StrykerIsland Member Oct 25, 2017 2,498 2.0 is so good, I have no basis on which to compare how the game was prior, but I can't recommend this enough to those that enjoy the Souls genre. I very much admire their dedication to honing the experience based on player feedback, never an easy task.  ETPC Member Jan 28, 2025 27 May they meet nothing but failure.   ClickyCal' Member Oct 25, 2017 65,526 ETPC said: May they meet nothing but failure. Click to expand... Click to shrink... ^ fuck Grift Souls  jroc74 Member Oct 27, 2017 34,072 ETPC said: May they meet nothing but failure. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Right. Like....I don't even wanna look, but what's the redemption in reference to....  Baphomet Member Dec 8, 2018 21,940 I bought it and beat it at launch , it's one of the best Souls Like imo.   MarcelloF "This guy are sick" Member Dec 9, 2020 9,547 But is it woke.   GlorpShitto Member Feb 6, 2024 981 Couldn't pay me to play it   Dest Has seen more 10s than EA ever will Coward Jun 4, 2018 16,042 Work 2.0 redeemed it so much I won't even boot it up despite buying and enjoying it day 1. Guess that's what happens when you're just a piece of shit.  Izanagi89 "This guy are sick" and Corrupted by Vengeance Member Oct 27, 2017 18,839 That CEO really did go full veils off   vic viper Member Dec 27, 2017 495 Nah   Haxik Member Oct 27, 2017 979 ETPC said: May they meet nothing but failure. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It isn't. They talk about 200K units sold in the first 10 days after 2.0 launch. Almost a 1/3 of their lifetime sales. And after that, they decide to talk and focus on Asmongold and his feedback. That is a choice....  Necromanti Member Oct 25, 2017 12,827 With the launch of version 2.0, we felt it was finally time to get it back in the hands of Asmongold. Click to expand... Click to shrink...  

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He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

LinguisticGoblin Member Jul 19, 2020 1,293 It’s Just Over For ‘Marathon’ Marathon has always been teetered on the edge of future failure, but now that seems set in stone after recent events. www.forbes.com Article recapping some of the issues Marathon is facing, from the recent plagiarism discovery to how the closed alpha performed relative to competitors and general community sentiments around the attempt to make an extraction shooter that can peel hardcore players off the likes of Tarkov while still holding casual appeal, as well as Paul's thoughts on what the likely outcome of all this will be for the game and Bungie. I've tried to put this off for a while now, giving Marathon the benefit of the doubt in terms of fixing what ails it, and maybe snagging an audience that's large enough to make it at least sustainable. But no, it's over. I can't dispute this anymore. This has probably always been true, but the events of the past week have cemented it. I will get into the livestream and plagiarism and all that later, but this is a long, long list of what's gone wrong in the past, what's currently going wrong, and a future that does not look any brighter. Click to expand... Click to shrink... […] The idea that this is an extraction shooter that should use a hero model has not landed well at all. It seems woefully unbalanced with full invisibility and wallhacks and things that should just not be in this genre. And it destroys the idea of making a fully custom character like other games, something most players like. It feels like a solution where a problem did not exist. An experiment to make the game stand out, but it's just made it worse. None of this was helped that at the exact same time, Marathon's Alpha was interrupted by an ARK Raiders Alpha, a much more traditional extraction shooter and a much better one, by all accounts. More polished, more fun, more expected features found in extraction shooters. All you have to do is look at the fact that ARK Raiders' playercount went up every single day of its Alpha where Marathon's almost always went down. By the end, it was sub-20% of what it started with. Twitch viewers were even worse, going from 150,000 at launch as big streamers tried it, crashing to 1-3,000 a few days later near the end, where big chunks of that might even be one or two Destiny streamers alone. Click to expand... Click to shrink...   signal Member Oct 28, 2017 43,240 If it does get cancelled I hope it's just in its current form and a new Marathon of another genre or something comes out. Seems like there was a lot people enjoyed, if not the game itself.   glaurung Member Oct 26, 2017 2,245 Estonia I agree that if they stick to the current release schedule with the currently planned contents, this will be a very hard sell.   Gman! Avenger Oct 25, 2017 1,323 Dallas It's a real shame that the one thing Marathon did really well - the art style - was tainted by their own doing.   fudgybrownie Member Dec 15, 2024 10 Another one of those paul tassi articles   Butter Member Sep 26, 2024 109 I'm so torn on Marathon. On one hand I don't want a studio to fail and people to lose jobs but on the other hand I do want Sony's live service push to fail.   thankyoumerzbow Prophet of Truth Member Dec 8, 2020 12,206 arC* raiders   Xeno Member Oct 25, 2017 2,354 Did he really write a whole ass article and couldn't get the name "ARC Raiders" right?   Fiery Phoenix Member Oct 26, 2017 6,314 fudgybrownie said: Another one of those paul tassi articles Click to expand... Click to shrink... My thoughts exactly. Watch him write about his favorite playstyle in 6 months.  LossAversion The Merchant of ERA Member Oct 28, 2017 11,687 Marathon was always a hard sell for someone like me. I enjoy the slower pace of extraction shooters like DMZ and Tarkov but the gameplay I was seeing from Marathon looked more like Apex Legends. The whole appeal of extraction modes is the slow pace and the thrill of encountering real players OR avoiding them at all costs. If anything, I would like to see extraction shooters that focus much more on the PVE aspect of things and ARC Raiders seems to be much closer to that. Marathon just reads as another sweaty twitch shooter. The art style was cool but uh... yeah. It won't surprise me if this game is DOA.   RoKKeR Member Oct 25, 2017 17,110 I'm not exactly looking forward to the game but even still this feels a bit premature.   Rumenapp Forza Photographer Member Nov 9, 2017 17,451 Best of luck to Bungie with Marathon or not. Competitive multiplayer games is a very hard market to crack right now.  DNAbro Member Oct 25, 2017 30,045 Read it this morning and yeah… The vibes are just bad, I still want to try it but after the mid reception and plagiarism scandal it feels like it's dead at the starting line. An open beta will be do or die for it.  Yerffej Prophet of Regret Member Oct 25, 2017 29,446 But yeah, from the podcasts I'd listened to where both were mentioned...Arc Raiders had far more positivity thrown its way.  Jimbo Fisher Member Jul 17, 2024 1,352 At this point how hard would it be for them to just throw in a few traditional multiplayer modes? Some team deathmatch and capture the flag? Feels like that's the only way to save this game's mass market appeal.   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,762 signal said: If it does get cancelled I hope it's just in its current form and a new Marathon of another genre or something comes out. Seems like there was a lot people enjoyed, if not the game itself. Click to expand... Click to shrink... There's no way it gets cancelled. It's too far into development. Edit: I'm obviously talking about it being cancelled prior to release, not what happened with Concord.  Last edited: Monday at 11:16 AM Tbm24 Member Oct 25, 2017 22,980 Well, author is setting up future content to backtrack on I guess. Jimbo Fisher said: At this point how hard would it be for them to just throw in a few traditional multiplayer modes? Some team deathmatch and capture the flag? Feels like that's the only way to save this game's mass market appeal. Click to expand... Click to shrink... If the game is going to fail, let it fail try by to be what it wants to be. Not tack on standard modes just because. No thanks.  ZeroMaverick Member Mar 5, 2018 5,867 Xeno said: Did he really write a whole ass article and couldn't get the name "ARC Raiders" right? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Right? For a second I was like, "Holy shit an extraction shooter with dinosaurs is gonna be awesome!" Lol  Stibbs Member Feb 8, 2023 4,247 The 518 If Paul, THE Bungie guy is out than this really is cooked Should have made Destiny 3 when you had the chance guys  keyrodi Member Feb 19, 2018 1,065 Frankly, even ignoring the controversy, this game was dead in the water. The plagiarism and the reaction to it only guarantees it. I don't know what Sony is going to do or what they should do, whether it be cancel this game, gut the studio, sell Bungie back to the board, etc, but Bungie is an albatross that they need to address harshly.  carlsojo Shinra Employee Member Oct 28, 2017 37,576 San Francisco Is there any new info in this article or is it just a recap   Jawmuncher Crisis Dino Moderator Oct 25, 2017 44,825 Ibis Island IMO, I think Marathon really trying to commit to PVP is doing more harm than good. I think the Hero Idea and such is good, even the features. But they'd be far more at home in a game where you aren't worrying about balancing for two different aspects. The other thread I see about Public Playtests is probably the best outcome to try and get it somewhere people enjoy. However, if you do too many of those, people are going to wonder why they have to pay for it afterwards.  Kalentan Member Oct 25, 2017 50,643 While I do like the designs of the "Heroes", the game 100% should have kept to it's original design of just being Create-a-characters. Moving to the Hero route was a bad idea for this genre.   TheWorthyEdge Member Oct 25, 2017 7,908 Nothing about the current state of Bungie inspires any hope whatsoever. Makes sense why they're doing this Star Wars Destiny expansion. A cash grab if there ever was one. Much needed product on the horizon that SHOULD sell well.   Xeno Member Oct 25, 2017 2,354 Stibbs said: If Paul, THE Bungie guy is out than this really is cooked Should have made Destiny 3 when you had the chance guys Click to expand... Click to shrink... Marathon is in trouble... but Paul Tassi has built a career on bitching about Destiny.   GlorpShitto Member Feb 6, 2024 972 Every article he writes is negative. Nothing new here.   404LinkNotFound Member Oct 27, 2017 10,608 Ha i see that resetera post of ART RAIDERS really spread   Stibbs Member Feb 8, 2023 4,247 The 518 Kalentan said: While I do like the designs of the "Heroes", the game 100% should have kept to it's original design of just being Create-a-characters. Moving to the Hero route was a bad idea for this genre. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Considering Bungie's love of the "faceless/generic helmeted protag"(Marine from PID, Security Officer, Chief, the player Guardian etc) I'm surprised they went for heroes still   OP OP LinguisticGoblin Member Jul 19, 2020 1,293 carlsojo said: Is there any new info in this article or is it just a recap Click to expand... Click to shrink... Recap but he did an article a few days ago about stuff he'd heard is going on internally at Bungie as well, which this one is also a response to I imagine New ‘Marathon’ Info: Bungie Morale, Launch Worries And Changing Plans After a rough playtest and now plagiarism confirmation, Bungie is changing some Marathon plans and internally, things are bad. www.forbes.com   Audiblee Member Mar 14, 2025 1,560 I don't want it to be true, so I'm going to attack the writer. If nothing else, he's proven to have contacts at Bungie.  MarcosBrXD Member Aug 28, 2024 1,694 User Warned: Drive-By Posting This guy is soo boring my god just cry about everything   Man Called Aerodynamics Member Oct 29, 2017 8,324 I'm not optimistic about the game's chances either, but I do think he's maybe overestimating the impact of the plagiarism scandal? Outside of the hyper-aware online bubble following the game, does Joe PlayStation even know about it?   Tbm24 Member Oct 25, 2017 22,980 Audiblee said: I don't want it to be true, so I'm going to attack the writer. If nothing else, he's proven to have contacts at Bungie. Click to expand... Click to shrink... What would those contacts have to do with proclaiming a game that has only seen an Alpha test as dead on arrival?   Yerffej Prophet of Regret Member Oct 25, 2017 29,446 Mr Evil 37 said: There's no way it gets cancelled. It's too far into development. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Another game was even further in development. One might say as developed as you can get. Nothing is impossible in this day and age.   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,762 Jimbo Fisher said: At this point how hard would it be for them to just throw in a few traditional multiplayer modes? Some team deathmatch and capture the flag? Feels like that's the only way to save this game's mass market appeal. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I don't know if there's a big enough audience for traditional multiplayer modes like that, and the audience there is will probably stick with CoD, Halo etc.   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,762 Yerffej said: Another game was even further in development. One might say as developed as you can get. Nothing is impossible in this day and age. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Concord did come out though lol I'm saying Marathon will come out. What happens after, who knows.   Precious Tritium Member Oct 25, 2017 10,253 Yerffej said: Another game was even further in development. One might say as developed as you can get. Nothing is impossible in this day and age. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Concord was canned because they promised weekly cutscenes and would have been sued had they stopped support for it without refunding and turning it off. Had they not done that the game would still be playable, Destruction Allstars is still online and I imagine has at most a handful of players.  Yerffej Prophet of Regret Member Oct 25, 2017 29,446 Mr Evil 37 said: Concord did come out though lol I'm saying Marathon will come out. What happens after, who knows. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I couldn't be less interested in the product, but I am riveted in what happens with this one. Very curious how this goes.   J_Viper Member Oct 25, 2017 27,139 Marathon |OT| But no, it's over. I can't dispute this anymore   LewieP Member Oct 26, 2017 19,819 Kinda wild that Bungie used to be great at making single player FPS campaigns, but they haven't put one out in 15 years. I'd be very interested in them making another one of those. Even if it was attached to a multiplayer game.   BassForever One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 31,629 CT Mr Evil 37 said: There's no way it gets cancelled. It's too far into development. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Concord was released for 2 weeks before being pulled and canceled just last year.   IMCaprica Member Aug 1, 2019 11,014 Paul Tassi never met a moment he couldn't be dramatic about. I particularly like the way he puts watching people play Marathon and actually playing Marathon on the same level, and then never directly identifies which camp he falls into. Also, love a writer who can't be bothered to proofread until they feel like it after they've published an article. Watching this guy report on the real reason this game is a disaster now doomed to fail and then doubling back to "and also all the other stuff I previously theorized must also be the case" is cringey. fudgybrownie said: Another one of those paul tassi articles Click to expand... Click to shrink... I love his singular insight that viewership and wildly inaccurate dislike numbers on a video platform determine everything about a game's success. Precious Tritium said: Concord was canned because they promised weekly cutscenes and would have been sued had they stopped support for it without refunding and turning it off. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Source?   MarcosBrXD Member Aug 28, 2024 1,694 LewieP said: Kinda wild that Bungie used to be great at making single player FPS campaigns, but they haven't put one out in 15 years. I'd be very interested in them making another one of those. Even if it was attached to a multiplayer game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They want make these games   ElFly Member Oct 27, 2017 3,752 I think Sony will force it through, it will fail, and then Sony spins what will be left of the Marathon devs to make a CoD clone, no frills, just shooting people good in a realistic env.   LewieP Member Oct 26, 2017 19,819 MarcosBrXD said: They want make these games Click to expand... Click to shrink... I don't doubt it. But they don't really appeal to me.  Stibbs Member Feb 8, 2023 4,247 The 518 Yerffej said: Another game was even further in development. One might say as developed as you can get. Nothing is impossible in this day and age. Click to expand... Click to shrink... No one realizes you mean Hyenas? You mean Hyenas right?   Kill3r7 Member Oct 25, 2017 29,049 I don't get the point of doom and gloom. Bungie aren't magically going to rethink the game in the next 5 months. Let's see how it does when it comes out. Bungie has a long history of pulling the rabbit out of the hat. LewieP said: Kinda wild that Bungie used to be great at making single player FPS campaigns, but they haven't put one out in 15 years. I'd be very interested in them making another one of those. Even if it was attached to a multiplayer game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They just delivered a brilliant campaign last year with TFS.  Ascenion Prophet of Truth - One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 13,106 Mecklenburg-Strelitz Mr Evil 37 said: There's no way it gets cancelled. It's too far into development. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I can't see how you think this after Concord. Mind you, I agree with you. But if this fails they will almost assuredly be forced to make Destiny 3.   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,762 BassForever said: Concord was released for 2 weeks before being pulled and canceled just last year. Click to expand... Click to shrink... As I said in a later post, I was talking about it being cancelled before release.   NekoNeko Coward Oct 26, 2017 20,248 it's Bungover  

P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy Here's the summary of latest eXtas1s' direct about verified rumors and leaks from his sources: Steam/Epic Integration into Microsoft Store A new app called "Steam DF Beta" has appeared in the Windows Microsoft Store, allowing users to install Steam directly from the official store. The Epic Games Store is already integrated in the same way. This doesn't mean current Xbox consoles (Series X/S, One) will natively run Steam, but that Windows (and future Windows-based Xboxes) will offer an easier download/install experience. Future "Console-Like" Shell on Windows Microsoft is developing a compatibility layer or "shell" to give Windows a console-like interface (similar to Steam's Big Picture mode), suitable for both PC gaming and next‑gen Xbox systems.Xbox Emulation on PC An Xbox emulator for Windows (x64 architecture) is in development, allowing users to play their Xbox library on PC by emulating the console rather than running native PC ports of the games. Saves and achievements will remain separate between Steam, Microsoft Store/Xbox and will not sync automatically. Backward Compatibility and "Pass‑Through" Titles There are no plans to add new backward‑compatible games beyond what's already available, but the emulator work will let the entire Xbox library run on PC.Evolution of Game Pass Game Pass (including PC Game Pass and Ultimate) will remain a strategic cornerstone and will not be discontinued. New tiers are coming: cloud‑only, ad‑supported, PC‑only, Ultimate, etc. A price restructuring is imminent, likely raising fees—especially for the PC tier. Handling Rumors and Q&A The creator explains their approach: freely discuss rumors ("fun speculation") but clearly flag when something isn't confirmed 100%. They answer questions on topics such as: Transferring Xbox libraries to new consoles ("Phil Spencer confirmed yes") Whether online emulation will require subscriptions (probably not, but unclear) Third‑party titles and new COD at the next showcase (expected to appear) Buying on Steam vs. Microsoft Store (personal preference for Steam) Apparently what I suspected 1 year ago is actually coming true. What do you think? UPDATE: Jez Corden mostly corroborated this  Last edited: Yesterday at 1:42 PM VIPER Member Nov 12, 2023 1,408 Interesting strategy. This is just a PC in a box. In the interest of balance all developers need to have controller only lobbies in their multiplayer games.  Sabin Member Oct 25, 2017 6,097 I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve.   Wrexis Member Nov 4, 2017 29,387 Steam's login count would double overnight with this I guess.   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,548 I don't believe the emulation part would have "the entire Xbox library" running on PC. It's not doable.   Maelstrom Member Apr 22, 2025 138 Sabin said: I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I mean if true, who cares? I can tell you who doesn't, it's Microsoft. Unless Steam titles will be selective, meaning you can buy THPS on Steam or MS store, or EGS. But if it's full Steam (haha) ahead with just being a PC, then fuck it, let them have it a PC.  texhnolyze Shinra Employee Member Oct 25, 2017 26,439 Indonesia No manual app install? GOG, Uplay, and Origin be like:   T0kenAussie Member Jan 15, 2020 6,019 This is the common sense endpoint for Microsoft's gaming venture Just like Nintendo merged handheld and console to make the switch. Microsoft merging the best parts of Pc and console while also allowing your library to live forever on pc is the best outcome for everyone  OP OP P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy --R said: I don't believe the emulation part would have "the entire Xbox library" running on PC. It's not doable. Click to expand... Click to shrink... For the entire Xbox library he means current XSX|XSS library and what's currently emulated/BC   T0kenAussie Member Jan 15, 2020 6,019 Maelstrom said: I mean if true, who cares? I can tell you who doesn't, it's Microsoft. Unless Steam titles will be selective, meaning you can buy THPS on Steam or MS store, or EGS. But if it's full Steam (haha) ahead with just being a PC, then fuck it, let them have it a PC. Click to expand... Click to shrink... If the Xbox is basically a fisher price "babies first gaming pc" i can see that maintaining a market tbh   bob1001 ▲ Legend ▲ Member May 7, 2020 2,107 Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I feel like the end result here is something that is too far away from a console to appeal to the console guys, and too far away from a PC to appeal to the PC guys. Just occupying this awkward middle ground niche.   Santar Member Oct 27, 2017 7,132 Norway --R said: I don't believe the emulation part would have "the entire Xbox library" running on PC. It's not doable. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's probably just the games that are currently playable on the xbox series.   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,548 P40L0 said: For the entire Xbox library he means current XSX|XSS library and what's currently emulated/BC Click to expand... Click to shrink... I know. You still have to develop official Xbox One and Xbox Series emulators that have 100% compatibility. Not doable, and since extas1s has been way below a 50/50 recently I don't believe it.   T0kenAussie Member Jan 15, 2020 6,019 P40L0 said: For the entire Xbox library he means current XSX|XSS library and what's currently emulated/BC Click to expand... Click to shrink... I wonder if ~~r is talking about licensing because Microsoft would have to make a preeeetty big legal shenanigans to say that PCs are indeed Xbox's if they just allowed anyone to emulate the Xbox environment on pc and endorsed it   Bardeh Member Jun 15, 2018 3,840 If they can get the software down, this has the potential to be something that I would really, really love. That's a HUGE 'if' though.   Dust C H A O S Member Oct 25, 2017 41,030 Sounds about what people expected. A pricey HW with Windows that is mostly there just as an Xbox branded option on the HW marker.   Soap Member Oct 27, 2017 18,924 T0kenAussie said: This is the common sense endpoint for Microsoft's gaming venture Just like Nintendo merged handheld and console to make the switch. Microsoft merging the best parts of Pc and console while also allowing your library to live forever on pc is the best outcome for everyone Click to expand... Click to shrink... Certaily a good thing for me if it happens, but is it really good for MS? It seems like this would kill any xbox console unless the price to power ratio was vastly better than just building/buying a PC.   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,548 T0kenAussie said: I wonder if ~~r is talking about licensing because Microsoft would have to make a preeeetty big legal shenanigans to say that PCs are indeed Xbox's if they just allowed anyone to emulate the Xbox environment on pc and endorsed it Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's one part of my argument, yes. The other one is, simply, performance. I can see a 360 emulator working performance-wise, but this becomes way harder as you go up to One and Series. You require a lot more juice if you try to emulate a Series X.   brenobnfm Member Sep 28, 2019 2,666 Guess they gave up on fighting Steam with the Microsoft Store and will instead prevent any Steam OS takeover over Windows for PC gaming on a broader level, seems reasonable and even late that they're finally leveraging Windows.   Footos22 Member Oct 25, 2017 4,122 Killing their 30% on third party games for the cheaper steam option sure feels like a good way to fuck your whole business up. Don't believe this for a second.   MANTRA Member Feb 21, 2024 1,136 I actually think this is a fantastic path for Microsoft and could be huge if they pull it off.   Dega Member Oct 25, 2017 8,464 I'd be interested   OP OP P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy --R said: It's one part of my argument, yes. The other one is, simply, performance. I can see a 360 emulator working performance-wise, but this becomes way harder as you go up to One and Series. You require a lot more juice if you try to emulate a Series X. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They also talk about the "biggest performance leap" they ever had from gen to gen too (possible switch to NVIDIA? don't know)   Game Fan Member Oct 25, 2017 1,208 Brazil Steam + Xbox + quick resume + Game Pass in a box under the TV. Sign me in.   Mivey Member Oct 25, 2017 20,652 Sabin said: I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve. Click to expand... Click to shrink... This is MS, so they could probably negotiate an even smaller percentage (if they can deliver enough unit sales, and if they can't they have bigger problems anyway)   oni-link tag reference no one gets Member Oct 25, 2017 17,359 UK So I'd be able to get PS exclusives on my new Xbox from Steam, and use Game Pass, and also have Steam on my Xbox as well for indies/other games, vs the PS6 with no Game Pass and no Steam, but with MS first party games? That's interesting  Justsomeguy Member Oct 27, 2017 1,786 UK bob1001 said: Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I feel like the end result here is something that is too far away from a console to appeal to the console guys, and too far away from a PC to appeal to the PC guys. Just occupying this awkward middle ground niche. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Steam machine vibes   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,689 bob1001 said: something that is too far away from a console to appeal to the console guys Click to expand... Click to shrink... I don't see why this would be a concern. It seems like it can still be used as a console if that's what you want (presumably the Xbox layer + emulation will basically just make it into a console and you can ignore the non-console stuff if you want).   BasilZero Member Oct 25, 2017 39,966 Omni I'll get it if b/c is there.   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,548 P40L0 said: They also talk about the "biggest performance leap" they ever had from gen to gen too (possible switch to NVIDIA? don't know) Click to expand... Click to shrink... Unless they've found a way to timetravel and they're pulling hardware years from now into our timeline there is no way they're gonna emulate a Series X. I think extas1s is talking out of his ass again.   Toddhunter Member Feb 22, 2025 509 Sabin said: I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Or just make a better business deal. Anyway owning the box under the tv was always the aim, so I doubt they'd care much about gaming if they could do it. Much better to sell tv show deals.  Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,689 T0kenAussie said: I wonder if ~~r is talking about licensing because Microsoft would have to make a preeeetty big legal shenanigans to say that PCs are indeed Xbox's if they just allowed anyone to emulate the Xbox environment on pc and endorsed it Click to expand... Click to shrink... Maybe they wrote this into all of their licensing deals over the last X years if they knew they were heading in this direction.   andymoogle Member Oct 27, 2017 3,307 --R said: It's one part of my argument, yes. The other one is, simply, performance. I can see a 360 emulator working performance-wise, but this becomes way harder as you go up to One and Series. You require a lot more juice if you try to emulate a Series X. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's all running variants of DirectX. There is no way they would need to bruteforce it as regular software emulation.   Copilot Member Jun 27, 2023 1,336 Sabin said: I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Those machines should be profitable out of box (likely 20% or more profit margins). Steam is already on Windows and Xbox PC still growing (+45% YoY).  Flame Lord Member Oct 26, 2017 3,773 Sabin said: I highly doubt that. If everyone would just use steam on XBOX Next MS would have to pay 20 to 30% of every transaction made to Valve. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They wouldn't pay anymore to Steam than they already do on PC. Presumably this isn't going to be taking a loss like consoles usually do so that won't be as big a deal.  texhnolyze Shinra Employee Member Oct 25, 2017 26,439 Indonesia bob1001 said: Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I feel like the end result here is something that is too far away from a console to appeal to the console guys, and too far away from a PC to appeal to the PC guys. Just occupying this awkward middle ground niche. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah, this doesn't interest me at all. A PC without modding capabilities is not a PC. That's like missing the whole point of PC gaming to me.   brenobnfm Member Sep 28, 2019 2,666 I just hope any of the Xbox BC isn't cloud bullshit like PS3 on PS5, if that's the case better keep a Series X for these purposes. bob1001 said: Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I feel like the end result here is something that is too far away from a console to appeal to the console guys, and too far away from a PC to appeal to the PC guys. Just occupying this awkward middle ground niche. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It'll keep being just a Xbox for those who wants it? Especially if still has a disc drive (even if it's optional).  WhoaIsThatMars Member Oct 25, 2017 2,711 湘南 VIPER said: This is just a PC in a box. Click to expand... Click to shrink... A PC is an Xbox so it's just an Xbox in a box!  OP OP P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy oni-link said: So I'd be able to get PS exclusives on my new Xbox from Steam, and use Game Pass, and also have Steam on my Xbox as well for indies/other games, vs the PS6 with no Game Pass and no Steam, but with MS Exclusives? That's interesting Click to expand... Click to shrink... Basically, yeah. I think the biggest part in all this is nailing down the "console user experience" which currently Windows 11 still do not offer. If they will create a good new shell on boot instead of Desktop and mimic the current Xbox Dashboard experience (also for managing OS/Drivers/Game updates in a centralized way and in the background) as much as possible it could really open a new market of devices (with the portable Xbox directly rivalling Switch 2 and Deck and the bigger, more powerful variant rivaling PS6 or even being a more user friendly and compact alternative to build and put a monster PC under the TV). They could even open for other OEMs doing beefier, more premium or more economical variants of these new "consoles" as well.  OP OP P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy brenobnfm said: I just hope any of the Xbox BC isn't cloud bullshit like PS3 on PS5, if that's the case better keep a Series X for these purposes. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nope, native offline emulation it seems   Zutroy Member Oct 25, 2017 1,682 It would depend on the limitations of it, and the implementation, however full console experience with being able to get access to cheap game keys for Steam and free giveaways that Epic always does is an attractive proposition.   brenobnfm Member Sep 28, 2019 2,666 P40L0 said: Nope, native offline emulation it seems Click to expand... Click to shrink... Awesome.  OP OP P40L0 Member Jun 12, 2018 9,588 Italy --R said: Unless they've found a way to timetravel and they're pulling hardware years from now into our timeline there is no way they're gonna emulate a Series X. I think extas1s is talking out of his ass again. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Which are the XSX console-exclusive games not natively available on PC anyway? I think the last ones were from Xbox One?  Maelstrom Member Apr 22, 2025 138 T0kenAussie said: If the Xbox is basically a fisher price "babies first gaming pc" i can see that maintaining a market tbh Click to expand... Click to shrink... Well that's their problem not yours. Maybe they don't want to do that and just trying to keep the existing customers on board.  Paper Wario ▲ Legend ▲ Member Oct 27, 2017 3,146 Some other recent eXtas1s rumor threads: eXtas1s sources say one function of the C button on Switch 2 is you can use the Switch 1 as a controller and/or screen for Switch 2 games Gears Of War E-Day scheduled for a 2026 release - Gears Collection to be announced in June for PC/XSX/PS5 Tony Hawk 3+4 will be shadow dropped for PC, Xbox Series SIX and PS5 during the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase Gears of War Trilogy Collection will be announced as multiplatform, day one on PS5, remasters of all 3 games, crossplay between PS5/Xbox/PC Activision's Call of Duty: World at War and Singularity will arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May   T0kenAussie Member Jan 15, 2020 6,019 --R said: It's one part of my argument, yes. The other one is, simply, performance. I can see a 360 emulator working performance-wise, but this becomes way harder as you go up to One and Series. You require a lot more juice if you try to emulate a Series X. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Imo they probably take a middle ground and emulate a series s. The main thing it would be used for is establishing a pathways for bc games to live with your accounts on the Microsoft store Licensing is the real devil in the details I assume the last gen and this gen games would have wording in it about "Xbox devices and platforms" but the 360 and og catalogs wouldn't which makes me go hmmm at the full bc libraries being emulatable on a pc with no issues  Egida Member Oct 27, 2017 4,741 Sounds too good to be true, provided they can get a price and potency similar to the next Playstation, and if it has free online, it could really make me consider abandoning ps ecosystem.   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,548 P40L0 said: Which are the XSX console-exclusive games not natively available on PC anyway? I think the last ones were from Xbox One? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Your post literally says "An Xbox emulator for Windows (x64 architecture) is in development, allowing users to play their Xbox library on PC by emulating the console rather than running native PC ports of the games." T0kenAussie said: Imo they probably take a middle ground and emulate a series s. The main thing it would be used for is establishing a pathways for bc games to live with your accounts on the Microsoft store Licensing is the real devil in the details I assume the last gen and this gen games would have wording in it about "Xbox devices and platforms" but the 360 and og catalogs wouldn't which makes me go hmmm at the full bc libraries being emulatable on a pc with no issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... For real. I don't see how some of the third parties that agreed to bring the games back on BC would like to suddenly be on PC. That, or how would disc-only BC games work, because those still exist and they'd definitely not work. And now that I write this, yeah, how would disc-based games work on this?  Ruu Member Oct 28, 2017 1,310 My prediction before the Series X was announced was pretty much exactly this, guess I was just off by a generation. For real though, I think this is the only way I'd be interested in a new Xbox console. With all their games being everywhere there isn't much a reason I'd need an xbox. But if its basically a consolized PC I could see that being potentially worth it assuming its not like $1000. Though even then... A $1000 gaming pc might not be too bad. Basically I'd rather pay a lot for a pc than a dedicated console.   oni-link tag reference no one gets Member Oct 25, 2017 17,359 UK Paper Wario said: Some other recent eXtas1s rumor threads: eXtas1s sources say one function of the C button on Switch 2 is you can use the Switch 1 as a controller and/or screen for Switch 2 games Gears Of War E-Day scheduled for a 2026 release - Gears Collection to be announced in June for PC/XSX/PS5 Tony Hawk 3+4 will be shadow dropped for PC, Xbox Series SIX and PS5 during the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase Gears of War Trilogy Collection will be announced as multiplatform, day one on PS5, remasters of all 3 games, crossplay between PS5/Xbox/PC Activision's Call of Duty: World at War and Singularity will arrive on Xbox Game Pass in May Click to expand... Click to shrink... Have they gotten anything right? Are they always wrong or just wrong half the time? Lol 

Grapezard Member Nov 16, 2017 8,377 Round 1's vote was Entei (24.8 %) versus Raikou (14.3%) versus Suicune (60.9%). It was a Suicune sweep. Round 2 is cute vs. cool. The original vs. the copy. Mew - Cute - Elusive - The ancestor to all Pokemon (ish) - Lives under a truck Mewtwo - Edgelord - Built in a lab, destroyed said lab - Game Freak's special boy who got 2 mega evolutions   Shane M Avenger Jan 1, 2018 780 Thorold, Ontario, Canada Mew   Baphomet Member Dec 8, 2018 21,836 I love both but I like Mew more, simple but very cute design.   Falchion Member Oct 25, 2017 44,377 Easily Mew and especially shiny Mew.   TaySan SayTan Member Dec 10, 2018 36,640 Tulsa, Oklahoma Mew is more cute :D   Darryl M R The Spectacular PlayStation-Man Member Oct 25, 2017 10,582 Mew   SanTheSly The San Symphony Project Member Sep 2, 2019 8,074 United Kingdom Mewtwo is basically the first ever Superboss/Final Challenge/Best Weapon I ever experienced in an RPG in my life so I have to give it to the edgelord.   Zebesian-X Member Dec 3, 2018 25,277 Gotta be Mew. Such a simple, effective design. Combine that with how elusive and mysterious it felt (nobody I knew had a non-action replay mew), and you've got an easy winner   Stencil Mailing His Own Damn Business Member Oct 30, 2017 13,499 USA Mew. So iconic, the simplicity is a master class in character design. I have a Mew tattoo in the works.   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 123,929 Mew for sure   strait Member May 12, 2025 19 Grapezard said: - Built in a lab, destroyed said lab Click to expand... Click to shrink... Well, he never asked to be created and was going to be forced to be a tool of destruction.  Last edited: Today at 11:02 AM z_rgb Member May 23, 2024 25 A mean, 0 doubts. Mew. Because of everything.  Joe Member Oct 25, 2017 9,747 I still can't believe they've had the self-control not to go for a Mewthree. Anyway, Mew wins. Lives under a truck!  Zebesian-X Member Dec 3, 2018 25,277 Joe said: I still can't believe they've had the self-control not to go for a Mewthree. Anyway, Mew wins. Lives under a truck! Click to expand... Click to shrink... Pokemon Legends: MewThree is gonna sell 50 billion copies   RochHoch One Winged Slayer Member May 22, 2018 21,288 Voting for the Pokemon equivalent of Freeza   Saikyo Member Oct 25, 2017 2,540 Today, we are all Mewtwos   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 123,929 I love how Mew to this day is the most unbothered Pokémon ever   Mekanos ▲ Legend ▲ Member Oct 17, 2018 48,526 Mewtwo is my #3 favorite pokemon, and Mew isn't #1 or #2. Mew doesn't even chart.   Forerunner Resetufologist The Fallen Oct 30, 2017 18,757 Mewtwo GOAT Mew is lame  Ouroboros Member Oct 27, 2017 16,092 Mew is such a dork, I love it.   Dark Knight One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 21,310 I like Mew, they are a real cutie.   super-famicom Avenger Oct 26, 2017 30,500 I prefer Mew, but I like to think that Mewtwo needs a friend/family so I'll vote for them.   Scarlet Spider One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 6,130 Brooklyn, NY Mewtwo. Such a tragic powerhouse of a Pokémon.  Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 123,929 super-famicom said: I prefer Mew, but I like to think that Mewtwo needs a friend/family so I'll vote for them. Click to expand... Click to shrink... A vote isn't a friend or family tho :P  HiLife Avenger Oct 25, 2017 44,345 The cuter option always wins.   Phendrana Member Oct 26, 2017 7,911 Melbourne, Australia Hard choice. I would say I prefer the design of Mew, but it's really Mewtwo that makes both of them so iconic. In a vacuum Mew would honestly be a fairly standard (though very cute!) mythical Pokemon. It's Mewtwo's existence that adds this whole extra mythology and significance to the pair. And I don't think the inverse is true; Mewtwo would still be an incredible and pretty unique design amongst Legendaries even without its backstory and relation to Mew. I'll give it to the clone.  W1ckedEvoX Member Oct 27, 2017 397 You know that scene in Dragon Ball Super where SSBlue Vegeta is holding up SSRose Black by his hair?? Yea, Mew is Vegeta and Black is Mewtwo. Thats my answer lol.  Joe Member Oct 25, 2017 9,747 Phendrana said: Hard choice. I would say I prefer the design of Mew, but it's really Mewtwo that makes both of them so iconic. In a vacuum Mew would honestly be a fairly standard (though very cute!) mythical Pokemon. It's Mewtwo's existence that adds this whole extra mythology and significance to the pair. And I don't think the inverse is true; Mewtwo would still be an incredible and pretty unique design amongst Legendaries even without its backstory and relation to Mew. I'll give it to the clone. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah, I think this is a good point  Thornquist Member Jan 22, 2018 1,536 Norway Pokemon was always best before the anime retconning it all around "cuteness". Mewtwo all the way. Still the best legendary by a country mile.  Lady Bow Member Nov 30, 2017 11,799 Mewtwo has bars and the fits   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 123,929 Phendrana said: In a vacuum Mew would honestly be a fairly standard (though very cute!) mythical Pokemon Click to expand... Click to shrink... Mew would always still have the mystique of being the first Mythical plus the whole implied ancestor of all Pokémon lore, Mewtwo is definitely not required to find it intriguing  Vito One Winged Slayer - Formerly Undead Fantasy Member Oct 25, 2017 18,513 I love both but Mewtwo will always be my favorite Pokemon. W1ckedEvoX said: You know that scene in Dragon Ball Super where SSBlue Vegeta is holding up SSRose Black by his hair?? Yea, Mew is Vegeta and Black is Mewtwo. Thats my answer lol. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Lol. Funny you give this example because the very next episode, Black owns Vegeta.   closer Member Oct 25, 2017 5,556 mew is cooler but mewtwo is funnier   Red Hunter Member May 28, 2024 1,506 Mewtwo   Rustyspider13 Shinra Employee Member Nov 16, 2023 3,602 Mewtwo is the OG superboss for me.   Nike Dunk Member Apr 24, 2024 160 Edge forever, Mewtwo is that guy   steviestar3 One Winged Slayer Member Jul 3, 2018 5,441 I like both but Mew is really just a backstory element that exists to flesh out Mewtwo. It's good at that and it's a cool Pokemon in its own right but it doesn't compare to the full package of design/lore/gameplay integration that is Mewtwo in RBY.   W1ckedEvoX Member Oct 27, 2017 397 Vito said: I love both but Mewtwo will always be my favorite Pokemon. Lol. Funny you give this example because the very next episode, Black owns Vegeta. Click to expand... Click to shrink... LOL that is true! I shoulda elaborated more…that Mewtwo isn't an original and can't tap into the true potential blah blah lol Edit: need to point out I LOVE both of them tho  Corrupt Shinra Employee Member Oct 31, 2017 919 mewtwo but with his original armour on   xpownz ▲ Legend ▲ Member Feb 13, 2020 2,907 goddamn the results   J_Viper Member Oct 25, 2017 27,133 Beren One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 4,997 Mew is my favorite Pokémon, so Mew!   level Member May 25, 2023 1,367 Mew. Mewtwo is given this "badass" persona but Mew can kick its ass in a second.  Busaiku Teyvat Traveler Member Oct 25, 2017 17,881 Mew is cute, so them.   fontguy Avenger Oct 8, 2018 17,176 I feel Mewtwo would be the more dependable romantic partner.   A.M. Community Resettler Member Oct 25, 2017 1,221 Under a mountain of blankets. Send cute otters. The Mew card that you received with the movie ticket is still my favourite pokemon card. But I vote Mewtwo. He secluded himself to a cave and still, your ass barges in and disturbs him. Red is rude as hell.  the anbu master Member Apr 25, 2025 29 United Kingdom Mew: his personality in the first movie is adorable   King Alamat Member Nov 22, 2017 9,318 Mewtwo because I unironically think edgelord designs are peak.   Vidiot Member Oct 27, 2017 4,949 Mewtwo.   jokkir Member Oct 25, 2017 9,136 Mew. Lives under a truck and no one found him there yet  

Royal Navy 2025-05-17T13:15:23Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? A UK warship shot down a supersonic missile in what the Royal Navy called a "historic first." The HMS Dragon warship "obliterated" the missile in a test off the coast of Scotland. The Type 45 air defense destroyer is one of the UK's most advanced warships. One of the British Royal Navy's most advanced warships, the HMS Dragon, completed a "historic first" when it shot down a supersonic missile in a test off the coast of Scotland on Friday, the force said.The Type 45 air defense destroyer fired a modified Sea Viper missile and "obliterated" an "incoming high-speed target" that was designed to imitate some of the latest and most advanced threats facing the force around the world, the navy said in a press release.It added that it marked "the first time the Royal Navy has faced down this kind of target," which it said was "significantly more challenging as it flies faster and carries out corkscrew and weave manoeuvres."Footage shared by the Royal Navy on X shows the strike, which occurred as part of Exercise Formidable Shield 25, a large-scale NATO live-firing exercise taking place in Norway and the UK this year.Commander Iain Giffin, the commanding officer of the HMS Dragon, said the strike was "a huge moment" for the destroyer."Not only does it prove that Dragon's world leading air defence capability functions as it should following an extensive maintenance period, but it also proves our ability to integrate and operate alongside NATO allies and partners," he said. "Training alongside ships, aircraft and land forces from 11 nations in this complex, multi-domain exercise ensures that we maintain our fighting edge against evolving Hi and Low-tech threats." The HMS Dragon Type 45 air defense destroyer. Royal Navy The HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer and one of the UK's most advanced warships. It forms part of the Royal Navy's six "Daring Class" destroyers, which were custom-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile combat.With more than 200 crew, the vessel plays a key role in Britain's air defenses, using its Sea Viper missile system to seek out and neutralise threats. Dragon can also be deployed to provide assistance in disaster relief scenarios and counter-narcotics boarding operations.The UK has been testing out a range of new strike capabilities on its warships in recent years.In 2024, the UK's Ministry of Defence first showed off its new DragonFire laser weapon, with video footage showing it in action off the coast of Scotland.The laser directed energy weapon is a high-power, low-cost weapon system designed to target aerial threats with "pinpoint accuracy," according to the UK government.A UK Ministry of Defence official told Business Insider in March that it was planning to deploy the weapon on four Royal Navy destroyers by 2027. Recommended video

The year will kick off with the maiden voyage of New Glenn, a heavy-lift rocket built by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. Credit: Blue Origin Though 2025 won't mark the return of astronauts into deep space as NASA had hoped, launchpads still will be scorching-hot from a procession of robotic spacecraft attempting to land on the moon. How many of these moon landings will succeed? Will the number top the two-ish (one of which made a heckuva comeback) last year? Giant commercial rockets, such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn, will likely also have several uncrewed orbital test launches as they iron out the kinks in their hardware. And while people await scientific missions to distant solar system destinations, a few probes will send home close-up pictures of planets as they snag gravitational boosts from flybys.  You May Also Like Here's a round-up of space missions and cosmic events just around the bend. Bookmark this calendar and look for updates from Mashable throughout the year.  BepiColombo makes final Mercury flyby: Jan. 8Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, but it's perhaps the most overlooked of the rocky worlds in the solar system. Hot and harder to reach than Saturn, it hasn't enjoyed the level of study that other worlds have.But BepiColombo, a joint mission of the European and Japanese space agencies, seeks to change that. The spacecraft makes its sixth and final flyby on Jan. 8 before returning to enter orbit around the planet in late 2026. Closest approach will take the spacecraft just 160 miles above the surface of Mercury. Mission controllers will release images of the event on Jan. 9.Two moon landers on one rocket: Jan. 15Two small uncrewed spacecraft, one of which is carrying several NASA instruments, will try to land on the moon with a boost from the same rocket. Both Firefly Aerospace and Japan's ispace will ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket slated to leave Earth as early as 1:11 a.m. ET Jan. 15. Firefly's Blue Ghost lander was originally scheduled to lift off in late 2024, and the launch will mark its maiden voyage. The spacecraft is slated to travel for 45 days before trying to touch down in early March. Firefly's flight will be the first Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. The NASA program has recruited vendors from the private sector to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data.Ispace's new Hakuto-R mission will be its second try, after it ran out of fuel and crashed on the lunar surface in April 2023. The Resilience lander, a partnership with Japan's space agency JAXA, is taking a long way to the moon to save on fuel, arriving about four to five months after launch.Blue Origin's first flight for New Glenn: Jan. 16Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will soon get a chance to see his giant rocket New Glenn launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. His aerospace company Blue Origin started a countdown on Jan. 13, but launch controllers waved off the opportunity when a technical issue arose. The company will try again no earlier than Jan. 16, targeting a three-hour launch window that opens at 1 a.m. ET.Blue Origin's goal is to reach orbit, and the company will also try to land its booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean so that it can be reused on future flights, though executives admit doing so would be "ambitious" on the first try. SpaceX tests upgraded Starship: Jan. 16SpaceX is preparing to launch another uncrewed Starship test, this time with an upgraded spacecraft and 10 mock satellites to practice a payload deployment in space. This SpaceX launch would mark the seventh Starship test and feature a reused engine from the booster returned from the fifth test. Weather-related postponements have made it possible that Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn will lift off for these tests on the same day. Starship's one-hour launch window opens at 4:00 p.m. CT. NASA moon rover and orbiter delivery: Feb. 26Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first company to reach the moon intact — though its lander, Odysseus, broke a landing leg and touched down tilted. The Houston-based company is now gearing up for a second moon landing — this time with the Athena lander. The mission, referred to as IM-2 or PRIME-1, will carry a NASA rover. The spacecraft will test a drill and mass spectrometer, a device that identifies the kinds of particles in a substance. Liftoff is targeted for a four-day launch window that opens no earlier than 7:02 p.m. ET Feb. 26.Another spacecraft, NASA's Lunar Trailblazer, will also hitch a ride on this flight. The small satellite will orbit the moon to map out the locations of lunar water. Europa Clipper flies by Mars: March 1After a successful October 2024 launch, the Europa Clipper spacecraft has been hurtling through space. It's on schedule to make its first flyby of Mars on March 1, where it will get a gravity assist to continue its journey. Its closest approach to the Red Planet is expected at 12:57 p.m. ET, when it will zip 550 miles above the Martian surface. The probe won't arrive at Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, for its mission until 2030. Scientists are intrigued by Europa because they believe it could hold double the water held by Earth's oceans. Could this small world in the outer solar system have conditions capable of supporting life? If NASA finds that Europa is a habitable place, a second Europa mission could return to determine if there are indeed any inhabitants. Firefly attempts moon landing: March 2Following a successful launch in January, Firefly Aerospace will target a robotic landing in the Mare Crisium region of the moon, an ancient hardened lava flow, no earlier than 2:34 a.m. CT on March 2. Prior to descent onto the surface, NASA and Firefly intend to broadcast commentary, starting at 1:20 a.m. CT that morning. However, the broadcast will not include a live video stream of the spacecraft."Our available bandwidth will be dedicated to critical descent operations during landing," Firefly officials said on X, formerly called Twitter. Landing on the moon remains onerous. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot. Blue Ghost shared a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Japanese company ispace, which will try to land on the moon after a failed attempt in 2023. Its Resilience lander is taking a longer route than Blue Ghost to save on fuel, arriving in May or June.  Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Intuitive Machines attempts moon landing: March 6On the heels of Firefly Aerospace's moon landing attempt, competitor space company Intuitive Machines will try to touch down just four days later. The landing is slated for 11:32 a.m. CT on March 6. Intuitive Machines will provide live event coverage, starting at 10:30 a.m. CT / 11:30 a.m. ET. The company's lander, Athena, will attempt to descend on Mons Mouton, a plateau at the moon's south pole. Before landing, the spacecraft is expected to orbit the moon for about one week. SpaceX tests Starship following explosion: March 6Coming off the heels of a Starship test that ended in an explosion and a scrubbed launch on March 3, SpaceX will try to fly the rocket and empty spacecraft again as early as 5:30 p.m. CT March 6. The upcoming launch will be the eighth for Starship and feature several hardware changes following January's mishap. During the previous test, two flashes occurred near one of the ship's engines shortly after booster separation. A post-flight investigation determined that strong vibrations led to fuel leaks that were too much for the ship's vents to handle, leading to fires that eventually triggered the flight termination system. Launch of new astrophysics observatory: March 11NASA intends to launch an astrophysics observatory to create a map of the entire sky in 3D. The mission, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), will orbit Earth while studying hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies, showing them in 102 invisible "colors." One of the main goals of the mission is to learn more about cosmic inflation, a brief but crucial phase of the Big Bang that contributed to the universe's expansion. It will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as early as 11:10 p.m. ET on March 11. Live launch coverage will begin at 10:15 p.m. ET. NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) probe is hitching a ride on the same rocket and will be the first to image the sun’s corona and solar wind together to better understand them as a connected system.  European spacecraft Hera flies by Mars: March 12Back in 2022, NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into a harmless asteroid to practice thwarting a space rock, should a hazardous one ever be on a collision course with Earth. The European Space Agency is providing a follow-up to that test, known as Hera. The mission's spacecraft launched in October 2024 and will rendezvous with Dimorphos, the slammed asteroid, in 2026. But this March, it will also have a quick pop-in with Mars, closest approach at 7:51 a.m. ET, and one of the Red Planet's two moons, Deimos. Mission controllers will use the opportunity to collect data on the Martian moon. The agency plans to host a webcast image release from the flyby at 6:50 a.m. ET the next day, March 13.Boeing astronaut crew returns home: March 18Two astronauts whose eight-day visit to the International Space Station turned into a more than eight-month layover are expected to return to Earth in March. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been waiting for their ride since the space agency decided not to send them home on the spaceship they rode in on. That test vehicle, Boeing's Starliner, landed empty without any problems, but NASA hadn't wanted to risk it after the capsule experienced propulsion issues in space. The pair was supposed to return in a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February, but NASA announced at the end of 2024 that the flight would likely be pushed back to March. Wilmore and Williams, who were integrated into Crew-9, will fly back to Earth after the next crew arrives at the space station, allowing for a brief hand-off period. Crew-10 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on March 14. Due to weather concerns later in the week, NASA has decided to move up the Crew-9 return. Their spaceship is expected to undock at 1:05 a.m. ET on March 18. A splashdown landing would follow at about 5:57 p.m. ET that evening. Katy Perry and others head to space: April 14Blue Origin will send an all-female crew to the edge of space in its next civilian astronaut mission. The flight will be the eleventh carrying passengers on the New Shepard rocket to the Kármán line, where Earth's atmosphere and outer space meet.Katy Perry, CBS Mornings' Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez will join former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics scientist and social activist Amanda Nguyen, and fashion designer-turned-film producer Kerianne Flynn on the trip. The NS-31 mission will target liftoff from the company's private West Texas launch pad at 8:30 a.m. CT / 9:30 a.m. ET on April 14. Check back here for details about the webcast as the launch approaches. Lucy spacecraft flies by asteroid: April 20NASA launched the Lucy spacecraft on a grand 12-year asteroid tour last fall with plans to fly by several space rocks that share Jupiter’s orbit. On April 20, Lucy will encounter a small main-belt asteroid, Donaldjohanson, as a sort of test sequence before it visits seven Trojan asteroids. The asteroid, called DJ for short, is only 2.5 miles wide, with an extremely slow rotation that takes more than 10 days to complete. Peak of Lyrids meteor shower: April 21-22Meteor showers happen every year or at regular intervals as Earth passes through the dusty wake of previous comets. Each time a comet zips through the inner solar system, the sun boils off some of its surface, leaving behind a trail of debris. When the planet intersects with the old comet detritus, the result can be a spectacular show, with sometimes up to hundreds of meteors visible per hour. The debris that creates the Lyrid meteor shower originates from comet Thatcher. The Lyrids, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, will be active from April 17 to 26. Related Stories Peak of Eta Aquariids meteor shower: May 3-4The Eta Aquariids meteor shower, best viewed from the southern tropics, produces strong "persistent trains" of shooting stars. The shower is the first of two each year created by Halley's Comet debris. The celestial event will be active from April 20 to May 21.Twin spacecraft go to Mars: no earlier than springA NASA-funded science mission seeks to get to the bottom of how solar radiation strips away the tattered Martian atmosphere. Called Escapade, the mission will involve two Mars orbiters built by Rocket Lab.The flight was previously scheduled for October aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which would have been its first launch. But, as rockets are wont to do, the inaugural flight was delayed. NASA and Blue Origin are now in talks for a new launch date for that mission, no earlier than spring 2025.Japanese company tries moon landing: June 5After a failed attempt in April 2023, Japan's ispace will try to land an uncrewed robotic spacecraft on the moon and deliver a rover to its surface. The Hakuto-R mission is gearing up for a landing near the center of Mare Frigoris at 3:24 p.m. ET on June 5 (It will be June 6 for Japan). Livestream coverage will begin about one hour earlier, at 2:15 p.m. ET, with English translation. If conditions change, the company has identified three other potential sites for its lander, dubbed Resilience. The alternative locations have different landing dates and times. Private astronauts fly to ISS: June 8Private astronauts will launch to the International Space Station for Axiom Space's fourth mission. Four crew members will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as early as 9:11 a.m. ET on June 8. The commercial space company has said this mission will consist of about 60 scientific studies on the effects of spaceflight on the body and how to improve health and medical treatments on Earth.When Axiom flew its first private mission in 2022, it redefined the word "astronaut." For decades, that title was reserved for government space pilots and crew. More recently, uber-rich space tourists earned the distinction by breaching Earth's atmosphere. But with Axiom's private mission came a third possible description: Someone privately trained and sent into space to perform commercial scientific research. Axiom crews receive 750 to over 1,000 hours of training. Peak of Delta Aquariids meteor shower: July 29-30The Delta Aquariids are another shower best observed from the southern tropics. Conditions will be favorable for viewing meteors in the morning. Astronomers suspect the interacting debris causing the event came from the strange Comet Machholz. The event will be active from July 18 to Aug. 12. Peak of Perseids meteor shower: Aug. 12-13 Perseids meteors streak across the sky over Bishop, California, in 2024. Credit: NASA / Preston Dyches The popular Perseids, made up of remnants of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, is usually a spectacular show for the Northern Hemisphere. The meteor shower is active from July 17 to Aug. 23. But don't get your hopes up this year: Experts say the waning gibbous moon, more than 80 percent full, will allow only the brightest meteors to be seen. Europe's Juice spacecraft flies by Venus: Aug. 31The European Space Agency's so-called Juice mission is scheduled to fly by Venus on Aug. 31, though exact times and distances will be determined closer to the event. "Juice" is a wonky acronym for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer.The mission will study Jupiter's moons, including Europa, Callisto, and particularly Ganymede. These moons have intrigued scientists for years because they're thought to have liquid oceans trapped beneath icy shells. Before reaching Jupiter, the spacecraft will make flybys of Earth and Venus to get enough energy to slingshot to the outer solar system, reaching Jupiter in 2031.Astrobotic attempts moon landing, again: fall Astrobotic Technologies tried to become the first commercial company to land on the moon last year, but it lost its chance just a few hours into the flight because of a fuel leak. The company will try again this fall with its Griffin lander. Originally, this mission was supposed to carry a NASA rover to drill for ice at the lunar south pole. But VIPER — short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover — was canceled due to cost overruns. Griffin will still launch without the rover as a flight demonstration of the lander and engines.Peak of Orionid meteor shower: Oct. 22-23The Orionids meteor shower marks the return of activity caused by Halley's Comet debris. In recent years, the displays have been pretty lackluster, but a waning crescent moon rising near dawn means moonlight won't obscure the shower in 2025. The celestial event will run from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12.Peak of Southern Taurids meteor shower: Nov. 3-4The Southern Taurids make up a complex meteor shower. Usually, the displays are weak, but Taurid meteors are more numerous sometimes. Known as a "swarm year," 2025's event could offer more fireballs as Earth plows through a group of pebble-sized fragments from the Comet Encke. But given the moon's phase, there's a good chance moonlight will interfere with viewing most Taurids. Activity will go from Oct. 13 to Nov. 27.  A Dream Chaser spaceplane, Tenacity, is expected to launch to the International Space Station in 2025. Credit: Sierra Space Peak of the Leonids meteor shower: Nov. 16-17The Leonids are some of the fastest-moving meteors, traveling up to 44 miles per second. The debris that causes the show comes from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, but the displays are usually pretty weak. The exceptions are years when the showers become so-called "meteor storms," but that won't likely happen again until perhaps 2035. The shower will be active from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. Peak of Geminids meteor shower: Dec. 12-13Widely regarded as the best meteor shower of the year, the Geminids can be seen from most any part of the world, especially the Northern Hemisphere. The Geminids are denser meteors, allowing stargazers to see them as low as 29 miles above ground before the cosmic dust burns up. The shower will be active between Dec. 1 and 21.This year the moon will have a waning crescent phase, which rises around 2 a.m. local time. Prior to that, views should be moon-free. You could glimpse bright meteors by facing a direction with the moon at your back, according to the American Meteor Society.Peak of Ursids meteor shower: Dec. 21-22The Ursid meteors are caused by debris from Tuttle's Comet, which orbits every 13 years. This shower, often overlooked because of its close timing to Christmas, can only be observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Because of a new moon at the shower's peak, moonlight won't interfere with the show. The event will be active from Dec. 16 to 26. Other possible missions in 2025Sierra Space has been working on a spacecraft with the nostalgia of NASA's space shuttle program. Dream Chaser, a cargo space plane capable of runway landings, is set to launch for the first time to the ISS for a resupply mission sometime this year. Following Intuitive Machines' second mission in early 2025, the company will shoot for another later in 2025 or early in 2026. If successful, the lunar landing mission, IM-3 or PRISM, will deploy rovers and study a so-called "lunar swirl."NASA is teaming up with India's space agency on a mission to study Earth's land and ice, involving the NISAR satellite, which will scan all of the planet's surfaces twice every 12 days to measure changes. The satellite will launch from the Indian Space Research Organisation's space port, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, on India's southeastern coast. It was supposed to liftoff this spring, but neither agency has provided an update on the mission's status. Topics NASA Elisha Sauers Elisha Sauers writes about space for Mashable, taking deep dives into NASA's moon and Mars missions, chatting up astronauts and history-making discoverers, and jetting above the clouds. Through 17 years of reporting, she's covered a variety of topics, including health, business, and government, with a penchant for public records requests. She previously worked for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, and The Capital in Annapolis, Maryland. Her work has earned numerous state awards, including the Virginia Press Association's top honor, Best in Show, and national recognition for narrative storytelling. For each year she has covered space, Sauers has won National Headliner Awards, including first place for her Sex in Space series. Send space tips and story ideas to [email protected] or text 443-684-2489. Follow her on X at @elishasauers.

May 14, 20254 min readRemember VIPER, NASA’s Off-Again, On-Again Lunar Rover? It’s Still in LimboNASA’s nearly complete yet canceled lunar rover VIPER isn’t going to get carried to the moon by a private space exploration company—but it’s also not quite dead yetBy Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna BrynerNASA's VIPER, or the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, can be seen in this artist's impression. Geopix/Alamy Stock PhotoThe only consistent thing about NASA’s VIPER lunar rover is that the road to the moon has been a rocky one. And now the space agency has nixed its attempt to find a commercial partner to launch VIPER moonward, leaving the nearly complete little space vehicle in a continued state of limbo.VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Explorer Rover) was intended to launch this year to explore the lunar south pole in search of buried ice and other chemical compounds. But NASA canceled it in July 2024 after delays led to cost overruns. This is the second time NASA has nixed a lunar rover mission in recent years, says Philip Metzger, a planetary physicist at the University of Central Florida (UCF). In 2018 NASA axed the Resource Prospector rover, which would have done similar exploration.In January NASA raised hopes that VIPER might somehow still see space when it put out a call for proposals for private aerospace companies to launch and operate the rover. On May 7, however, NASA canceled that call for proposals.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The agency says it is exploring new strategies for VIPER in the future.“We look forward to accomplishing future volatiles science with VIPER as we continue NASA’s Moon to Mars exploration efforts,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in a recent statement.Why can’t VIPER get off the ground? The rover’s budget problems started with supply chain disruptions during the COVID pandemic, says Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at the Planetary Society. It was also slated to launch on a platform built by aerospace company Astrobotic, which failed its first landing of a scaled-down version of that platformThe mission was unusually far along when NASA pulled the plug: the rover was fully assembled and was in the final stages of testing for a launch. By that point, NASA had sunk nearly $800 million into its construction and the contract with Astrobotic.It’s not clear why NASA has been unable to find a private partner to launch the rover, but such a company would have assumed the costs of the mission and agreed to share the data freely with the space agency. That made for a tough business case for private companies, SpaceNews reported earlier this month.What kind of science was VIPER supposed to do?The 2.5-meter-tall rover was designed to search for resources such as water ice, carbon dioxide and helium in the lunar subsurface. The goal, says Clive Neal, a lunar expert at the University of Notre Dame, is to find resources that humans could use to establish a permanent research base on the moon. The data on where such volatiles might be and whether they’re accessible and extractable are crucial for the Artemis program’s plans for long-term human presence on the moon.The rover carries four instruments: a neutron spectrometer to detect water as deep as a meter below the surface, a near-infrared spectrometer to determine the makeup of samples, a mass spectrometer to analyze gases in the environment at touchdown and a drill called TRIDENT (The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains). The drill is one of VIPER’s blockbuster features, designed to pull samples from up to a meter deep.The cancelation of VIPER, after 2018’s loss of Resource Prospector, is short-sighted, given NASA’s goals, Neal says. “Is NASA actually serious about getting humans back to the moon?” he says. “Are they actually serious about enacting our current space policy? Have they actually read it?”VIPER could also answer basic science questions about the origin of the water on the moon, says UCF’s Metzger. It may have been part of the lunar core from the moment of its formation, or the water could have arrived with planetary dust or large impactors over time, among other possibilities. “Understanding those processes is crucial for understanding our solar system,” Metzger says. The answers could reveal more about how common water-rich bodies are in the galaxy and how many planets or moons might host life.What’s next for VIPER?That’s the big question. Until NASA releases more details on potential future partnership structures, the project remains in a state of suspended animation.“I don’t know what to make of it because there is so little information,” Dreier says.It’s possible NASA could reopen negotiations with Astrobotic, the company that was originally going to launch the rover, Neal says. Or, Metzger suggests, the agency might be seeking international partners that could take on some of the operational costs.There are no other U.S. missions on the horizon with the drilling capabilities of VIPER. If the rover doesn’t find a way to the moon, Neal says, two other lunar explorers from China could pick up the banner of volatiles science: Chang’e 7 and 8.As uncertain as things are looking for VIPER, though, it’s an optimistic sign that NASA hasn’t dropped the rover outright, Dreier says, given that the White House has proposed a 50 percent cut to NASA’s science programs and a more than 20 percent cut to the agency overall in 2026. “If it’s not openly identified as being canceled,” Dreier says, “you are winning as a NASA science mission right now.”

Helldivers 2's Illuminate faction unleashes deadly new enemy terrors as latest update lands Plus new Warbond coming soon. Image credit: Eurogamer/Arrowhead Game Studios News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on May 13, 2025 It's all go on the Illuminate front in Helldivers 2, with the co-op sci-fi shooter's powerful third faction having now set a course for Super Earth - and it's bringing "new terrors" along too. All this arrives as part of Helldivers 2's latest update which - in lore terms at least - sees the squid-like Iluminate emerging from the Meridian singularity in order to bring the never-ending fight for Democracy to Super Earth itself. In more specific terms, that means a wave of brand-new Illuminate enemies. There's the Stingray - jetfighters that unleash devastating strafing runs from above - and the Crescent Overseer, which "has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover". Helldivers 2 - Galactic Emergency trailer.Watch on YouTube Worse still are the Fleshmob; failed Illuminate experiments assembled from Voteless parts and let loose on the battlefield. Developer Arrowhead is also teasing "even larger ships", but is leaving players to discover these on their own. Elsewhere, Arrowhead has introduced a new load-out customisation feature it says will work with "the bulk of" Helldivers 2's weapon offerings. "Most primary weapons now have levels that are achievable by completing missions," it explains on the PlayStation Blog, "which then in turn unlock new attachments obtainable through Requisition." Players can also unlock patterns and apply them to their weapons, and a variety of patterns tied to previous Warbonds - specifically Viper Commandos, Freedom's Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds - will be made available on 15th May. That's the same day the new Masters of Ceremony Warbond arrives. And finally for Helldivers 2's latest update, item rotation has been removed from the Superstore, meaning players can purchase any item they want anytime they want, no waiting required. It launches today on PS5 and PC.

Helldivers 2 received an unexpected update with new weapon customizations and more enemy types, just in time for the Illuminate to come roaring out of a black hole with their sights set on Super Earth. “In a sudden, completely unprovoked offensive, they emerged. Nothing is safe, not even the heart of democracy itself,” the announcer shouts, exaggerated gravitas in his voice. “Liberty’s darkest hour approaches. Super Earth needs you.” The update lands with all of the tongue-in-cheek humor that Helldivers 2 brings to the table, but it also introduces new Illuminate enemy types, including the jetfighter-like Stingray and the Crescent Overseer, a foe that can launch attacks over cover. Then there’s the Fleshmob, described as “a Frankenstein’s monster of Voteless parts” that is reminiscent of Flood Carriers from Halo. The PlayStation Blog post hints at other, as-yet-unannounced enemies. Recommended Videos Helldivers can now customize their weapons, too. Most primary weapons have levels that can be raised by completing specific missions, and players can unlock different attachments that tweak everything from handling to ammo capacity. The update allows players to fine-tune their favorite gun to suit their playstyle by adjusting stats like recoil, reload time, and more. There are also new skins to pick from for each weapon, too. Helldiver 2‘s Superstore is also getting a boost. You don’t have to wait for things to come back into rotation; instead, you can browse through the entire library of items and purchase the ones you want with Super Credits, the game’s premium currency (but it can also be found in missions, so you don’t have to spend any realm money.) Related Finally, the update also tosses in a few new patterns for the Fast Recon Vehicle in several existing Warbonds, including Viper Commandos, Freedom’s Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers. The patterns unlock on May 15, coinciding with the launch of the new Masters of Ceremony Warbond.