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What is Grok: This chatbot is brimming with attitude What is Grok: This chatbot is brimming with attitude Created by Elon Musk’s startup xAI, Grok is an AI chatbot that seeks to differentiate itself from its competitors by being more than happy to answer “spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems.” As a result, it’s often sassy, snarky and sarcastic, injecting humour into conversations. It’s also unfiltered which has proven rather controversial – but then it does largely reside within X which is much more of a free-for-all these days. Let’s check it out. This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries. Try out Grok We’ve rounded up the best AI tools – ChatGPT, DeepL, Midjourney, and more What is Grok? Originally set to be called TruthGPT, Grok was initially released by xAI in November 2023 as a feature usable by Premium+ users of X. It’s since been made available to all and it’s becoming well known for adopting an edgier approach to its chats. And while it’s very much integrated within X, it’s also been stepping out of the social media bubble in recent times with its own app. It’s certainly become one to watch. As with rivals, it makes use of a large language model but, in this instance, it’s also draws upon the millions of posts on X (as well as data pulled from Tesla). It uses those posts for training and, crucially, to help provide answers to all manner of questions. Grok can access web pages too, which allows it to stay abreast of current affairs. (Image credit: xAI) What can you use Grok for? Since it’s a chatbot, Grok is able to answer questions on just about any topic. You can request all manner of things from recipes and code to news summaries and recommendations. You can also use it to analyze PDFs and images, summarize texts and check out the latest trends. The chatbot can get personal. It will draw upon your own tweets and work out your interests – great for, say, generating book and podcast recommendations but it may make you a little wary about privacy. There’s a “roast me” feature too which again draws on your interests to make you the butt of a host of jokes – great if that’s your thing. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Grok lets you create images using a video model called Aurora. It’s capable of generating photorealistic images and there are no restrictions on using real-life people or characters. This has already led to deepfakes featuring the likes of Taylor Swift, Donald Trump and Mickey Mouse. It will draw the line at fully nude images, though. What can’t you use Grok for? Grok is mainly embedded within Twitter and while it’s beginning to branch out a bit, it’s not yet being widely integrated into other apps – you can’t call upon it with a word processor app such as Word or Pages, for instance. Grok’s personality and unfiltered answers also make it relatively unsuitable for business or educational use – its potential for causing offence can also be off-putting. And while you will see citations when Grok draws upon a particular source, the service has been known for sharing misinformation. How much does Grok cost? Grok has a free tier and it allows you to make 10 requests every couple of hours along with four image generations and three image analyses. If you subscribe to the Premium and Premium+ tiers of X, however, there are no limitations to how you use Grok. A Premium subscription costs $8 / £8/ AU$13 each month while Premium+ is $22 / £17/ AU$35 each month – which one you opt for will depend on how you intend to use X as a whole. For example, Premium+ gives you early access to newer versions of Grok. Where can you use Grok? Grok is available by clicking Grok in X‘s menu and also directly from a post – if you select the Grok logo on a post, Grok will lend some context and allow you to start asking questions based on it. Grok also has a standalone website at grok.com and there are apps for iOS and Android. (Image credit: xAI) Is Grok any good? Grok is particularly good at keeping you up to date with current trends and goings on – being integrated with X and having web access means it’s a rather decent search engine. It has good general knowledge and it’s certainly good at drawing on your interests to create relevant answers. Whether or not you like your X posts feeding Grok’s large language model is another question. Grok’s image generation capabilities are exceptional so long as you don’t start pushing the boundaries of taste. Grok has humour too and while it may not be to everyone’s liking, it does at least lend personality. Its coding abilities are on a par with GPT-3.5 and the whole package shows promise. Grok 3 (currently only for Premium+ subscribers) is taking everything to another level too so it’ll be interesting to see where this AI chatbot goes. Use Grok if… You should use Grok if you want an AI that can react quickly to real-time topics and be reflective of internet culture and trends. You’ll also use Grok if you’re looking for AI to generate images that involve people including yourself because the results are great. Grok is also useful if you simply desire an AI that doesn’t take life seriously – it’s fun and unfiltered. But is that always a good thing? Don’t use Grok if… You want an AI for work or for education – it’s unfiltered nature means it’s not always suitable. Don’t use Grok if you want to produce deepfakes either – yes, it can produce them but that doesn’t mean you should (ok, preachy preachy). Don’t use Grok if you want app integration either – for that, the likes of Copilot and Apple Intelligence make more sense. Also consider ChatGPT does much of what Grok achieves other than being entirely up-to-date but if that doesn’t matter then you’ll find this one does a very professional job. Flux AI is also great at generating images in multiple styles using natural language descriptions. Want to read more about Grok? Source link #Grok #chatbot #brimming #attitude Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tee Higgins seems to take issue with Bengals' claim that they intend to sign him to long-term deal – NBC Sports Tee Higgins seems to take issue with Bengals' claim that they intend to sign him to long-term deal – NBC Sports Tee Higgins seems to take issue with Bengals’ claim that they intend to sign him to long-term deal NBC SportsBengals plan to make WR Chase top paid non-QB ESPNDuke Tobin Speaks at 2025 NFL Scouting Combine | PRESS CONFERENCE Bengals.comTee Higgins calls cap after Bengals exec says he’s ‘optimistic’ about WR returning to Cincinnati Yahoo SportsTee Higgins tweets blue cap emoji, sparking speculation from Cincinnati Bengals’ fans The Cincinnati Enquirer Source link #Tee #Higgins #issue #Bengals039 #claim #intend #sign #longterm #deal #NBC #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Your next Android phone could get up to eight years of software updates – but there are catches Your next Android phone could get up to eight years of software updates – but there are catches Phones running the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip can get up to eight years of software support. This will extend to future Android phones running Qualcomm chips. However, will anyone actually use a phone for eight years? We’re not so sure. More and more Android phones could come with longer software and security support, thanks to a partnership between Google and Qualcomm. The crux of this partnership means that the two companies will aim to extend software and security support for devices running Snapdragon chips to up to eight years of consecutive updates. The first phones that’ll fall into this initiative will be ones that sport the flagship-grade Snapdragon Elite 8 chipsets, with the partnership set to cover the next five generations of Qualcomm chips. “What this means is that support for platform software included in this program will be made available to OEMs for eight consecutive years, including both Android OS and kernel upgrades, without requiring significant changes or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the device,” explained Qualcomm, noting: “This software support can lower costs for OEMs interested in supporting their devices longer and can show consumers the advantages of Snapdragon mobile processors and software support.” In a nutshell, this move should help extend the longevity of Android smartphones. Given that, in general, phones have become so iterative in the new features they offer and in how much of a step up they offer over their predecessors, there’s more scope for people to hold onto their phones for longer. A lack of software and security support did stymie this somewhat, but with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and Google Pixel 9 already offering seven years plus of support, such a problem could be consigned to the virtual bone orchard. However, there are two ‘buts’ to this situation. The first is it’s ultimately up to phone manufacturers to decide how they implement software support, with some still lagging behind and even OnePlus acknowledging that it doesn’t feel the need to provide more than four years of software support. The second builds upon that latter point, in that eight years is an age for a smartphone, with a lithium-ion battery likely to have worn out in that time and struggling to hold a decent charge for a phone unless it gets replaced, and software advancements like baked-in AI features tend to demand more powerful chips. So it’s unlikely that a smartphone will last most people eight years unless they use it very sparingly and have no interest in the latest software features. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Nevertheless, at a time when there’s concern over electronic waste and the environmental impact of technology, this partnership between Google and Qualcomm is a positive step forward in making smartphones more sustainable, as it certainly doesn’t look like the world’s appetite for them is going away anytime soon. Speaking of which, check out our roundup of the best phones if you’re in the market for a new device. You might also like Source link #Android #phone #years #software #updates #catches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Bernstein upgrades Alibaba thanks to AI, calls for shares to rally more than 20% Bernstein upgrades Alibaba thanks to AI, calls for shares to rally more than 20% Optimism around artificial intelligence could mean big gains in Alibaba shares, according to Bernstein. The firm upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform and hiked its price target by $61 to $165. That new target implies 23.1% upside potential as of Tuesday’s close. Shares of the ******** e-commerce giant have soared more than 50% over the past month since ******** startup Deepseek low-cost, open-source model rattled U.S. tech stocks in January by raising fears around competition and spending in the artificial intelligence space. On Wednesday, shares rose more than 4% in the premarket after the company announced that it’s made its video generation AI models free to use – or open source, like DeepSeek’s. BABA 1D mountain BABA, 1-day Analyst Robin Zhu only sees positive sentiment around the technology continuing to translate to growth for Alibaba. That view also comes on the heels of the company’s strong fourth-quarter results last week, which sent shares soaring. “While last week felt like a local maximum for AI sentiment, the combination of more gainful capital allocation (AI infrastructure over chasing Temu in global markets), a better industry structure for AI than legacy cloud, and possible spill-over effects of an AI capex ***** in China makes us feel Alibaba’s earnings could now be on a more upwardly-pointing trajectory,” the analyst wrote in a Wednesday note. “Risk-reward skews positive in our view, as the details around Alibaba’s AI growth are fleshed out in the next couple quarters, and as the market moves towards FY3/27E-based valuations,” Zhu also said. The analyst added that he expects the first two quarters of 2025 to show “meaningful” acceleration in revenue for Alicloud – the company’s cloud computing unit. He also said he anticipates investors will buy the dips as more details around AI growth are made known. Zhu’s rating joins most analysts on Wall Street with a bullish view on Alibaba. In all, 39 out of 44 analysts have a strong buy or buy rating, while the remaining five have taken a neutral stance, per LSEG. The stock also has a consensus target of $150, which implies 12.1% upside from Tuesday’s close. Source link #Bernstein #upgrades #Alibaba #calls #shares #rally Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Apple AI tool transcribed the word ‘racist’ as ‘Trump’ Apple AI tool transcribed the word ‘racist’ as ‘Trump’ Apple says it is working to fix its speech-to-text tool after some social media users found that when they spoke the word “racist” into their iPhones it typed it out as “Trump.” The tech giant has suggested the issue with its Dictation service has been caused by a problem it has distinguishing between words with an “r” in them. “We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation and we are rolling out a fix today,” an Apple spokesperson said. However an expert in speech recognition told the BBC this explanation was “just not plausible.” Peter Bell, professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, said it was more likely that someone had altered the underlying software that the tool used. Videos shared online show people speaking the word “racist” into the Dictation tool. Sometimes it is transcribed correctly – but on other occasions it is turned into “Trump”, before being quickly restored to the correct word. The BBC has not been able to replicate the mistake, suggesting Apple’s fix is already taking effect. Prof Bell said Apple’s explanation of phonetic overlap did not make sense because the two words were not similar enough to confuse an artificial intelligence (AI) system. Speech-to-text recognition models are trained by inputting clips of real people speaking alongside an accurate transcript of what they say. They are also taught to understand words in context – for example, they could distinguish the word “cup” from “cut” if it was within the phrase “a cup of tea”. Prof Bell says the situation with Apple is unlikely to be a genuine mistake with its data because its English language model would be trained on hundreds of thousands of hours of speech, which should give it a high level of accuracy. For “less well-resourced languages” he said it could be an AI training issue. But he said in this case: “it probably points to somebody that’s got access to the process.” A former Apple employee who worked on its AI assistant Siri told the New York Times: “This smells like a serious prank.” Apple had to row back on another AI-powered feature last month after complaints from the BBC and other news organisations. It suspended its AI summaries of news headlines after it displayed false notifications on stories – including one where it said tennis player Rafael Nadal had come out as gay. The company announced yesterday it would be investing $500bn (£395bn) in the US over the next four year, including on a large data centre in Texas to power Apple Intelligence. The company’s chief executive Tim Cook also said it may have to change its policies on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) after President Donald Trump has called for an end to DEI programmes. Source link #Apple #tool #transcribed #word #racist #Trump Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Marvel Snap shakes things up with the new Sanctum Showdown mode Marvel Snap shakes things up with the new Sanctum Showdown mode New Sanctum Showdown mode brings a new way to compete with fresh snapping mechanics First to 16 points wins The new mode is available until March 11th Can you rise to the rank of the Sorcerer Supreme? A new limited-time mode called Sanctum Showdown has just gone live in Marvel Snap and it’s here for the next two weeks. This event brings a fresh way to compete, introducing a different win condition, a special Sanctum location, and brand-new mechanics for snapping. In Marvel Snap’s Sanctum Showdown mode, instead of playing until turn six, victory goes to whoever reaches 16 points first. The Sanctum location plays a central role, awarding the most points each turn. Snapping also works differently here. Starting on turn three, you can snap once per turn to increase the Sanctum’s value by one point, ensuring that the momentum is always shifting. Entering a match costs one Scroll, but winning earns you another, keeping the action going. You start with 12 Scrolls and get two more every eight hours. If you run out, you can purchase more for 40 Gold. No matter the outcome, every match adds to your Sorcerer Rank and earns Charms, which can be used in the Sanctum Shop for cosmetics or new cards. Have you already thought of a plan and decided to use Captain Marvel or Dracula to turn the tide in your favour? Well, that’s not going to work because some cards and locations are banned in this mode to keep the matches fair. Abilities that interact with final outcomes won’t work here. Other cards, including Debrii, have also been removed to prevent one-sided strategies. Build the perfect deck for this challenge by using our Marvel Snap tier list! If cards like Laufey, Gorgon, and Uncle Ben are on your radar, Sanctum Showdown is your only way to get them before they hit the Token Shop on March 13th. Portal Pulls give you a chance to unlock them for free, along with up to four Series 4 or 5 cards. Sanctum Showdown will be available in Marvel Snap until March 11th. Visit the official website for more information. Source link #Marvel #Snap #shakes #Sanctum #Showdown #mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Thomas Tuchel appoints Brentford coach Justin Cochrane to England backroom staff Thomas Tuchel appoints Brentford coach Justin Cochrane to England backroom staff Brentford first-team coach Justin Cochrane has joined Thomas Tuchel’s England backroom staff. The 43-year-old will continue in his role at the Bees alongside working with the Three Lions. The likes of Noni Madueke, 22, and 20-year-olds Lewis Hall and Rico Lewis – who are now all full England internationals – have been coached by Cochrane, having played under him during his time as manager of England Under-15s, Under-16s and Under-17s. “This is a really exciting opportunity for me and I’m extremely grateful to Brentford for allowing me to take on this role,” said Cochrane. “Most of all, I’m looking forward to helping this very talented group achieve its goals.” Cochrane, a former Antigua and Barbuda international, started his coaching career with Tottenham before joining Manchester United as the head of player development and coaching of the club’s academy. He joined Brentford in 2022, a year after the Bees’ promotion to the Premier League. Cochrane is the latest appointment to Tuchel’s backroom staff, with assistant Anthony Barry, goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario and performance coach Nicolas Mayer already in place. Tuchel’s first game in charge of England will be on 21 March, when the Three Lions host Albania at Wembley. Source link #Thomas #Tuchel #appoints #Brentford #coach #Justin #Cochrane #England #backroom #staff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is WWE 2K25 Coming To Xbox Game Pass? Is WWE 2K25 Coming To Xbox Game Pass? WWE 2K25 is going all out again to deliver a spectacle like nothing else. It’s the latest release in 2K’s vision of professional wrestling, and Xbox Game Pass Subscribers wonder if they can get a piece of the action. Every new WWE 2K release feels like Wrestlemania. You have months of build-up and anticipation leading to a special payoff. Once a new game is out, attention naturally diverts toward DLC and updates, but behind the scenes, 2K is busy readying for their Wrestlemania next year. When WWE 2K24 was released, WWE 2K25 presumably became the focus. It’s nearly time for WWE 2K25 to walk the aisle. But if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, let’s see if you can score a front-row ticket for cheap. Can You Play WWE 2K25 on Xbox Game Pass? This is setting Priest on the warpath. Credit to 2K It doesn’t look like WWE 2K25 is a day-one Xbox Game Pass option for subscribers as no advertising or marketing suggests this. Xbox is proud of games coming to Game Pass and advertises them at all costs. Announcement trailers usually have the Game Pass logo stamp on them. It’s also mentioned in press releases and news articles. WWE 2K25 has had countless trailers and press releases to this point. However, there’s no indication of WWE 2K25 being on Game Pass. Another tried and tested insight into a game’s Game Pass status is Microsoft’s Xbox Store. If you go to the WWE 2K25 game page, you’ll find no mention of playing the title through Game Pass. Instead, it’s a case of paying full price digitally or physically or finding yourself a tasty bargain. Will WWE 2K25 Come to Xbox Game Pass? The chances of WWE 2K25 coming to Xbox Game Pass are very low—borderline not happening. PGA Tour 2K25 is another 2K sports title released within a month of WWE 2K25. That’s also not coming to Game Pass, and 2K sports titles generally don’t. They don’t even come to Game Pass a year or two after release. If you’re desperate to step into the squared circle and engage in graps, you must buy WWE 2K25 outright. Should 2K and Microsoft tighten up their partnership stronger than a sleeper hold and deliver 2K sports titles on Game Pass? Or are you not bothered and are committed to buying each new WWE 2K title anyway? For more WWE 2K25 news and content, check out the complete WWE 2K25 roster and ratings and all Showcase Mode matches. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #WWE #2K25 #Coming #Xbox #Game #Pass Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Palantir Stock Nears Bear Market Territory – Why and What’s Next? Palantir Stock Nears Bear Market Territory – Why and What’s Next? Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:) stock is officially in a bear market, which is defined as a drop of more than 20% for any length of time. The decline is unsettling for some retail investors who bought the stock during its run-up. However, with the stock filling the gap on the downside, it’s fair to ask what’s driving this decline and how much further it might fall. Institutional Involvement Is a Double-Edged Sword Two events significantly drove Palantir’s growth in the second half of 2024. First, the company was included in the , and second, it switched its listing to the exchange. Both events forced the hands of institutional investors who had been on the sidelines due to the stock’s high valuation. However, retail investors are discovering that it’s all fun in games until the big money enters the fray. With large amounts of money invested in the stock, it’s logical that much of the current sell-off in PLTR stock is coming from institutions. On the surface, they will say that it’s because of Palantir’s high valuation. In the last 12 months, the company has increased its revenue impressively from 12% to 36% and its free cash flow margin from 6% to 55%. However, even with this recent sell-off, the company has a market cap of around $196.65 billion on trailing 12-month revenue of around $2.6 billion. Even for one of the leading technology stocks, that’s tough math. That’s pricing in a ton of future growth. But let’s be clear. Institutions are also pouncing because they ignored and/or dismissed Palantir when they could have been buying in the $40s or the $20s. So now, the funds have some catching up to do. But they want to do that at a better price. Efficiency Is Palantir’s Middle Name As I wrote last week, the PLTR stock slide began, in part, on concerns that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) was going to “reallocate” about 8% of its budget. The bears will be quick to note that Palantir generates over 50% of its revenue from the federal government with a massive percentage of that coming from the DOD. But this doesn’t mean the budget will get cut. As Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked, some programs may get cut to shift that capital to other projects. It’s a standard operating procedure with new administration. And there’s some sentiment that Palantir will benefit from a focus on efficiency. That’s what the company’s products are designed to help its customers do. That could be why Palantir chief executive officer Alex Karp seems nonplussed by the announcement, recently remarking to the Economic Club of New York, “The single best thing that helps my company is meritocracy, pen test everything…maybe there’s a contract that doesn’t deserve to be renewed, great. Maybe there’s a contract that does deserve renewed that gets canceled.” That’s very similar to remarks that Karp made on the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call in early February. At the time, Karp said about the impact of DOGE, “We love disruption, and whatever is good for America will be good for Americans—and very good for Palantir.” That sentiment was echoed by Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer, who said that Palantir’s values closely align with DOGE’s mission to bring meritocracy and transparency to government. He also said that it’s a lack of accountability in government, not efficiency that is Palantir’s real competition. PLTR Stock Is at a Critical Point Palantir stock is trading near its 50-day simple moving average (SMA). If it slices below that, it’s not unthinkable that it could fall to around $73, which would be near the consensus price of analysts on MarketBeat. It also would be slightly above the stock’s current 100-day SMA. That said, on February 20, Loop Capital initiated coverage on Palantir stocks with a Buy rating and a price target of $141. PLTR stock is moving into a range that looks oversold. For long-term investors, this sell-off isn’t enough to spark a panic, and for some on the sidelines, PLTR stock still has much lower to drop. However, the technical signals point to a higher stock price and with the company’s earnings not happening until May, the stock is likely to be volatile along with the broader market. Original Post Source link #Palantir #Stock #Nears #Bear #Market #Territory #Whats Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Rocky Ridge Duncraig: Respected South West brewer opens first Perth venue Rocky Ridge Duncraig: Respected South West brewer opens first Perth venue After launching on a former dairy farm in Jindong near Busselton in 2017, one of WA’s biggest and most respected independent brewers finally has a venue in Perth. Opening on February 28, Rocky Ridge Duncraig shapes up to be a mecca for craft beer lovers, pouring 40 different fresh brews seven days a week. The 250-person capacity taphouse located in the former site of Ricciardo’s Ristorante, which closed in 2018, has been two years in the making. When Rocky Ridge founders Hamish Coates and Mel Holland planned their long-awaited expansion to the big smoke, they conceived of a venue pouring a dozen or so different beers. Ms Holland raised that to 30 taps, before Mr Coates pushed for the impressive bank of 40. That’s par for the course for Rocky Ridge, which has made more than 500 different beers since launching on the Coates’ family farm eight years ago. Camera IconSouth West brewer Rocky Ridge, which Mel Holland and Hamish Coates launched in 2017, will open its Duncraig taphouse on February 28. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West *********** “It’s all about experimentation and learning,” Mr Coates said, insisting even the wildest beers, such as a smoky Polish-style grodziskie or ******* doppelbock, are made to road-test a new technique, ingredient or process. “It gives our brew team, and also our sales and marketing team, a huge amount of satisfaction because we get to have a hell of a lot of fun designing (labels) and coming up with new names,” he added. “It keeps the brewer engaged,” Ms Holland said. “It keeps the community and our customers engaged.” “And it allows us to put 40 taps on,” Mr Coates laughed. Camera IconRocky Ridge Duncraig boasts 40 taps pouring different beers made by the South West brewer. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West *********** The Rocky Ridge team has worked on the taphouse for the past two years. While wading through red tape took up much of that time, the brewer also built a split-level beer garden and patio around the building, which neighbours the Duncraig by Hawaiian shopping centre. They also reconfigured the interior to squeeze in a long bar, fridges for takeaway tinnies and a large cool room for all those kegs of fresh craft beer trucked in from the Jindong brewery. Mr Coates says the Duncraig venue has a similar feel to Rocky Ridge’s Busselton taphouse, situated in his former family home on Marine Terrace. “It has a beautiful old cottage feel,” he said. “We were drawn to it because it felt like our home down in Busselton.” Camera IconRocky Ridge Duncraig has an “old cottage feel” despite being located next to a shopping centre. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West *********** Rocky Ridge Duncraig aims to be a kid and dog-friendly community venue. Head chef Ben Griffiths’ initial menu will focus on share plates showcasing beer and food pairings, while WA-made wines, spirits, ciders and alcoholic gingers beer will pour alongside craft beer. Veteran venue manager Joel Baker comes to Rocky Ridge Duncraig via now defunct Victoria Park pub Dutch Trading Co, which championed craft and European beers. Perth’s northern corridor has been bereft of craft breweries until recently. Rocky Ridge’s taphouse joins Froth Craft Beach, which opened late 2023 in North Beach, while Phat Brew Club plans to launch its second venue in Hillarys Boat Harbour next summer. Camera IconRocky Ridge founders Mel Holland and Hamish Coates with their dogs Ace and Jack at the Duncraig venue. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West *********** In September last year, Rocky Ridge opened a brewhouse in Melbourne, which gave them a “footprint” on the east coast. Mr Coates said the Brunswick venue helps the brewery pursue its mission to minimise its environmental impact — the off-grid Jindong facility is Australia’s first and only certified sustainable and carbon neutral brewery. He plans to install solar panels and a battery at the Duncraig taphouse. Rocky Ridge has a 10-year lease on the new venue, with an option to extend for another 10 years. “Our aim is to get beers into people’s hands as fresh as possible,” Mr Coates said. Source link #Rocky #Ridge #Duncraig #Respected #South #West #brewer #opens #Perth #venue Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Microsoft’s data center slowdown could influence Big Tech How Microsoft’s data center slowdown could influence Big Tech Microsoft’s (MSFT) recent decision to slow down its data center investments has sparked conversations about the broader tech industry’s future, especially in relation to artificial intelligence (AI). The company has been a key player in data center expansion, notably accelerating its capital expenditures (CapEx) after the breakthrough of ChatGPT in late 2022. Gil Luria, D.A. Davidson’s head of technology research, joins Morning Brief hosts Brad Smith and Seana Smith to discuss the implications of this slowdown. “What they’re telling us now … is that maybe they’ve gotten to a level that they can just sustain and plateau at … it makes sense that they’re reevaluating the portfolio of investments and starting to moderate it.” Luria notes that Microsoft’s shift in spending “will then cause other mega caps, especially the hyperscalers, to reconsider their plans.” To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Morning Brief here. This post was written by Josh ****** Source link #Microsofts #data #center #slowdown #influence #Big #Tech Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump floats $5 million 'gold card' as a route to US citizenship – Reuters Trump floats $5 million 'gold card' as a route to US citizenship – Reuters Trump floats $5 million ‘gold card’ as a route to US citizenship ReutersTrump says US will sell $5 million ‘gold card’ to wealthy foreigners CNNTrump’s ‘gold’ visa: Who qualifies, what it costs and why it’s divisive Al Jazeera EnglishTrump to Offer ‘Gold Card’ Visas for $5 Million to the Rich BloombergHow Is Gold Card Different From Green Card In New Residency Permit Plan NDTV Source link #Trump #floats #million #039gold #card039 #route #citizenship #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retro Slam Tennis has just dropped on Android and iOS Retro Slam Tennis has just dropped on Android and iOS Build your tennis career from scratch Play on different pitches Manage your lift outside the field as well New Star Games, the studio behind New Star Soccer, Retro Goal, and Retro Bowl, has released Retro Slam Tennis, a mobile sports game with a retro feel. Available now for free, it lets you build a tennis career, compete on different surfaces, and manage everything from coaching to sponsorships. In Retro Slam Tennis, you’ll start as an aspiring player working your way up the ranks. Matches take place on hard, clay, and grass courts, each requiring a different approach. Coaches offer training and challenges to improve your skills, while sponsorship deals and luxury purchases help shape your off-court life. Keeping up with social media followers is just as important as perfecting your backhand. The role-playing elements go beyond the competition. Managing relationships with friends and family plays a part in your journey, and you can boost your energy with a can of NRG to stay sharp. With careful planning, smart choices, and a strong performance on the court, you can climb the global rankings and make a name for yourself. Looking for something similar? Here’s a list of the best sports games to play on Android right now! Speaking about Retro Slam Tennis, founder of New Star Games, Simon Read, said: “I have been wanting to make a tennis game for many years, using a similar approach to that of New Star Soccer with both the gameplay mechanic and the tongue-in-cheek simulation of a player career. Now it’s finally here I can’t wait to see how players take to it.” If it’s anything like its predecessors, you’re in for a ride as there’s a dearth of sports sims that are both visually pleasing and engaging. Are you ready to be the “new star”? Download Retro Slam Tennis now on the App Store and Google Play by clicking on your preferred link below. It is free-to-play with in-app purchases. Visit the official website for more information. Source link #Retro #Slam #Tennis #dropped #Android #iOS Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Arne Slot ban: Liverpool manager gets two-game touchline ban for Everton red card Arne Slot ban: Liverpool manager gets two-game touchline ban for Everton red card Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been given a two-game touchline ban by the Football Association following his red card against Everton. He was dismissed for approaching referee Michael Oliver on the pitch after the 2-2 Premier League draw at Goodison Park on 12 February. Slot will miss Wednesday’s home game with Newcastle and the visit of Southampton on 8 March. He can be on the touchline for the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Paris St-Germain on 5 March. Assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff has also been banned for two games, while Liverpool and Everton have been fined £65,000 and £50,000 respectively for failing to control their players. Source link #Arne #Slot #ban #Liverpool #manager #twogame #touchline #ban #Everton #red #card Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Absences and disputes mar G20 finance chiefs’ talks Absences and disputes mar G20 finance chiefs’ talks A number of finance ministers have skipped a gathering of the Group of 20 top economies in South Africa, and other top officials have curtailed trips to a meeting marred by disputes over the main issues of climate, debt and inequality. Agreeing on a declaration has always been tough for a gathering that includes China, Russia, the European Union and the United States. But differences are starker than ever and some finance ministers were too consumed with domestic politics to show up for the two-day meeting in Cape Town. Finance ministers from many of the G20’s biggest economies – the US, China, Japan, India and Canada – cancelled their attendance of the event, which is meant to bring them and central bankers together to discuss global economic challenges. The EU’s senior economic official also stayed away. Their absences reduced what was already a small chance of agreeing on a communique. There also seemed little hope of accord on issues that the host, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, sees as key: scant climate finance from rich nations, reform of a financial system that penalises poor countries and widening inequalities. “At this time of global uncertainty and escalating tension, it is now more important than ever that the members of the G20 work together,” he said in his opening remarks on Wednesday. “The erosion of multilateralism presents a threat to global growth and stability.” South Africa’s central bank governor, Lesetja Kganyago, said a number of recent G20 meetings had finished without agreement on a communique and the fact that some countries were being represented by deputy ministers was not a problem. “There is no one in the room then saying … ‘I’m going to make this point, but I think I am too junior so they might ignore it’,” he told Reuters. South Africa had hoped to make the G20 a platform for putting pressure on rich countries to do more to tackle climate change, and to give more towards poorer countries’ transitions to green energy and adaptation to worsening weather. Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told Reuters on Tuesday that “what the American presidency does, effectively, is reconfigure the conversation (on green energy by) … reintroducing elements we thought were resolved”. “Where it leads is anyone’s guess,” he said, adding that some countries might reconsider the scale and pace of their transition from fossil fuels to green energy as a result. Some analysts said the retreat of the G20’s biggest economy from the discussions raised questions about its relevance, while others saw an opportunity for moving ahead without the US. Source link #Absences #disputes #mar #G20 #finance #chiefs #talks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** law firm embarks on SD-WAN and SASE infrastructure upgrade *** law firm embarks on SD-WAN and SASE infrastructure upgrade In an example of how crucial secure infrastructures have become in the world of law, network services provider Principle Networks has partnered with the international commercial law firm Hill Dickinson to upgrade its network and security infrastructure and support the business’s global expansion. Describing itself as “a leading commercial law firm that’s about much more than the law”, Hill Dickinson was established in 1810, originally specialising in maritime legal affairs. It currently employs over 1,000 employees, including 200 partners and legal directors, at seven *** offices, plus international offices in mainland Europe and Asia. The organisation is broadly organised into three main client groups: business services, health and marine. The firm says it acts as a trusted adviser to organisations and individuals in multiple sectors across the globe, advising on non-contentious advisory and transactional work and all forms of litigation and arbitration. A full-service firm, it spans the lifecycle of clients’ business, from startup right through to multimillion-pound sales. Typical projects encompass bringing a product to market, raising capital, leasing premises, drawing up employment contracts, protecting assets, and incorporating businesses and mergers. As it has expanded to become the international law firm it now is, the company recognised that its current IT infrastructure required upgrading. “We wanted a network that reduced complexity and could provide solid foundations for delivering on-premises and cloud services, now and in the future,” said Hill Dickinson chief technology officer Keith Feeny. Principle Networks markets itself as a specialist in designing and implementing scalable, agile and future-proofed cloud-based networks for mid-sized to large enterprises, and works across all sectors, including legal, retail, logistics, social housing, automotive, financial services, IT and local government. The agreement with Hill Dickinson will see Principle Networks undertake a phased replacement and migration of the law firm’s wide area network (WAN) and security infrastructure. It will be replaced by an internet-based software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) and secure access service edge (SASE) zero-trust security framework. Throughout the partnership, Principle Networks has guaranteed to deliver a co-managed service offering 24-hour support services across the SD-WAN and SASE infrastructure and the firm’s local area network (LAN) and Wi-Fi estate. Remarking on the rationale for the deployment and choice of provider, Feeny said: “Principle Networks understood our goals and, more importantly, were fully aligned with our growth, agility and innovation objectives, which made them the ideal partner. From the moment we met, we could tell they shared our vision and could support our long-term digital strategy. They’ve designed a network capable of growing and evolving with the business and delivering a consistent user experience globally.” Russell Crowley, co-founder at Principle Networks, said: “Network accessibility and security are critical within the legal sector. Having a robust, secure infrastructure is central to gaining the trust of clients and staff.” Source link #law #firm #embarks #SDWAN #SASE #infrastructure #upgrade Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dragonwing take flight to boost Qualcomm industrial, embedded IoT offer Dragonwing take flight to boost Qualcomm industrial, embedded IoT offer In a move that the company has said will strengthen its leadership position with a purpose-built portfolio in both consumer and industrial segments, and which further highlights its diversification strategy to drive long-term growth, Qualcomm has unveiled the Dragonwing the suite of products that will be marketed outside of its existing Snapdragon consumer brand. The new Dragonwing brand will represent Qualcomm’s industrial and embedded internet of things (IoT), networking and cellular infrastructure solutions. Looking to address industrial applications, it also assured that Dragonwing “wasn’t just a name”, but instead represented a promise to drive transformation and elevate industry growth. It said that in a world where companies face the “daunting” challenge of transforming and growing with new technologies and digital systems, the portfolio would empower company growth, productivity and competitiveness at a global scale. The Dragonwing products will support edge intelligence custom-designed for business and industry with on-device hardware and software AI solutions seeing use in a number of use cases. The net result is that the IoT solutions can be used in simplifying complexity, empowering smarter decision-making and optimising operational efficiency, forming what Qualcomm said would be “blueprints for industry transformation”, from enhancing everyday needs to solving the world’s most mission-critical challenges. In establishing the new brand identity, the connected processor and artificial intelligence company said it is aiming to empower customers in industries such as energy and utilities, retail, supply chain, manufacturing and telecom to “grow, innovate and scale to new heights”. Explaining why it created the specific industrial-oriented brand, Qualcomm said the name Dragonwing and its dragon icon symbolise “ascension, power and acceleration” and will create a “strong, purpose-built portfolio” for the company’s industrial segments. It will also help businesses to “take a leap and accelerate their digital transformation with speed and confidence” and provide a clear differentiation with the successful Snapdragon line, said Qualcomm senior vice-president and chief marketing officer Don McGuire. “Our mission is to deliver intelligent computing everywhere. We have an amazing suite of products, and while you may be familiar with the Snapdragon brand portfolio, you may not know that we have a whole suite of products outside of Snapdragon,” he added. “We thought it was time to bring a unique identity to this product portfolio and clearly articulate the value proposition for customers. As we continue to diversify, the core components of our platforms and solutions – AI, computing and connectivity – are relevant to more industries than ever before. From industrial robots to cameras, to industrial handhelds and drones, and more, this portfolio deserves a brand identity worthy of the technology innovation delivered across categories.” Qualcomm said that with Dragonwing products, users could accelerate industrial innovation and growth in the digital age with edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing and “unrivalled” connectivity built into custom hardware, software and service offerings designed for speed, scalability and reliability. This would realise a number of benefits, said McGuire. “Companies can unlock smarter decision-making, increased operational efficiency and faster time-to-market,” he said. “This is crucial for industries like energy and utilities, retail, supply chain, manufacturing and telecom, enabling businesses to expand into new opportunities, extend their competitive edge and win in evolving markets.” The Dragonwing brand will make its debut at the forthcoming MWC and then at the Embedded World event. Source link #Dragonwing #flight #boost #Qualcomm #industrial #embedded #IoT #offer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dockworkers Vote to Accept New Labor Contract – The New York Times Dockworkers Vote to Accept New Labor Contract – The New York Times Dockworkers Vote to Accept New Labor Contract The New York TimesUS dockworkers approve 6-year contract, averting a strike The Associated PressILA and USMX’s full ratification vote of master contract agreement scheduled for today Fresh Fruit PortalDockworker Union ILA Ratifies Six-Year Contract at Eastern US Ports Bloomberg Source link #Dockworkers #Vote #Accept #Labor #Contract #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What is Imagen 3: everything you need to know about Google’s text-to-image model What is Imagen 3: everything you need to know about Google’s text-to-image model Imagen 3 is an advanced text-to-image model developed by Google. It’s capable of generating realistic and detailed images based on natural language prompts. You can access the model’s capabilities for free through two web-based tools: ImageFX, an experimental platform hosted by Google Labs, and Gemini – Google’s AI chatbot and chief rival to ChatGPT. Trained on detailed images, Imagen 3 is highly regarded for its ability to produce realistic compositions, as well as its accurate understanding and execution of different visual styles. Want to learn more and use it for yourself? We’ve broken down all the basics below. This article was correct as of February 2025. AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written. Some features may also only be available in certain countries. (Image credit: Google) What is Imagen 3? Imagen 3 is an AI-powered text-to-image model developed by Google DeepMind, the company’s AI research lab. First announced at Google I/O in May 2024, access to Imagen 3 was opened up in August. Like other AI image generators, the model allows users to create images in a range of visual styles based on simple, natural language prompts. Imagen 3 builds on previous versions of the technology. According to Google, the third iteration generates images with “better detail, richer lighting and fewer distracting artifacts.” The tool also allows users to refine the resulting images, editing text prompts to add specific details. Imagen 3 has been integrated with Gemini, Google’s rival to ChatGPT, allowing users to access the model’s capabilities as part of conversations with the AI-powered chatbot. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. What can you use Imagen 3 for? Imagen 3 can generate detailed images in a matter of seconds, based on text-based descriptions. Trained on millions of images, it excels at replicating different visual styles. Prompts such as “cinematic”, “surreal” and “35mm film” can be used to produce images with a particular aesthetic. It’s particularly effective at replicating photorealism. Accessed through ImageFX, Imagen 3 generates images in sets of four, while prompts in Gemini create one image at a time. Images can be individually copied and downloaded, while the prompt itself can be refined with specific details or art styles to fine-tune the results. Five aspect ratios are available: square (1:1), portrait (9:16), landscape (16:9), mobile portrait (3:4) and mobile landscape (4:3). Users own the copyright in all images produced by Imagen 3, meaning it’s a potentially useful tool for everything from editorial to product marketing. What can’t you use Imagen 3 for? Imagen 3 is only capable of generating still images. DeepMind is developing a separate AI-powered text-to-video generator called Veo 2. Imagen 3 can’t be used to generate high-resolution images. Native output resolutions are limited to 1024×1024 for square images, 1408×768 for 16:9 images and 1280×896 for 4:3 images. The model is also subject to a number of ethical policy restrictions. You can’t use it to create images of real people, for example, or to generate visuals which are potentially harmful or offensive. Imagen 3 is also trained to avoid generating images which could infringe on copyright. While Imagen 3 is good at following detailed prompts, it doesn’t support precise editing of specific elements within an image. How much does Imagen 3 cost? Imagen 3 is free to use through ImageFX or Gemini. What’s more, you own the copyright in images created with Imagen 3 and can use them for any purpose, without paying royalties. There is one limitation: if you want to generate images featuring people, you’ll need to take out a Gemini Advanced subscription. This costs $19.99 / £18.99 / AU$30 per month. The plan also includes priority access to new features and access to Google’s latest models. Where can you use Imagen 3? Imagen 3 can be accessed through Gemini, Google’s answer to ChatGPT. Request an image in your conversation with the chatbot and it will generate one asset at a time. You can also edit your original prompt to refine the results. Gemini can be used via the web app, as well as the app for iOS and Android. Imagen 3 is also available through ImageFX, a dedicated AI image generator hosted by Google Labs. ImageFX benefits from an intuitive web-based interface, with suggested prompt structures and art styles. Usefully, it generates four images at a time from a single prompt. (Image credit: Google) Is Imagen 3 any good? From our hands-on experience with both ImageFX and Gemini, we know that it’s capable of producing rich, dynamic images which broadly follow the theme of the prompt. Online reviews have commented to similar effect, noting the high quality of results on the whole, as well as how effectively Imagen 3 handles different art styles. Our senior AI Editor, Graham Barlow said, “Imagen 3 is going to deserve a place amongst the best AI image generators.” Photorealism is a point on which it scores highly, particularly how it’s able to replicate depth of field effects and cinematic moods. The prompt-based interface is pretty foolproof, although the model doesn’t always follow detailed edits to the letter. While it generally observes the essence of prompts, it isn’t immune from the occasional hiccup when interpreting specific details. Use Imagen 3 if… You want a free AI image generator Imagen 3 is available for free through ImageFX and Gemini, allowing you to generate realistic images from text descriptions with few limitations. You’ll only need to pay if you want to generate images featuring people. You want to experiment with art styles Imagen 3 excels when it comes to replicating different visual styles, whether that’s cinematic photorealism or surreal illustrations. By changing a few words in a prompt, you can give your image an entirely different aesthetic. Don’t use Imagen 3 if… You want granular editing options Imagen 3 allows you to fine-tune images by changing the wording of your text prompt, but you can’t selectively edit specific details or sections of an image. For this, you’ll need an alternative tool such as DALL-E 3. You need total attention to detail Google’s text-to-image model does a pretty decent job of following prompts. However, its interpretation of nuanced descriptions can often be a little loose. Changes to one part of a prompt can often throw off the detail in another. Also consider DALL-E 3 is a text-to-image model developed by OpenAI. It’s accessible through ChatGPT and Microsoft Designer. It’s easy to use and effective at following complex prompts. However, it doesn’t score as highly as Imagen 3 for realism. Midjourney is an AI image generator rooted in a Discord community. There’s a bit of a learning curve with its interface, but the tool is capable of creating truly artistic images. It also features powerful editing tools and lends itself to inspiration. You might also like… Source link #Imagen #Googles #texttoimage #model Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Wonder Woman game axed as Warner Bros cuts three studios Wonder Woman game axed as Warner Bros cuts three studios Riyah Collins BBC Newsbeat Getty Images Warner Bros Games says it will focus on other franchises including Harry Potter and Mortal Kombat Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed plans to shut three of its gaming development studios. The decision means the anticipated Wonder Woman game, which has been in production for three years at one of the affected studios, Monolith, will not be released. Player First Games, which made MultiVersus, and Warner Bros. Games San Diego will also be shuttered. The announcement comes after a difficult time in the industry, with widespread job losses as it deals with a slump in sales since the Covid pandemic. A spokesperson from Warner Bros told the Reuters news agency the decision was aimed at boosting profitability. On Wonder Woman, they said: “Our hope was to give players and fans the highest quality experience possible for the iconic character, and unfortunately this is no longer possible within our strategic priorities.” Last month, MultiVersus said there would be no more updates for the game, which would have to be played offline “for the foreseeable future”. Warner Bros said it will instead focus on developing its core franchises including Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC and Game of Thrones. Last year was a challenging one for the games sector, seeing games delayed, studios closed around the world and thousands of layoffs including at Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation . Warner Bros Games had big expectations for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League but the game was panned by fans and critics. Updates for the game ended in January after weak sales and poor reviews. And last month, the company announced the departure of David Haddad, the chief of the gaming unit, after 12 years. Wider trends in the industry have seen sales struggle as gamers spend less on new games, choosing instead to stick with long-running online games like Fortnite or yearly franchises such as Call of Duty and EA Sports FC. As well as people spending less on games since the pandemic, major video game makers including Warner Bros have been affected by a rumbling row over the use of artificial intelligence in production. BBC Newsbeat has contacted Warner Bros Games for comment. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here. Source link #Woman #game #axed #Warner #Bros #cuts #studios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Dark & Darker Mobile could be getting a name change from Krafton Dark & Darker Mobile could be getting a name change from Krafton Dark and Darker Mobile is set to get a name change as Krafton terminates its agreement with Ironmace The change seems to be related to a recent lawsuit ruling, despite Krafton’s remarks to the contrary Dark and Darker Mobile is still on track for its previously stated global launch date It’s looking as if Dark and Darker Mobile, the upcoming smartphone adaptation of the highly-anticipated hack ‘n slash extraction dungeon crawler, maybe getting a name change and more besides. According to some recent reports, Krafton is not only ditching the name branding but also terminating its agreement with Ironmace Studio. It comes at a pretty bad time for Ironmace, who’ve just been ordered to pay $6 million in damages to Nexon over an ongoing lawsuit. The crux of said suit is that Nexon believed Ironmace (founded by ex-Nexon employees) had used trade secrets to develop Dark and Darker based on a cancelled project codenamed P3. The argument about who’s on the right side, although Krafton has said this name change has nothing to do with said ruling they’ve also announced that they’re terminating their global licencing agreement with Ironmace as well. Essentially, Dark and Darker Mobile (or whatever name it takes) will be a fully standalone release. Darkest of dungeons The ethics of this entire suit besides it is rather ironic that Ironmace first filed suit against for copyright infringement, while even after terminating their partnership it seems Krafton is set to basically file off the serial numbers and continue on their merry way. It seems that whatever Nexon may do to their new sworn nemesis, the floodgates for this sort of genre of release are now open. And for those of you excited for Dark and Darker Mobile, this isn’t necessarily bad news, as by all accounts Krafton will continue with the global release schedule for Dark and Darker. However, if that changes, or indeed if there are any other developments in this story, we’ll keep you posted. Here’s hoping that Dark and Darker Mobile’s full launch maintains the sterling quality that we praised it for in our review too. Source link #Dark #Darker #Mobile #change #Krafton Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dozens killed in Sudan military plane ****** Dozens killed in Sudan military plane ****** A Sudanese army plane has crashed while taking off from an air base, killing at least 46 people. Source link #Dozens #killed #Sudan #military #plane #****** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Convoy carrying bodies of Israeli hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children departs ahead of ******** Convoy carrying bodies of Israeli hostages Shiri Bibas and her two children departs ahead of ******** A convoy of vehicles carrying the bodies processed slowly through the streets, which were lined by thousands of mourners, many carrying Israeli flags. The image of Shiri Bibas, from a video taken during ******’ attack, is seared into the country’s collective memory as one of the most haunting of that day. Source link #Convoy #carrying #bodies #Israeli #hostages #Shiri #Bibas #children #departs #ahead #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

With Warner Bros Nuking Three Studios and Wonder Woman Game, James Gunn’s Plans Could Fall Apart With Warner Bros Nuking Three Studios and Wonder Woman Game, James Gunn’s Plans Could Fall Apart Warner Bros. has been strategically shutting down its gaming unit, starting with Monolith Productions, the studio developing the Wonder Woman game. As of now, the game has been canned, and the studio is closed. Warner Bros. has shut down its gaming unit for now. Image Credit: Warner Bros. The reason for such a big decision is the ripple effect of 2024’s Suicide Squad’s failure in the market. It incurred approximately 200 million dollars in losses, and Warner Bros. was compelled to make serious changes if it were to avert such disasters in the future. Warner Bros. Games is disintegrating Suicide Squad’s failure played a huge role in the developer’s demise. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Warner Bros. seems to be moving in a different direction. A direction away from gaming, especially after some of its recently released games failed to generate an audience. Following the closure of Monolith Productions, it has also shut down Player First Games and WB San Diego. Things do not seem too bright at the moment for games from the DC universe, and definitely not for James Gunn as he had a vision for both films and games. He had big plans for creating an interconnected DC universe across TV, films, and games. He wanted to expand on the stories with consistent characters and cast to offer a seamless experience across platforms. Unlike previous games from the DC universe, these titles were supposed to be more connected with the films and TV shows. However, due to the recent development in the gaming unit of Warner Bros., his plans are currently sinking. Warner Bros. explained its stance on why these drastic measures were taken in the first place via an email to Kotaku. It read: We have had to make some very difficult decisions to structure our development studios and investments around building the best games possible with our key franchises -– Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC and Game of Thrones. After careful consideration, we are closing three of our development studios – Monolith Productions, Player First Games and Warner Bros. Games San Diego. This is a strategic change in direction and not a reflection of these teams or the talent that consists within them. It is being called a strategic decision that does not reflect badly on the credibility of the studios being closed in any way. The future for games from the DC universe looks dim at the moment. The studio’s gaming unit is currently in shambles. There is no direction, no plan, and no clarity as to what will happen in the future. This aimlessness could have had a huge role to play in the decision to shut this unit down for a bit, take a step back, and rethink. Suicide Squad’s failure impacted Warner Bros. in a negative way Warner Bros. has been consistently failing at giving a hit game. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Suicide Squad’s success was crucial for Warner Bros. Games since it would have given the studio a place to build from. However, its failure came as a major blow which did not help the developer’s case in any way. Following Suicide Squad even the other multiplayer games including Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions failed to do well in the market. The studio needs to reevaluate all of its decisions and take the next few steps carefully. These recent developments might not align well with Gunn’s plan of developing a DC game like Marvel Rivals. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below. Source link #Warner #Bros #Nuking #Studios #Woman #Game #James #Gunns #Plans #Fall Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump administration says undocumented immigrants must register – The Washington Post Trump administration says undocumented immigrants must register – The Washington Post Trump administration says undocumented immigrants must register The Washington PostNoem announces DHS registry for ******** aliens in US that will require them to be fingerprinted Fox NewsTrump Administration Plans to Require Undocumented Immigrants to Register The New York TimesTrump administration threatens undocumented immigrants who fail to join registry with jail time, fines CBS News Source link #Trump #administration #undocumented #immigrants #register #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]