Latest news with #Assassin'sCreedShadows
Mint
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
How data analytics has transformed cricket
I've never been much of a sports viewer, but headlines have always been my hook. So, while the records Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan set in the 1990s and 2000s meant little to me, I was absorbed by the news reports of the three rounds of biomechanical testing he underwent to prove that his 'doosra' wasn't bending the rules. I still have no idea how many wickets he took, but I do remember that the machine took 250 photos per second and provided a 3D rendering of his bowling action. It seemed so cutting-edge, so unprecedented, so automated a way to measure what I'd always thought was a matter of personal skill and achievement. It was among the early demonstrations of data analysis in sports, and I, for one, had never seen anything like it. Now of course, we all have all sorts of trackers strapped to our wrists to tell us how much energy we've expended walking to the fridge for a snack. Naturally, then, for professional athletes, data gathering is at a whole other level with tracking software and machine learning transforming the game. Data analysts are now integral to sports teams, generating statistical breakdowns to explain ball speeds, angles of delivery and each player's strengths and weaknesses. Coaches don't just impart wisdom and technique, they optimise play based on these analyses. We take a deep dive into the world of cricket analytics, which has not only changed the way athletes perform but also how teams are picked, and the ways fans watch the sport. We don't just support a home team or fall in love with a player's form and grace anymore; we pick and choose depending on projections that give the likelihood of success. Even in fantasy leagues, it's data that's the MVP. The print issue of Mint Lounge dated 31 May 2025, which takes a deep dive into the world of cricket analytics. Look around you—a small doll with a mischievous smile might be strapped to a bag. They're called labubus and are trending world over. Even mobile phones are getting more personality thanks to anime-inspired charm bracelets and covers. Fashion is tapping into 'toycore"—the marriage of fashion and cuddlies. Pooja Singh unpacks the somewhat bizarre toycore trend that is a throwback to a lost childhood. The Assassin's Creed franchise is among the world's most popular games, giving players the experience of an open world, close links to actual historical events, and a narration that connects the protagonists of each game. Now, Assassin's Creed Shadows takes all these elements to give fans a setting that many had demanded—medieval Japan. Shouvik Das dives into the immersive world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, where players navigate a beautifully crafted medieval Japan and lose themselves in the intricate storyline. The drying of mahua flowers and the liquor-making process that follows is an age-old practice in Madhya Pradesh, but there's more to this indigenous flower than spirits. The juice can be turned into flavourful syrups and pulps that make great replacements for maple syrup, white sugar and other imported or processed sweeteners. Pastry chef Bani Nanda travelled in Madhya Pradesh to learn all about 'mahua', and she writes about the process of creating liquor and syrup and the ideas it sparked for new pastries and cakes. Back in Delhi, she experimented with the dried mahua flowers, mahua liquor and mahua syrup she brought back to create a beautiful entremet with mahua syrup sponge, chironji praline, salted caramel and mahua ganache. Microsoft laid off about 6,000 employees earlier this month; the US government has fired more than 600,000 staff this year. Most forecasts indicate lay-offs will continue, with greater incursion of AI into spheres that were dependent on human skills. This has an outsized impact on the morale of professionals, who left high and dry, or teetering on the edge, vulnerable to being fired any day. Being laid off is, needless to say, tragic, but it's also hard for those who have to do the dirty job of firing people. The middle managers and human resources executives who have to be the bearers of bad news become collateral damage in the process, writes Somak Ghoshal, while offering some suggestions about delivering bad news with grace and empathy. Fans of Lego, the popular building sets, travel the world in search of new sets and unusual pieces—but the Danish toy company has finally opened a store in India, in Gurugram. Spanning 4,500 square feet, it is the brand's largest store in South Asia and has everything from the Friends and Icons to the Technic and the Botanicals collections as well as fully built sets on display and play tables, and other popular features for adult fans of Lego. The store seems all set to become a place for fans of the popular building sets to congregate, build, and create a community, writes Tushar Kanwar, a lifelong Lego fan who has got his young daughter hooked to the toys.
Mint
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Assassin's Creed Shadows review: Vast and beautiful, with a story mode
Among all of the world's most popular games, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise is one of the most recognizable names globally. By itself, the lore created by this 18-year-old game series has been a landmark experience in gaming—giving players the experience of an open world that can be explored freely, close links to actual historical events in its storyline, and a narration that connects the protagonists of each game with multiple previous ones. Now, Assassin's Creed Shadows takes all of these elements to give fans of its franchise a setting that many forums had demanded for years—medieval Japan. Straight off the bat, Assassin's Creed Shadows does a fantastic job of recreating Japan in the late-1570s. This is not just because of the visuals, which are undoubtedly poignant, realistic and befitting of the game's set-up—the design of the terrain's layout, including the hideouts and the strategically placed side quests alongside the 22 main mission levels, actually makes Assassin's Creed Shadows a title that gamers can continue to explore well beyond finishing the main storyline. For those without prior context: this is the 14th game in the 18-year history of Ubisoft making Assassin's Creed. The plot is simple: players don the shields and armours of a fictional member of the ancient Order of the Assassins—dropped in the game within real historical context and events. The goal is largely to defeat an opposing faction—for the most part, the Knights Templar that sought to establish order in medieval and ancient societies with an iron fist. But through this journey, the game has evolved to offer historical clues for players, including links and tributes to older games within the main game itself. Also read: Inside India's first Lego store in Gurugram Assassin's Creed Shadows, too, has the same spirit. You play either as Yasuke, a former imprisoned slave, or Naoe—the daughter of master assassin Tsuyu and Nagato, a leading member of the resistance faction Iga ikki. Both the characters have their strengths and limitations—Yasuke is a humongous force of nature, capable of breaking down doors with sprints and going on a rampage as enemy numbers escalate. Naoe, meanwhile, is ideal for stealth and swift assassinations—throughout the game, you'd often find Naoe's nimble-footed approach to be ideal. As you set off in the game, you realize that the storylines and character developments have still remained one of Ubisoft's biggest strengths, making Assassin's Creed Shadows stand on the same podium as some of the world's best third-person role-playing narrative-driven games—such as The Witcher, The Last of Us, Uncharted and Control. You get absorbed with Naoe's predicament, and you find Yasuke's journey a fulfilling one as you progress through the game. It's important to note here that as you progress in the game, choosing the normal and expert difficulty settings will need you to invest heavily in upgrading your gear, attire and weaponry. If you're not a hardcore gamer and would rather enjoy the game's story, there is a 'story' mode where the combat is toned down to the bare minimum, with protagonists barely ever taking a hit. What's interesting is that even in the story mode, Ubisoft has ensured that players stay immersed enough in tactical movement and swift combat to get the most of the ideal experience of Assassin's Creed Shadows. But, the presence of such a mode increases the appeal for such a game with those who do not want to go into extreme levels of combat. Back to the story, though, and about halfway through the game, you realize just how massive the world of Shadows really is. For the average casual gamer playing about two hours a day, it took almost a full month to finish the main story levels of Assassin's Creed Shadows. With side quests and additionally discoverable regions to explore, it can easily take up to three months to really straddle the full expanse of the game. As you go through the game, you can't help but feel that the exchange of dialogues and the narrative stretches on for a bit too long. While most combats are nearly ideal, some design elements interfere with the smoothness of the gameplay—in certain battles for instance, Yasuke's weight and armour levels just do not come through. Such glitches can become increasingly frustrating, especially since after a point, you tend to feel that even the story is rather loose, and should have been much crisper to let the game's open world shine through more. The present-day binding narrative, which plays right at the onset to set you up for the game, also feels rather forced—surely, there could've been a better way to establish context and history to the assassin's journey. That said, Assassin's Creed Shadows put forth a glorious insight into just how fun this game series always was, and in many ways, continues to be. It may come across as tedious, and those who are not good at combat-and-stealth gameplay may even struggle to finish it or continue beyond a point. But, perseverance lets you discover various parts of medieval Japan where the sights are gorgeous, and getting to the top of the pole still gives you the 'master of the world' appeal that has remained intact since the very first of this series. Is it worth playing, then? Definitely. Assassin's Creed Shadows' biggest 'fault' per se is in just how big the game is—and that's not necessarily bad for those at whom the game is aimed at. Is it the best that the series has offered to date? Based on pure visuals, some would certainly say so. Played on: Xbox Series S; Price: ₹4999 onward; Developer and publisher: Ubisoft. Also read: Computex 2025: All things AI to come from the annual computer show
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Post
How Did the Irish Video Game Industry Perform During 2024?
OVER the past few years, the video game industry in Ireland has been steadily growing for reasons we will be discussing here. The iGaming industry, which encompasses professional video gaming events, aka eSports events, is also on the rise, plus more people than ever are enjoying playing on legally permitted casino sites with thousands of computer-generated and live dealer games from various award-winning software providers and game development studios. Let's dive straight in and take a closer look at how the Irish video game industry performed during 2024 and whether it fell short of or exceeded industry analyst expectations. Did the video game industry in Ireland perform well in 2024? Yes. The video game industry in Ireland had its best-ever year in 2024, generating well over €600 million in revenue. By the end of 2027, expert analysts project that technologies like cloud gaming will help push this figure even higher to around €810 million. According to the latest reports, more than half of all Irish adults actively participate in one form of gaming from their preferred consoles, smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers, and they play everything from triple-A blockbuster video games to online slot machines and from casual/Indie games to puzzlers and sports simulation video games. Which video game companies are based in Ireland? Ireland is home to several small independent game development studios and software providers, as well as much larger, more well-established gaming companies. Examples of video game companies with offices in Ireland are the following: Riot Games Activision WarDucks Demonware EA Playrix Pewter Games Studios Havok Others include Virtuous, Keyword Studios, DIGIT Game Studios, Boon Studios Lt, Wildlife Studios, Squareroot Solutions, and Romero Games, to name a few. Why is Ireland's video game industry such a success? Ireland's video game industry is a huge success and is currently performing better than expected due to several key factors. For example, Ireland is now home to a growing pool of talented and highly skilled individuals, a well-matured tech scene that's hospitable to startup companies, plenty of support from the government via several initiatives, and an ever-expanding gaming culture. Over the past few years, Ireland has repositioned itself as a rising hub in the global gaming scene, and the future looks promising. Tax credits and other incentives, supportive government policies, and local and international investment have all helped the gaming industry in Ireland reach extraordinary new heights. What are the most popular new video games being played in Ireland in 2025? Some of the most popular new video games currently being played in Ireland include titles such as Assassin's Creed Shadows, Atomfall, Borderlands 4, Doom: The Dark Ages, Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Other hit titles that are currently trending in 2025 are Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Civilization VII, South of Midnight, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Hell Is Us. There's also Little Nightmares III, Crimson Desert, Fable, Eternal Strands, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Elden Ring Nightreign, to name just a few. Conclusion Thanks to cloud gaming, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and various other key technologies, Ireland's video game industry is poised to grow even more over the coming years. Ireland provides a pro-business environment for gaming companies, with many talented individuals gaining their qualifications from renowned universities to specialise in various key areas of the digital entertainment sector, such as art & design and technology. Ireland also has a strong gaming culture that continues to grow, and as the gaming sector expands over the next five to ten years, it will assert itself as a true leader in the global gaming arena.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Stranger Things Season 5 Release: Here's what Finn Wolfhard has to say about Netflix's popular series
Netflix's popular series Stranger Things is set to begin its final season later this year. Although no exact release date has been announced, fans can expect Part 1 of Season 5 before 2026. The conclusion will likely arrive in two parts. Season 5 Release Netflix has not confirmed the exact date for the release of Stranger Things Season 5 . However, it is expected that the first part will premiere before the end of 2025. The second part may be released in early 2026. Netflix has released other shows in parts and is likely to follow the same approach here. Despite the popularity of the show, the streaming platform is expected to keep the binge-release model instead of a weekly rollout. Also Read: The Handmaid's Tale Season 6 Finale: Will Season 7 happen? Here's Episode 10 release date, time and where to watch by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bongan: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms Senior Apartments | Search Ads Search Now Undo Background The first season of Stranger Things debuted in 2016. Since then, the show has followed a group of children and adults in the town of Hawkins. While many characters have come and gone, the central group of children remains at the core of the story. Also Read: Assassin's Creed Shadows and Dead by Daylight Collaboration: Release date and cost Live Events What Finn Wolfhard Has to Say Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler , has reflected on his time with the show. He believes that Stranger Things will continue to be introduced to new viewers over time. He accepts that he may always be linked to the role, and he views it as a meaningful part of his life and career. David Harbour and Winona Ryder have also been important to the show's success. Their portrayals of Hopper and Joyce Byers added emotional depth to the story. These performances helped give the show a more grounded and serious tone. FAQs When will Stranger Things Season 5 be released? Part 1 will be released in 2025. Part 2 is expected in 2026, but Netflix has not given an official date for the full season. Will Stranger Things Season 5 be released weekly? No, Netflix plans to continue with the binge model. The season will be split into two parts, not released weekly.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Assassin's Creed Shadows and Dead by Daylight Collaboration: Release date and cost
Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to introduce new content through a special collaboration with Dead by Daylight . Ubisoft confirmed the release date for this update as May 27, 2025. New Collaboration A new crossover event has been announced between Assassin's Creed Shadows and Dead by Daylight. A recent tweet teased the event with a message inviting players to 'step into The Fog.' The collaboration begins on May 27, 2025. The event is confirmed to be part of Assassin's Creed Shadows. — assassinscreed (@assassinscreed) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses India (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Parkour Update Alongside the Dead by Daylight event , players will also receive a parkour update. The Assassin's Creed Shadows roadmap mentions this update will arrive in late May. The update will include several parkour adjustments. Changes to photo mode are also part of the update. Ubisoft has stated that both the update and collaboration will be free. Also Read: America's Got Talent Season 20: See release date, time, trailer, host and where to watch Live Events Story Expansion and New Features After the Dead by Daylight content, the next major story drop will arrive. Titled 'New Ally For Your League,' the update will give players a new ally in the game. Ubisoft will also release a free quest. A new difficulty setting will be available, and more gameplay immersion options will be introduced. Also Read: The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Explained: Here's what happened to Ellie and Abby at the end Cost Ubisoft confirmed that players will not need to make purchases to access the new content. The collaboration event, parkour update, new ally and added features are all available at no extra cost. Players will be able to enjoy the new additions as soon as they go live. FAQs When will the Assassin's Creed Shadows x Dead by Daylight content release? The crossover content will be released on May 27, 2025, along with parkour updates and other features. Is the Assassin's Creed Shadows update free? Yes, Ubisoft confirmed the event, parkour update, and new features will be available for free to all players.
