When I got my first job in games journalism 30 years ago, I arrived just too late to review games for my favourite ever console: the Sega Mega Drive. Although a few titles were still being released for the machine in 1995, the games magazine world had moved on and all anyone wanted to read about were the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It was a bitter blow.Fast-forward to 2025 and a resurgent interest in producing new games for vintage home computers and consoles has led to Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition – a Mega Drive instalment in the hugely successful agricultural sim series. The passion project of Renzo Thönen, lead level designer and co-owner of Farming Simulation studio Giants Software, the game has been written using an open-source Mega Drive development kit, and manufactured in a limited run of genuine Mega Drive cartridges. Slotting this brand new release into the cart of my dad’s ancient Mega Drive II console felt ridiculously moving and I thought the game could only be a letdown after that. But I was wrong.The cartridge of Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition. Photograph: Giants SoftwareFarming Simulator: 16bit Edition takes the basic rhythms of its stablemates – sowing, harvesting and selling crops – and puts them in an isometric environment where workable fields are interspersed with useful buildings such as fuel depots, seed stores and garages. You begin with basic tractors and harvesters, but as you carefully work the land, you grow and sell wheat to earn money, thereby opening the prospect of upgrading your machinery and buying more powerful vehicles. Eventually, you make enough money to unlock new farm areas, but the basic game play is always the same: you slowly and carefully drive your tractors over your land, ploughing and sowing and harvesting as the seasons pass.In this reduced format, the sedate pace of the farming simulator games should become a dull repetitive chore; robbed of intricately detailed 3D visuals, real-time weather systems and supplementary activities, all you’re doing is effectively mowing the lawn. Over and over again. Let’s be honest: transferring the complex, multilayered 3D sim into a console that launched at the same time as the world wide web and the first mass manufactured Nokia mobile phone was always going to be a technical challenge.A trip down memory lane … a Sega Mega Drive running Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition. Photograph: Keith Stuart/The GuardianBut somehow, the system still works. Perhaps it’s the nice chug-chug sound effects of the tractors, or the amusingly precarious steering that often sends you crashing into a tree; or maybe it’s the sheer nostalgia of the rugged 2D visuals. I don’t know. I just know that I’ve kept playing. Veteran Mega Drive owners may be reminded of the Desert, Jungle and Urban Strike games or the isometric strategy delights of Populous or General Chaos. But what’s really fascinating is seeing a modern game genre on this old machine and wondering, what score would it have received from contemporary gaming mags such as Sega Power or Mega?Perhaps, this is one for Mega Drive nuts like me who thrill at the idea of running something new on their beloved artefact – like playing a 4K Blu-ray movie on a Toshiba video recorder. It’s also going to be tough to secure one as only 1,000 are being made. However, Giants has previously released a Commodore 64 version of the game, Farming Simulator C64, which is now available to play for PC, and perhaps an emulated version of this one will also find a way to modern machines.And yet, like a deluxe half-speed remaster of some old vinyl album, there is emotional value in the format itself. This is why Giants isn’t alone in producing new carts for the old consoles. The excellent puzzle platformer Tanglewood appeared for the Mega Drive a few years ago and a promising shooter Earthion is coming later this year. Limited Run games has also made a whole range of new SNES carts for classic titles.I wish my dad were around to see me reviewing a new release for the last console we played on together. As someone who spent all his boyhood summers staying on a farm, he certainly would have loved this game. For now, I will keep ploughing these fields and selling wheat, enjoying the tranquil cycle of nature as rendered on a machine as out of date as an ox cart.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington, DC, for a gathering of scientists, policymakers, and longevity enthusiasts. They had come together to discuss ways to speed along the development of drugs and other treatments that might extend the human lifespan. One approach that came up was to simply make experimental drugs more easily accessible. Let people try drugs that might help them live longer, the argument went. Some groups have been pushing bills to do just that in Montana, a state whose constitution explicitly values personal liberty. A couple of years ago, a longevity lobbying group helped develop a bill that expanded on the state’s existing Right to Try law, which allowed seriously ill people to apply for access to experimental drugs (that is, drugs that have not been approved by drug regulators). The expansion, which was passed in 2023, opened access for people who are not seriously ill.  Over the last few months, the group has been pushing further—for a new bill that sets out exactly how clinics can sell experimental, unproven treatments in the state to anyone who wants them. At the end of the second day of the event, the man next to me looked at his phone. “It just passed,” he told me. (The lobbying group has since announced that the state's governor Greg Gianforte has signed the bill into law, but when I called his office, Gianforte's staff told me they could not legally tell me whether or not he has.) The passing of the bill could make Montana something of a US hub for experimental treatments. But it represents a wider trend: the creep of Right to Try across the US. And a potentially dangerous departure from evidence-based medicine. In the US, drugs must be tested in human volunteers before they can be approved and sold. Early-stage clinical trials are small and check for safety. Later trials test both the safety and efficacy of a new drug. The system is designed to keep people safe and to prevent manufacturers from selling ineffective or dangerous products. It’s meant to protect us from snake oil. But people who are seriously ill and who have exhausted all other treatment options are often desperate to try experimental drugs. They might see it as a last hope. Sometimes they can volunteer for clinical trials, but time, distance, and eligibility can rule out that option. Since the 1980s, seriously or terminally ill people who cannot take part in a trial for some reason can apply for access to experimental treatments through a “compassionate use” program run by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA authorizes almost all of the compassionate use requests it receives (although manufacturers don’t always agree to provide their drug for various reasons). But that wasn’t enough for the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian organization that in 2014 drafted a model Right to Try law for people who are terminally ill. Versions of this draft have since been passed into law in 41 US states, and the US has had a federal Right to Try law since 2018. These laws generally allow people who are seriously ill to apply for access to drugs that have only been through the very first stages of clinical trials, provided they give informed consent. Some have argued that these laws have been driven by a dislike of both drug regulation and the FDA. After all, they are designed to achieve the same result as the compassionate use program. The only difference is that they bypass the FDA. Either way, it’s worth noting just how early-stage these treatments are. A drug that has been through phase I trials might have been tested in just 20 healthy people. Yes, these trials are designed to test the safety of a drug, but they are never conclusive. At that point in a drug’s development, no one can know how a sick person—who is likely to be taking other medicines— will react to it. Now these Right to Try laws are being expanded even more. The Montana bill, which goes the furthest, will enable people who are not seriously ill to access unproven treatments, and other states have been making moves in the same direction. Just this week, Georgia’s governor signed into law the Hope for Georgia Patients Act, which allows people with life-threatening illnesses to access personalized treatments, those that are “unique to and produced exclusively for an individual patient based on his or her own genetic profile.” Similar laws, known as “Right to Try 2.0,”  have been passed in other states, too, including Arizona, Mississippi, and North Carolina. And last year, Utah passed a law that allows health care providers (including chiropractors, podiatrists, midwives, and naturopaths) to deliver unapproved placental stem cell therapies. These treatments involve cells collected from placentas, which are thought to hold promise for tissue regeneration. But they haven’t been through human trials. They can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and their effects are unknown. Utah’s law was described as a “pretty blatant broadbrush challenge to the FDA’s authority” by an attorney who specializes in FDA law. And it’s one that could put patients at risk. Laws like these spark a lot of very sensitive debates. Some argue that it’s a question of medical autonomy, and that people should have the right to choose what they put in their own bodies. And many argue there’s a cost-benefit calculation to be made. A seriously ill person potentially has more to gain and less to lose from trying an experimental drug, compared to someone who is in good health. But everyone needs to be protected from ineffective drugs. Most ethicists think it’s unethical to sell a treatment when you have no idea if it will work, and that argument has been supported by numerous US court decisions over the years.  There could be a financial incentive for doctors to recommend an experimental drug, especially when they are granted protections by law. (Right to Try laws tend to protect prescribing doctors from disciplinary action and litigation should something go wrong.) On top of all this, many ethicists are also concerned that the FDA’s drug approval process itself has been on a downward slide over the last decade or so. An increasing number of drug approvals are fast-tracked based on weak evidence, they argue. Scientists and ethicists on both sides of the debate are now waiting to see what unfolds under the new US administration.   In the meantime, a quote from Diana Zuckerman, president of the nonprofit National Center for Health Research, comes to mind: “Sometimes hope helps people do better,” she told me a couple of years ago. “But in medicine, isn’t it better to have hope based on evidence rather than hope based on hype?” This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.

Android devices have offered a built-in screen reader feature called TalkBack for years. It helps people with vision problems to make sense of what appears on their phone’s screen and lets them control it with their voice. In 2024, Google added its Gemini AI into the mix to give users a more detailed description of images.  Google is now bolstering it with a whole new layer of interactive convenience for users. So far, Gemini has only described images. Now, when users are looking at images, they can even ask follow-up questions about them and have a more detailed conversation. Recommended Videos How does it help users with vision difficulties? “The next time a friend texts you a photo of their new guitar, you can get a description and ask follow-up questions about the make and color, or even what else is in the image,” says Google. This builds on the accessibility upgrade that integrated Gemini within the Talkback system late last year. Google The Talkback menu on Android now shows a dedicated Describe Screen feature that puts Gemini in the driving seat. So, for example, if users are browsing a garment catalogue, Gemini will not only describe what appears on the screen, but will also answer relevant questions.  For example, users can ask questions such as “Which dress would be the best for a cold winter night outing?” or “What sauce would go best with a sandwich?” Gemini will also be able to analyse the entire screen and inform users about granular product details, or if there are any discounts available.  Making captions expressive and improving text zoom In the Chrome browser, Google is giving a small lift to the auto-generated captions for videos. Let’s say you are watching a football match. The captions will no longer just follow the commentator’s words, but will also match their emotions and expressions. Google For example, instead of “goal,” users with hearing issues will see a resounding “goooaaal” for an added dash of emotional emphasis. Google is calling them Expressive Captions.  In addition to human speech, they will now also cover important sounds such as whistles, cheering, or even the speaker just clearing their throat. Expressive captions will be available on all devices running Android 15 or a later version, in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.  Google Another meaningful change coming to the Chrome browser is adaptive text zoom, which is essentially an update on the Page Zoom system available on Android phones. Now, when users increase the size of text, it will not affect the layout of the rest of the web page.  “You can customize how much you want to zoom in and easily apply the preference to all the pages you visit or just specific ones,” says Google. Users will be able to make zoom range adjustments using a slider at the bottom of the page.

What? ScaVi is evolving!We've known that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet would be getting a free Switch 2 upgrade for a couple of months now. This morning, Nintendo revealed what that update would involve, and now, The Pokémon Company has showcased a couple of screenshots showing the Switch 2 version in action.As brought to our attention on BlueSky by @Serebii, the screenshots were shared in a news post on the official Scarlet and Violet Korean website, where it specifies that they are indeed from the Switch 2 upgrade.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a 2024 remake of the 2010 platformer Epic Mickey, developed by Purple Lamp and published by THQ Nordic. This reimagined version revitalizes the original’s unique blend of action and adventure, where players wield a magical paintbrush to alter the game world, navigating a realm filled with forgotten Disney characters and settings. The remake enhances the experience with updated graphics, refined gameplay mechanics, and expanded content, bringing Mickey Mouse’s journey through the Wasteland to a new generation of players.A significant contributor to the visual overhaul of Rebrushed is Jenny Brozek, who served as the Lead Concept Artist at Purple Lamp. With a rich background in game art, Jenny has previously lent her talents to titles such as Crash Bandicoot 4 (3D Environment Art), Fortnite (3D Asset Creation and Skin Concept Art), Legends of Runeterra (Cardback Art), and League of Legends: Wild Rift (Promotional Character Art). Her expertise in crafting stylized, immersive environments and characters was pivotal in reimagining the Wasteland’s aesthetic, breathing new life into its diverse locales and inhabitants.For those interested in delving deeper into her creative process, Jenny offers insights through her tutorial, “Creating Stylized Weapons and Props,” available on IAMAG Master Classes Online. This resource provides a behind-the-scenes look at her approach to concept art, showcasing techniques that have contributed to the distinctive visual identity of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed.

The Parachute Memorial Day sale is almost as good as the long weekend itself, offering the perfect opportunity to stock up on their signature breezy home essentials and coastal classics just in time for summer. From now through May 28, you can score a solid 30% off everything sitewide and up to 75% off the clearance section. To sweeten the deal, shoppers get a free gift up to $249 in value for orders over $1,000.This is one of the best sales we’ve seen in a while, so if you’re due for a bedroom refresh and are ready for some luxurious sheets or a relaxed bedspread, the time to buy is now. It’s no secret that we love bath must-haves, decor, and, of course, mattress deals, and Parachute’s Memorial Day sale is no exception. To help you shop smarter, we’ve pulled a selection of AD-approved Parachute sale items worth shopping. Don’t delay: These dreamy discounts won’t last long.Our Top Picks for the Best Parachute Memorial Day Sale Deals:A brezy sheet set: Parachute Heirloom TENCEL Linen Sheet Set, $359 $252Best mattress deal: Parachute Eco Mattress, $1,500 $1,050For side sleepers: Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow, $160 $112A spa-inspired robe: Parachute Waffle Robe, $149 $105Best mattress topper: Parachute Down Mattress Topper, $390 $273Photo: Rachel FletcherParachute Waffle Bath TowelsYou can’t go wrong with a classic waffle bath towel, and this Parachute version is the proof. Commerce director Rachel Fletcher says the brand’s set is both soft and absorbent—with a drying time of just about five minutes. “These honeycomb weave, 100% long-staple Turkish cotton towels are really exceptional in terms of craftsmanship, which is immediately evident in the feel,” she adds. “I have very sensitive skin and a rough towel never does me well, but the Parachute towels feel great against the skin.”Parachute Linen Duvet CoverA duvet cover set we’re thrilled to see on sale, this linen find is perfect for spring and summer. A warm weather classic for a reason, linen is light and antimicrobial, in case you’re prone to getting a little warmer this season. Contributor Lila Allen seconds these sentiments. “I was pleasantly surprised at how soft this cover was—again, with linen, sometimes it can be a roll of the dice,” she says. “This set had the best of both worlds: super supple but still casually elevated.”Parachute Eco MattressWhile Parachute is one of our go-to bedding brands, it’s also a reliable retailer when it comes to mattresses-in-a-box. The brand offers a hybrid mattress that landed itself in our list of favorites thanks to a Goldilocks combination of tempered steel and six layers of pure New Zealand wool and organic cotton.Photo: Nashia BakerParachute Heirloom TENCEL Linen Sheet SetWhen it comes to Parachute sheets, AD writers are huge fans of the linen category—including senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. She has the heirloom Tencel bundle in her bedroom, and unlike with her crisp percale sheet set, she loves the lightly wrinkled design of these for a relaxed, less-buttoned-up look. She also notes that their “soft and breathable feel” makes them the perfect cooling sheets to stay comfortable during hot summer nights.Parachute Waffle RobeFluffy, textured, and cozy, this stylish robe might make it hard to get your day going. Made of organic cotton, it’s one of Parachute’s bestsellers—meaning it’s the perfect gift for anyone who needs a good pampering. The square shape and 100% European flax linen relaxed fabric make for a structured yet casual look that emulates a day at the spa.Parachute Down Side Sleeper PillowCommerce editor Audrey Lee personally recommends this pillow from Parachute. “Designed with a 3.5-inch gusset to take the strain off your neck and shoulders, this is a great hotel-style pillow option that feels luxuriously lightweight but still densely filled,” she says.Julia HarrisonJulia HarrisonParachute Down Mattress Topper“This mattress topper is made from 750 feather fill and premium European white down, which, for those who don’t know their down, means this is the real deal,” says commerce writer Julia Harrison. “I would say this is solidly an inch and a half of down that makes for a plush experience no actual mattress can rival.” She recommends that anyone who prefers soft mattresses shop this indulgence over Memorial Day weekend.Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Tub MatChances are your old bath mat is looking a little grubby, so why not upgrade to this luxe, earthy Parachute option made from Turkish cotton? “I was a little concerned that something so dense might be constantly damp or take forever to dry but I’ve found it to be quite the opposite after using it for more than a year,” Fletcher says. “I absolutely love Parachute’s waffle towels (they’re the only ones I’ll use!) so I was pleased that their bath mat was a high quality option too.”Parachute Matelasse CoverletAlso tucked away in Parachute Home’s Memorial Day deals is this comfy cotton coverlet. Not only is it lightweight enough to keep hot sleepers at ease, but the added details push it into must-have territory. “Its oatmealy color is a nice, natural neutral, but its stitched details are the true hero attribute,” says contributor Madeleine Luckel.

14 winning schemes include a retrofitted telephone exchange, Passivhaus almshouses and a converted barn Source: Jack HobhouseYoungs Court Development at Emmanuel College by Stanton Williams An infill development for Emmanuel College, Cambridge by Stanton Williams has been named RIBA East Building of the Year 2025. The scheme includes new accommodation and communal facilities for students. The Young’s Court Development was praised by the jury for how it “sits comfortably and effortlessly on site” and “subtly elevates the experience of student life”. The panel also described it as a “model for how to conserve and enhance a historic place for future generations”. Source: Jack HobhouseThe Entopia Building, Cambridge, designed by Architype with Feilden and Mawson and Eve Waldron Design Among the 14 winning projects is The Entopia Building, also in Cambridge, designed by Architype with Feilden and Mawson and Eve Waldron Design. The project involved the reuse of a 1930s telephone exchange as a new home for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. It was also recognised with the Sustainability and Project Architect of the Year awards. Source: Valentin LynchJankes Barn by Lynch Architects Jankes Barn by Lynch Architects was awarded both a regional award and the Conservation Award. The project involved the conversion of a disused barn in Essex into a contemporary rural home. Source: David ButlerDovehouse Court Almshouses by Mole Architects Dovehouse Court Almshouses by Mole Architects, a new Passivhaus development in Cambridge for residents over 55, also featured among the winners. The project delivered energy-efficient later-life living within a setting designed to promote social interaction. RIBA Central Regional Director Matt Blakeley said: “Congratulations to all the Award winners in the East region. This year, the breadth of schemes recognised is a remarkable statement to the ambition and vision of the region. “These projects exemplify not only admirable excellence in design and beauty, but a bold commitment to architecture’s vital role in our environmental goals and social impact.” The Discovery Centre (DISC) by Herzog & de Meuron with BDPSource: Hufton+Crow Sunspot by HAT ProjectsSource: Jim Stephenson Cast Corbel House by GraftedSource: French+Tye Knights Park by Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks ArchitectsSource: Paul Riddle Knights Park by Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks ArchitectsSource: Alison Brooks Architects Harpenden House by Emil Eve ArchitectsSource: Taran Wilkhu Housestead by Sanei Hopkins ArchitectsSource: Peter Landers Photography North Sea East Wood by Hayhurst & CoSource: Kilian O’Sullivan Mill Hide by Poulson ArchitectureSource: Nick Guttridge Clayworth by ArkleBoyce ArchitectsSource: Jim Stephenson Clayworth by ArkleBoyce ArchitectsSource: Jim Stephenson Amento by James Gorst ArchitectsSource: James Retief 1/12 show caption The other winning projects were: The Discovery Centre (DISC) by Herzog & de Meuron with BDP, a medical research facility for AstraZeneca in Cambridge Sunspot by HAT Projects, a coastal community hub in Essex with flexible units, a café and market hall Cast Corbel House by Grafted, an extension to a Norwich home Knights Park by Pollard Thomas Edwards and Alison Brooks Architects, a large-scale housing scheme in Eddington delivering 249 net-zero homes Harpenden House by Emil Eve Architects, the renovation and extension of a Victorian villa previously used as a nursery Housestead by Sanei Hopkins Architects, a coastal home in Suffolk North Sea East Wood by Hayhurst & Co, a reworking of a 1980s bungalow in Norfolk, also named Small Project of the Year Mill Hide by Poulson Architecture, a low-energy single-storey villa designed to meet future accessibility needs Clayworth by ArkleBoyce Architects, a contemporary family home Amento by James Gorst Architects, a single-storey rural dwelling Regional award winners will now be considered for a RIBA National Award, which will be announced on 10 July.  The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the UK’s building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects later in the year.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington, DC, for a gathering of scientists, policymakers, and longevity enthusiasts. They had come together to discuss ways to speed along the development of drugs and other treatments that might extend the human lifespan. One approach that came up was to simply make experimental drugs more easily accessible. Let people try drugs that might help them live longer, the argument went. Some groups have been pushing bills to do just that in Montana, a state whose constitution explicitly values personal liberty. A couple of years ago, a longevity lobbying group helped develop a bill that expanded on the state’s existing Right to Try law, which allowed seriously ill people to apply for access to experimental drugs (that is, drugs that have not been approved by drug regulators). The expansion, which was passed in 2023, opened access for people who are not seriously ill.  Over the last few months, the group has been pushing further—for a new bill that sets out exactly how clinics can sell experimental, unproven treatments in the state to anyone who wants them. At the end of the second day of the event, the man next to me looked at his phone. “It just passed,” he told me. (The lobbying group has since announced that the state's governor Greg Gianforte has signed the bill into law, but when I called his office, Gianforte's staff told me they could not legally tell me whether or not he has.) The passing of the bill could make Montana something of a US hub for experimental treatments. But it represents a wider trend: the creep of Right to Try across the US. And a potentially dangerous departure from evidence-based medicine. In the US, drugs must be tested in human volunteers before they can be approved and sold. Early-stage clinical trials are small and check for safety. Later trials test both the safety and efficacy of a new drug. The system is designed to keep people safe and to prevent manufacturers from selling ineffective or dangerous products. It’s meant to protect us from snake oil. But people who are seriously ill and who have exhausted all other treatment options are often desperate to try experimental drugs. They might see it as a last hope. Sometimes they can volunteer for clinical trials, but time, distance, and eligibility can rule out that option. Since the 1980s, seriously or terminally ill people who cannot take part in a trial for some reason can apply for access to experimental treatments through a “compassionate use” program run by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA authorizes almost all of the compassionate use requests it receives (although manufacturers don’t always agree to provide their drug for various reasons). But that wasn’t enough for the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian organization that in 2014 drafted a model Right to Try law for people who are terminally ill. Versions of this draft have since been passed into law in 41 US states, and the US has had a federal Right to Try law since 2018. These laws generally allow people who are seriously ill to apply for access to drugs that have only been through the very first stages of clinical trials, provided they give informed consent. Some have argued that these laws have been driven by a dislike of both drug regulation and the FDA. After all, they are designed to achieve the same result as the compassionate use program. The only difference is that they bypass the FDA. Either way, it’s worth noting just how early-stage these treatments are. A drug that has been through phase I trials might have been tested in just 20 healthy people. Yes, these trials are designed to test the safety of a drug, but they are never conclusive. At that point in a drug’s development, no one can know how a sick person—who is likely to be taking other medicines— will react to it. Now these Right to Try laws are being expanded even more. The Montana bill, which goes the furthest, will enable people who are not seriously ill to access unproven treatments, and other states have been making moves in the same direction. Just this week, Georgia’s governor signed into law the Hope for Georgia Patients Act, which allows people with life-threatening illnesses to access personalized treatments, those that are “unique to and produced exclusively for an individual patient based on his or her own genetic profile.” Similar laws, known as “Right to Try 2.0,”  have been passed in other states, too, including Arizona, Mississippi, and North Carolina. And last year, Utah passed a law that allows health care providers (including chiropractors, podiatrists, midwives, and naturopaths) to deliver unapproved placental stem cell therapies. These treatments involve cells collected from placentas, which are thought to hold promise for tissue regeneration. But they haven’t been through human trials. They can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and their effects are unknown. Utah’s law was described as a “pretty blatant broadbrush challenge to the FDA’s authority” by an attorney who specializes in FDA law. And it’s one that could put patients at risk. Laws like these spark a lot of very sensitive debates. Some argue that it’s a question of medical autonomy, and that people should have the right to choose what they put in their own bodies. And many argue there’s a cost-benefit calculation to be made. A seriously ill person potentially has more to gain and less to lose from trying an experimental drug, compared to someone who is in good health. But everyone needs to be protected from ineffective drugs. Most ethicists think it’s unethical to sell a treatment when you have no idea if it will work, and that argument has been supported by numerous US court decisions over the years.  There could be a financial incentive for doctors to recommend an experimental drug, especially when they are granted protections by law. (Right to Try laws tend to protect prescribing doctors from disciplinary action and litigation should something go wrong.) On top of all this, many ethicists are also concerned that the FDA’s drug approval process itself has been on a downward slide over the last decade or so. An increasing number of drug approvals are fast-tracked based on weak evidence, they argue. Scientists and ethicists on both sides of the debate are now waiting to see what unfolds under the new US administration.   In the meantime, a quote from Diana Zuckerman, president of the nonprofit National Center for Health Research, comes to mind: “Sometimes hope helps people do better,” she told me a couple of years ago. “But in medicine, isn’t it better to have hope based on evidence rather than hope based on hype?” This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.

Last week, Epic Games announced that it had submitted Fortnite to the App Store in the United States. The move followed an injunction in which a federal judge said Apple couldn’t charge a 27% commission on out-of-app purchases initiated through in-app links. In a new statement today, however, Epic says that Apple has “blocked” this submission… In a statement posted on social media, Epic Games said: “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.” There’s no word on why Apple rejected Epic’s Fortnite submission. It’s also unclear why the game is no longer available via the Epic Games Store in the EU. Before today, Fortnite had been available to download for iPhone users in the EU through Epic’s alternative app marketplace as well as AltStore PAL. The version of Fortnite submitted by Epic used both Apple’s In-App Purchase system as well as an external payment option through the Epic Games Store. Fortnite has been unavailable through the App Store since 2020 when it added a backdoor payment option to circumvent Apple’s App Store Guidelines. Epic is trying to use its EU developer account to bring Fortnite back to the App Store after Apple terminated its original U.S. account. In the legal battle between Apple and Epic, a judge ruled that Apple was lawful in its decision to terminate Epic’s developer account for deliberately breaking App Store Guidelines when it added the Fortnite direct payment option. As such, Apple has no legal obligation to allow Fortnite back in the App Store. In 2021, the ruling concluded: Apple’s termination of the DPLA and the related agreements between Epic Games and Apple was valid, lawful, and enforceable, and (ii) Apple has the contractual right to terminate its DPLA with any or all of Epic Games’ wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games’ control at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion. We’ll keep this story updated as the situation continues to evolve. My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.  Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Fortnite is no longer available from the iOS Epic Games Store in the EU. Fortnite maker Epic Games has announced that Apple has blocked the game’s return to iOS. Following the rejection, Fortnite is no longer available on iPhones and iPads even in the European Union, where it had previously been available to download through the Epic Games Store. “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” the company posted on the official Fortnite X account. “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.” The Verge has confirmed that the game is no longer available to download on iOS from the Epic Games Store or the alternative marketplace AltStore PAL in the EU, where it had previously been available. It’s not yet clear if Apple blocked the game’s availability through those stores, or if Epic itself chose to make it unavailable. We’ve reached out to both Apple and Epic for comment. Fortnite returned to iOS in the EU last year, but only through those two storefronts, and not Apple’s App Store. The return was made possible by the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which required Apple to allow third-party app stores on iOS. Epic had resubmitted Fortnite to the US App Store this month following a recent ruling in Epic’s lawsuit against Apple. That ruling prohibited Apple from restricting developers’ ability to link to external payment systems, one of the issues that had started their long-running legal battle. Epic was forced to use its EU developer account to resubmit the game, as its US account was terminated in 2020 when it first broke Apple’s rules by introducing its own in-app payments to the game. This week Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the company had pulled its previous Fortnite submission and submitted a new version that included an update due to release today, noting that “all platforms must update simultaneously.” Developing…