download the latest app updates from a single place instead of having to download them independently. Microsoft has released its private preview for developers, who can now sign up to explore this unified approach to reduce the hassles in managing their apps independently. Microsoft released this orchestration platform citing various reasons, such as CPU and bandwidth spikes, confusing and conflicting notifications, added support costs etc. With the new Windows Update stack, not only will users be able to download all the updates from one place, but app developers will benefit highly from them as well. IT admins will particularly benefit from the orchesration as they have to rely on independent update mechanisms. Each tool brings its own logic for scanning, downloading, installing and notifying users, which results in a fragmented experience. Through the new platform, there are multiple benefits developers can have, including eco-efficient scheduling, which helps reduce the impact on productivity and energy consumption, consistent notifications via native Windows Update notfiications, centralized update history, unified troubleshooting tools and more. The Windows Update orchestration platform allows developers to integrate their apps through the preview via a set of Windows Runtime APIs and PowerShell commands. Once they are in, developers can handle the behavior of their apps, like registration, defining updates, custom update logic, managed scheduling and status reporting. News Source: Microsoft Subscribe to get an everyday digest of the latest technology news in your inbox Follow us on Topics Sections Company Some posts on wccftech.com may contain affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com © 2025 WCCF TECH INC. 700 - 401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

For a few months of the year, the Alaskan Arctic becomes flooded with birds. From shorebirds to waterfowl, these avians arrive in the spring to breed, nest, and raise their young, and to take advantage of the ample plants and prey (invertebrates and other animals) that thrive in Alaska’s short summers. They do it today, and they did it around 73 million years ago, too. Documenting the earliest evidence ever discovered of birds breeding and nesting in the Arctic, a new study in Science describes a collection of avian fossils and fossil fragments from around 73 million years ago. The collection comprises dozens of bones and teeth from adult and baby birds, and it shows that avians similar to modern shorebirds and waterfowl reproduced in the Arctic in the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs still dominated the Alaskan terrain.“Birds have existed for 150 million years,” said Lauren Wilson, a study author and a student at Princeton University, who worked on the study while at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to a press release. “For half of the time they have existed, they have been nesting in the Arctic.”An Arctic NurseryA fossil fragment of a beak from a baby bird. (Image Credit: Photo by Pat Druckenmiller)Millions of birds travel to the Arctic, and they’ve been traveling there for millions of years. (In fact, some 250 species of birds migrate to Alaska for the spring and summer breeding and nesting seasons today.) But up until now, the earliest traces of birds reproducing in the Arctic dated back to around 47 million years ago, following the disappearance of the non-avian dinosaurs from the Arctic terrain. Now, the authors of the new study claim that birds and non-avian dinosaurs shared the Alaskan Arctic as far back as the Cretaceous period. Sifting bones and teeth from the sediment of Alaska’s Prince Creek Formation, the authors identified an assortment of Cretaceous fossils and fossil fragments, which resembled the remains of modern gulls, geese, ducks, and loons. That the specimens belonged to adult and baby birds suggests that these species were breeding, nesting, and raising their young in Alaska, more than 20 million years earlier than previously thought. “The Arctic is considered the nursery for modern birds,” said Pat Druckenmiller, another study author and a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to a press release. “They have been doing this for 73 million years.”Finding Fossils, From Adult and Baby BirdsStudy authors Joe Keeney, Jim Baichtal, and Patrick Druckenmiller in Alaska. (Image Credit: Photo by Lauren Wilson) According to the authors, the bones and teeth of adult birds are often too fragile to survive in the fossil record, and those from baby birds are even more delicate. “Finding bird bones from the Cretaceous is already a very rare thing,” Wilson said in the release. “To find baby bird bones is almost unheard of. That is why these fossils are significant.” Though the majority of specimens that are taken from the Prince Creek Formation are large, the study authors opted to collect the smaller fossils and fossil fragments that most other studies miss. To do so, they inspected screened sediment with a microscope, which revealed their tiny finds. “We put Alaska on the map for fossil birds,” Druckenmiller said in the release. “It wasn’t on anyone’s radar.”Whether the find includes bones and teeth from the Neornithes — or the modern birds — is yet to be determined, though the authors stress that some of the fossils and fossil fragments feature skeletal and dental traits, such as fused leg bones and toothless jawbones, that are seen only in modern birds. “If they are part of the modern bird group, they would be the oldest such fossils ever found,” Druckenmiller said in the release. “But it would take us finding a partial or full skeleton to say for sure.”Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Science. Arctic Bird Nesting Traces Back to the CretaceousSam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

May 30, 2025 Race Your Way with the Return of Braking Point, Revamped My Team, and F1® THE MOVIE Scenarios Featuring Fictional Team APXGP Watch F1® 25 Iconic Edition Cover Star Lewis Hamilton and Football Superstar, Kylian Mbappé, Test Their Speed as the Iconic Rivals Go Head-to-Head HERE REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) invites players to race their way with F1® 25, an official game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™, available today on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Through a variety of gameplay features, players can take the lead as team owner in My Team 2.0, and live the emotional highs and lows of competing at the front of the grid in the return of fan-favourite story mode, Braking Point. Players can also take to the track as fictional team APXGP from Apple Original Films’ F1® THE MOVIE with a preview chapter, with additional chapter scenarios (sold separately) available post-launch beginning June 30th.* As part of the launch day celebrations, F1® 25 Iconic Edition cover star Lewis Hamilton challenged three-time EA SPORTS cover star Kylian Mbappé to a thrilling sprint race ahead of the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025. Watch the action unfold HERE.Standard Edition cover art of EA Sports F1 25 featuring F1 drivers Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, and Oliver Bearman“F1 25 delivers more ways for players to tell their F1 story, from battling for the World Championship to securing a front row seat and interacting with the racing movie of the summer,” said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters. “With story-driven features, Braking Point and F1® THE MOVIE, taking the lead in My Team and Driver Career, or jumping into F1 World with a multitude of bite-sized challenges, customisation enhancements, multiplayer and cooperative gameplay, F1 25 is all-out, unabashed action for every racing fan.”Players will experience the third instalment of fan-favourite story mode, Braking Point. Set across two seasons, the returning cast encounter a dramatic event that threatens to throw a title-contending season into chaos. For the first time, players encounter more variety through different driver perspectives, giving the mode a new dimension and alternate endings to the story. Additionally, Konnersport is now available to choose in My Team with a further option to become the 11th team on the grid in Driver Career.F1® 25 gets players closer to the real world than ever before with a series of innovations both on and off the track. Players who want to call the shots can jump into My Team 2.0 and take on the role of team owner. Alongside running the entire operations from the Team HQ, focusing on Engineering, Personnel, and Corporate, players manage the fate of both drivers and can switch between the two for race weekends.Five circuits - Bahrain, Miami, Melbourne, Suzuka, and Imola - join Silverstone as those that have all been digitally scanned during race weekends. Through millions of data points, LIDAR technology delivers pinpoint accuracy from asphalt surface details and kerb heights to the positioning of broadcast towers, barriers, trees, and foliage. These advancements, in conjunction with changes to handling, tested pre-launch by esports drivers and the F1® community, ensure players feel every bump and elevation change, just like the real F1® drivers.F1® 25 delivers greater customisation through the new Decal Editor. Driver numbers receive a visual overhaul with new fonts and colours. Players can bring their personalities to life with the freedom to move, rotate, and resize designs with variants to unlock throughout the game and use across My Team and F1® World. Players can also use the newly introduced sponsor liveries built around the visual identity of the fictional brands in the game, alongside new driver numbers which receive a visual overhaul with new customisable fonts and colours, to create the most authentic-looking vehicle designs the franchise has ever delivered.EA Play** members get a 5-hour Trial, score a monthly 5000 XP boost, and can save 10% on EA digital purchases, including PitCoin, full game, and DLC. More details on EA Play. F1® 25 Iconic Edition owners receive a number of perks linked to F1® THE MOVIE producer Lewis Hamilton, F3™ Driver Icons Pack, 18,000 Pitcoin and much more. F1® THE MOVIE chapter scenarios are available to F1® 25 Standard Edition players through the purchase of the DLC pack, available now for purchase and playable in-game beginning June 30.To keep up-to-date with the latest F1® game news and information, visit the Formula 1® game websitesocial channels.PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAPressPortal.com*Chapter Scenarios playable beginning June 30, 2025. Requires F1® 25 (sold separately), EA account, internet connection & all game updates.**Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See tos.ea.com/legalapp/eaplay/US/en/PC/ for details.About Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.F1® 25 Game - an official product of the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. © 2025 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, the EA SPORTS logo, and Codemasters are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, F1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. The F2 FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP logo, FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP, FIA FORMULA 2, FORMULA 2, F2 and related marks are trademarks of the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile and used exclusively under license. All rights reserved.About F1® THE MOVIEApple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures Present A Monolith Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer / Plan B Entertainment / Dawn Apollo Films Production, A Joseph Kosinski Film, F1® THE MOVIE, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theatres and IMAX® nationwide on June 27, 2025 and internationally beginning 25 June 2025.Category: EA Sports Natalia Lombardi Global Public Relations Manager [email protected] Source: Electronic Arts Inc. Multimedia Files:

Sometimes, you've to set aside everything you've been taught in order to truly tap into your creativity. It's a brave move but one that has certainly led to big things for Berlin-based illustrator Marc Majewski. In 2024, he won the Best Illustrated Children's Book award from The New York Times and the New York Public Library for As Edward Imagined, and he's currently an in–demand artist in both children's publishing and editorial illustration. Marc grew up in the French Alps, near the border with Switzerland, surrounded by nature and with a great love of traditional picture book illustration, which was fed by his aunt. To reach his dream of becoming an illustrator, he trained the classical way, learning to paint highly realistic imagery – what everyone would call "good illustration". But something wasn't right. This just wasn't him. On the side, he would create the loose, playful sketches he loved but never conceived of them as proper illustrations. Marc's new book Parks is out 5 June. "Then I had a moment where I decided I wanted to paint and create with the same joy and freedom I had felt as a child," says Marc. "I stopped making pictures the way I'd been taught and started painting the way I did in my sketchbooks, directly with paint. The result was much livelier and more joyful illustrations." One epiphany was followed by another when he wrote and illustrated Butterfly Child. This wasn't the first book he'd worked on, but to Marc, it felt like it was. He continues: "The book touches on what it was like to be a queer kid in the countryside and on bullying – so parts of me felt like the child in the book. I think making any book is a vulnerable process, but creating something that explores more personal parts of ourselves can trigger a lot. In my case, the fear of being rejected, shamed, or bullied – which are experiences many kids, and especially queer kids, go through." Published in 2022, it has been translated into 10 languages and resonates with children around the world, supporting kids and encouraging them to express who they really are. From Butterfly Child. Marc is drawn to stories that bring that bring nature and creativity together. He grew up in the Alps, and nature continues to inspire him. In Butterfly Child, As Edward Imagined, and Peter Pan, he explores characters who build, craft, and imagine things, bringing their storybook worlds to life; his simple, Lowry-like figures burst with enthusiasm. Peter Pan is one of his favourites so far. "I knew the story before I started the project, but as I dove deeper into it, I began learning about Barrie's life and how much of it was woven into Peter Pan. That really resonated with me and my own work. I was also inspired by the author's playful spirit – how he balanced lightness and whimsy with meaning and depth," says Marc. From Peter Pan. Return of the Wolves. In future, he'd love to work on a film, and Hayao Miyazaki has always been a big influence. If there's one thing he wants to avoid, it's getting too comfortable or set in his ways. "It's important for me to stay connected to that feeling I had when I first embraced the childlike process of painting and to keep my mind open to playful exploration," says Marc.

NotOnSunday and We All Need Words have injected some personality into Direct Ferries. The world’s biggest online travel agent for ferry bookings, Direct Ferries already had 2.5 million customers in 25 countries, but wanted to keep growing as an aggregator. The client initially approached Rob Mitchell of strategy and copywriting agency We All Need Words to help with a new tone of voice for its customer services and bot. “They asked us what their brand should sound like,” Mitchell says. “In a very kamikaze account management style, I said it could sound like anything, because I don’t think you’ve got much of a brand.” Duly hooked, the client asked what their brand could look like, with the right help. The Direct Ferries brand guidelines developed by NotOnSunday Mitchell brought branding agency NotOnSunday on board – they had first worked together on the rebranding of the Scouts’ UK division in 2018. “We needed a platform and vehicle to enable us to grow,” says Direct Ferries CEO Niall Walsh. That growth will come from the aggregator share of the market, which is low in this sector – while 45% of tickets for trains are bought through aggregators like TrainLine, it’s just 5% for ferries. “Conversion rate is everything to us,” Walsh explains. “We’re a traffic acquisition machine. It’s about giving that traffic the best customer experience so that they check out.” To get them down that funnel, the rebrand needed to instil confidence in its audience. “Customers can see when there isn’t consistency. If there’s no consistency, there’s no trust, if there’s no trust, people aren’t going to give you their credit card number,” Walsh says. Consideration was given to typographic treatment of lengthy words in other languages He admits the company had never previously had a considered brand – instead it had been built through iteration and trial and error. Visually and verbally, from the website, emails and display ads to the call centre and blog, there was a mix of styles. “Before you know it, you’ve got a complete mess of images and tone of voice,” Walsh says. We Are All Words and NotOnSunday set about creating a brand that showed ferry travel in a more aspirational light. They swapped images of ferries and facilities for sea air and views of the horizon, and they ditched cheesy photos of models in favour of travel magazine-style photography. The tag-line was created by We All Need Words The wider strategy was to present Direct Ferries as the ferry brand. We All Need Words developed a tag-line – “Wherever you’re sailing, start here.” This was part of a wider, adaptable brand system using chevrons, which mimic the shape of a ship’s bow. These can be used on their own or paired with ‘A to B’ couplet headlines, mirroring the overall “wherever you’re sailing” line. The chevrons can be repositioned to take into account different word lengths in the 24 languages that Direct Ferries operates in. These headline pairings are delivered in a pair of typefaces – the sans serif Mundial, described by NotOnSunday’s Trev Townsend as friendly, and the serif Rocky, which is a little classier. Together, they’re intended to bring out and draw together the bigger brand system. NotOnSunday did an audit of the ferry sector, including its iconography of boats and pictograms. “Direct Ferries got lost among the others,” says Townsend. The Direct Ferries logo before and after The previous logo was very literal, says Walsh. “Having three ships to define that you sell a ferry felt slightly dated.” NotOnSunday crafted the new logo, with a mark created out of the ‘D’ and ‘F’. The angle of the ‘F’ matches that of the chevron. The new hero colour, orange, was chosen to be both modern and timeless, and to stand out from its blue rivals. That is contrasted with secondary colours that are meant to reference the sea – dark and light blues and greens. All of the new design work had to fit around the existing UX, because of its robust and proven capacity to drive sales. The new Direct Ferries tone of voice and branding “We could change all the details and decorative elements, but we couldn’t change the customer journey, because it’s been tested and tested and it works,” Townsend says. NotOnSunday redrew the icons, including the car symbol and dog paw print, giving them the same line weight. Similarly, the buttons are now consistent sizes and shapes, with rounded edges to match the logo mark. And it’s worked, Walsh says. “The data tells us that customers prefer this brand, because nothing else has changed on the website, it’s the same product, price, experience, and the same user journey,” he says. Direct Ferries OOH advertising

05/29 — 2025 by abduzeedo Explore NOUMENON LAB's unique branding and visual identity. A deep dive into design that blends art, tech, and philosophy. Hey, fellow design enthusiasts! Let's talk about a project that's been on our minds, a true standout in the world of branding and visual identity: NOUMENON LAB. This isn't just another accessory brand; it's a deep dive into conceptual design, rooted in Kantian philosophy. Think "noumenon"—what exists beyond our perception—and you're already grasping the brand's core. Thiago Rocha (Brazil), Enrique R. (Portugal), and ROCHA Studio teamed up for this exploration. Their work transcends typical product design, aiming to spark inquiry and reflection. It's a blend of art, technology, and human connection, all wrapped up in a sleek package. Concept Meets Aesthetic The aesthetic here is minimalist but conceptually rich. Every curve, line, and interaction is intentional. It invites you to look closer, to see beyond the obvious. This approach isn't just about pretty visuals; it's about drawing you into a deeper experience. The goal is clear: communicate through design, yes, but also ignite a sense of wonder. Crafting a Visual Identity The team describes their visual identity as "timeless futurism." That's a powerful phrase, isn't it? It means the branding is sleek, adaptable, and impactful. It strikes a balance between high-concept design and technological sophistication. Whether you're looking at their symbols, typography, or overall layout, the brand feels both cutting-edge and, well, inevitable. It’s rooted in clarity, yet open to interpretation. Consider the images that showcases the "NOUMENON™ LAB" logo with the tagline "TOMORROW IN ITSELF," often set against stark, intriguing backdrops. This reinforces the futuristic yet grounded feel. In the artifacts below, we see a close-up of someone wearing the eyewear, highlighting the product's sleek lines and reflective surfaces, which perfectly embody the brand's aesthetic. Designing for Visionaries Who is NOUMENON LAB for? It's for thinkers, creators, and visionaries. These are the folks who don't just accept the world as it is; they imagine what it could be. The brand acts as a vessel for forward-looking individuals. They resonate with ideas of discovery, transformation, and boundary-pushing design. The messaging, like "WHERE INNOVATION MEETS ART", speaks directly to this audience, emphasizing the fusion of creativity and progress. Even the simple tote bag with its bold orange and white geometric design and prominent "NOUMENON LAB" text, reinforces this strong, artistic branding. The, "Noumenon is a design philosophy brought to life—a brand rooted in the unseen forces that shape our world. Every design tells a story—crafted not just to be seen, but to be experienced and understood." This captures the essence of their branding and visual identity: it's an exploration of what's possible when imagination meets precision. The Takeaway NOUMENON LAB is a masterclass in how a strong concept can drive exceptional branding and visual identity. It’s a reminder that design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about philosophy, connection, and pushing boundaries. It's a call to look beyond the surface and embrace the extraordinary in the everyday. Want to dive deeper into this fascinating project? Explore more of Thiago Rocha's work and the NOUMENON LAB project at https://rochabranding.com/projects/noumenonlab. Branding and visual identity artifacts Tags branding

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Google AI Overview finally admits that it's the year 2025 Aman Kumar Neowin @kraman19999 · May 30, 2025 09:24 EDT Google launched its AI Overview feature last year with the intention of saving users time by providing AI-generated summaries for their queries. Just one year later, they've introduced AI Mode, which is an expansion of the AI Overview feature and is said to be useful for queries that require deeper exploration and reasoning. Despite that, the AI Overview feature has struggled multiple times, even when answering basic, fundamental queries. Recently, many users on X reported that when they asked Google, “Is it 2025?”, the AI Overview responded, “No, it's not 2025. The current year is 2024, according to a calendar.” Interestingly, a user on Reddit mentioned that he was able to get the correct answer by adding the F-word at the end of the question. Fortunately, it seems that Google has finally fixed this issue. Now, the AI Overview correctly states that the current year is 2025. Although Google hasn't commented on why this happened, one of their spokespersons told TechCrunch that they use examples like this to update their system so that such mistakes are not repeated. AI Overview making such a blunder in answering a simple question is enough to make anyone believe that you shouldn't completely rely on the answers you get from AI Overview. If you’re not living in a cave, then you’d definitely know the answer to what year this is, so you can easily say that the Overview response is incorrect. But what if you search for something complex, the answer to which you aren't sure about? In such cases, you won't be able to confirm whether the AI Overview answer is correct. That’s why it is very important to manually check the sources that Google’s AI Overview cites in its responses. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time AI Overview has made such a big blunder. In May 2024, users reported that AI Overview was recommending they eat one small rock per day. There were also reports in the same month of users being advised to use glue to stick cheese to a pizza. Google CEO Sundar Pichai mentioned at the I/O 2025 annual developer conference that AI Overview has over 1.5 billion monthly active users. If Google truly wants this number to increase rapidly, it needs to ensure that the AI Overview feature does not repeat such mistakes again. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

Welcome back to This Week in Stratechery! As a reminder, each week, every Friday, we’re sending out this overview of content in the Stratechery bundle; highlighted links are free for everyone. Additionally, you have complete control over what we send to you. If you don’t want to receive This Week in Stratechery emails (there is no podcast), please uncheck the box in your delivery settings. On that note, here were a few of our favorites this week. A Human-Agent Epiphany. One of the things that is so exciting about AI isn’t just that it makes for a fascinating topic to write and talk about: it’s also a technology that actually impacts my day-to-day life. All of the consumer-facing AI apps, however, assume that one person is using AI, while many of the enterprise use cases are about replacing workers completely. What was genuinely thrilling to me was discovering a use-case in the middle: AI as collaboration tool. That’s exactly what I discovered while attending to Stratechery’s administrative side, and wrote about it in Tuesday’s Daily Update (and talked about it on Thursday’s Sharp Tech). — Ben Thompson The Danger of Choosing to Compete on the Internet. The end of Wednesday’s Daily Update is ostensibly about the sports streaming landscape, but it also probes at a theme that businesses have been learning over and over again for the past decade. Leaving the analog world and all the advantages it afforded incumbents — brick and mortar retail, movie theater distribution, cable bundles — means these businesses suddenly find themselves in a perpetual competition for customers in a landscape full of new rivals and devoid of any of the friction that once buttressed their dominance. In other words, leagues like the NBA want the audience that streaming platforms can deliver, but they may have the same, humbling experience that Nike’s had in e-commerce, or that HBO’s had in its competition with Netflix.— AS Et Tu, EU? The state of the US trade policy has been changing by the hour this week, but Thursday’s Sharp China shifted its focus to Europe, where reports indicate that EU leaders are open to working with the US government to develop China tariffs of their own. We talked about the challenges inherent to devising any such policies among 27 member countries with varied interests (and varied relationships with China), as well as core challenges in the EU-China relationship that have prevented the EU from deepening its trade alliances with the PRC. Get caught up on all of it here, where we also covered the legacy of China’s “Made in China 2025” policy and Xi Jinping’s approach to political rivals. — AS Stratechery Articles and Updates Claude 4, Anthropic Agents, Human-AI Agents — Anthropic is focused on the agent opportunity, which requires scaffolding; meanwhile, I think there is a huge underserved opportunity in multi-user AI chatbots. The ESPN Streaming Service, The Status of U.S. Sports Rights, The Danger of Intentionality— The ESPN streaming service is official, completing the transition of sports watching from inevitability to intentionality. An Interview with Plaid Founder and CEO Zach Perret About Plumbing Trust — An interview with Plaid co-founder and CEO Zach Perret about building trust as an ingredient brand in financial services. Dithering with Ben Thompson and Daring Fireball’s John Gruber Asianometry with Jon Yu South Africa’s Crumbling, Corrupt Electricity Monopoly Sharp China with Andrew Sharp and Sinocism’s Bill Bishop Made in China 2025 and What Comes Next; EV Price Wars; The EU and Its China Dilemmas; Xi and His Rivals Greatest of All Talk with Andrew Sharp and WaPo’s Ben Golliver Sharp Tech with Andrew Sharp and Ben Thompson The End of the Ad-Supported Internet, Imagining What Comes Next, A Human-AI Agent PSA This week’s Stratechery video is on The Agentic Web and Original Sin.