noumenon

cross-posted from: https://ibbit.at/post/140560

When we put together our top 20 games of last year, we specifically called out Civilization 7, Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Grand Theft Auto 6 as big franchise games we were already looking forward to for 2025. While one of those games has been delayed into 2026, the three others made this year's list of Ars' favorite games as expected. They join a handful of other highly anticipated sequels, ranging from big-budget blockbusters to long-gestating indies, on the "expected" side of this year's list.

But the games that really stood out for me in 2025 were the ones that seemed to come out of nowhere. Those range from hard-to-categorize roguelike puzzle games to a gonzo, punishing mountainous walking simulation, the best Geometry Wars clone in years, and a touching look at the difficulties of adolescence through the surprisingly effective lens of mini-games.

As we look toward 2026, there are plenty of other big-budget projects that the industry is busy preparing for (the delayed Grand Theft Auto VI chief among them). If next year is anything like this year, though, we can look forward to plenty more games that no one saw coming suddenly vaulting into view as new classics.

Read full article

Comments

From Features - Ars Technica via this RSS feed

Scientists have created a fully biodegradable artificial synapse using chitosan from crab shells, plant fibers, and bean extracts. The device operates at just 0.85 femtojoules per signal, making it more efficient than the human brain while retaining memory for nearly 100 minutes (the longest ever for biodegradable synapses). The breakthrough potentially paves the way for AI hardware that learns, adapts, and dissolves without toxic waste.

A Princeton-led team has built a tabletop device that generates voltage directly from Earth's rotation through its magnetic field. While the power output is orders of magnitude too small for practical electronics, the breakthrough suggests Earth's spin could someday provide constant, fuel-free energy if the effect scales up. The team is now calling for independent labs to reproduce the results.

Malaysia's High Court yesterday sentenced jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak to 15 years in prison and ordered roughly $3.3B in fines and asset seizures over the misuse of a multibillion-dollar government fund.

The court found Najib, 72, guilty of abuse of power and money laundering from 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund he established after taking office in 2009. Authorities allege Najib and his associates siphoned over $4.5B from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, routing funds through countries including the US, Singapore, and Switzerland. Some money was allegedly used to help finance Hollywood films, including the Oscar-nominated "The Wolf of Wall Street," and Goldman Sachs faced billions in fines for its involvement with 1MDB. Najib, who led Malaysia until 2018, has been imprisoned since 2022 on related charges. The new 15-year sentence is set to begin after his current one ends in 2028.

Najib claims he was misled by Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, who remains at large.

Over time, Trump has gone from denying any involvement in Project 2025 to promoting his connection to one of its key authors on Truth Social. Here's a full timeline of what the president has said about the plan.