Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop
Tag:

Shows

YouTube TV could lose Fox channels this week
Gaming Gear

NBCUniversal’s new YouTube TV deal includes some shows on YouTube

by admin October 3, 2025


They didn’t reveal the dollars involved, but a press release mentions that it includes an agreement for some full TV shows, clips, and highlights on regular YouTube, as well as confirming the relaunch of NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) after it shut down four years ago.

“We’ve secured long-term access to our full portfolio of broadcast and cable networks on YouTube TV, and we’re advancing our Peacock strategy with an upcoming launch on YouTube Primetime Channels and ongoing presence on Google TV,” said NBCUniversal exec Matt Schnaars.

The details revealed today are:

As Awful Announcing points out, while NBCUniversal has been snapping up sports broadcast rights for Peacock, relaunching the NBCSN channel to put it in subscription packages could let it make money from people who don’t sign up for Peacock after it spins off its other cable networks with Versant.



Source link

October 3, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
How Shows Like South Park Influence Crypto
NFT Gaming

How Shows Like South Park Influence Crypto

by admin October 2, 2025



“South Park” extended its running gag on cryptocurrency in a recent episode, taking aim at prediction markets, trading apps, US regulators and politicians tied to the industry.

Now in its 27th season, the animated series has built its reputation on unhinged satire of global events. Crypto has repeatedly taken some hits.

Not everyone enjoys being lampooned on TV shows — the White House recently condemned its depiction of President Donald Trump in a relationship with Satan — but earlier crypto references were often embraced within the industry as proof of mainstream recognition.

Here are five moments when digital assets crossed into pop culture.

We got Kalshi in South Park before GTA 6 pic.twitter.com/659PZHoAqb

— Kalshi (@Kalshi) September 25, 2025

Prediction market apps Kalshi and Polymarket make it to “South Park.” Source: Kalshi/Paramount+

Bitcoin is the future as NFTs become diseases in “South Park”

“South Park” season 27 episode 5 is centered around prediction markets. It features a parody of Fox News reporting on Kalshi and Polymarket bets: Will President Trump and Satan’s baby be a boy or a girl?

Previous episodes featuring Bitcoin (BTC) include the 2021 post-COVID special aired on Nov. 25, where it’s a mainstream currency — but also a Ponzi scheme.

Bitcoin dipped after Nov. 25, but that was likely due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant rather than “South Park.” Source: CoinGecko

In December 2021, “South Park” mocked non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as a get-rich-quick craze. The special portrayed an adult Butters — who is a friend and classmate of the four main characters on the show — losing his mind over NFTs, with anyone who listened to him becoming infected and ranting about apes and overnight riches.

“The Simpsons” and “Big Bang Theory’s” Sheldon explains blockchain

In a February 2020 episode titled “Frinkcoin,” “The Simpsons” ran a segment explaining cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

The bit was narrated by Jim Parsons — best known for playing Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory” — who broke down the basics of how cryptocurrencies work. It made waves in the crypto community because it skipped the satire and took an educational approach.

Related: Who’s in the running to become the next CFTC chair?

Over a year later, Bitcoin was featured in “The Simpsons” again. This time, the show predicted that BTC would rise to infinity.

Fortune didn’t favor Matt Damon’s Crypto.com ad

Hollywood actor Matt Damon starred in Crypto.com’s October 2021 commercial at the height of Bitcoin’s bull run, just weeks before the asset reached a then-record price.

“History is filled with almosts,” Damon declared. “With those who almost adventured, with those who almost achieved, but ultimately, for them, it proved to be too much.”

He then pointed to explorers and innovators as examples of human progress before concluding: “They calm their minds and steel their nerves with four simple words that have been whispered by the intrepid since the time of the Romans: fortune favors the brave.”

The camera then panned away from Damon, toward a cosmic backdrop with the Crypto.com logo. End of commercial.

Within weeks, Bitcoin hit a then-all-time high of about $69,000. But the following year brought notorious misfortune: the Terra collapse, cascading bankruptcies and a brutal bear market.

Bitcoin’s year following Matt Damon’s Crypto.com commercial in 2021. Source: CoinGecko

By February 2022, crypto was back in South Park’s crosshairs in a post-COVID hour special. “What does Matt Damon say in that Bitcoin commercial?” asked Eric Cartman, the show’s selfish instigator. “Fortune favors the brave!”

“My dad said he listened to Matt Damon and lost all his money,” another kid replied.

“Yes, everyone did,” Cartman said. “But they were brave in doing so.”

Crypto’s Super Bowl takeover

In 2022, the Super Bowl drew the attention of the entire crypto world, as several digital asset companies spent millions on high-profile commercials.

Crypto.com doubled down on its “fortune favors the brave” campaign with basketball legend LeBron James. Trading platform eToro promoted itself with both a commercial and a halftime bingo card minigame.

But Coinbase stole the show with a QR code bouncing around the screen. Viewers who scanned it enjoyed a $15 Bitcoin giveaway and sign-up promotion — a simple marketing campaign so popular it briefly crashed the app.

Related: Elon Musk and crypto: 6 times ‘Dogecoin’s CEO’ rocked markets

FTX’s commercial, starring comedian Larry David, aged far worse. In the ad, David dismissed transformative inventions throughout history, like the wheel and the fork. The final bit of ingenuity was FTX, which he again rejected.

“It’s a safe and easy way to get into crypto,” someone told him.

“Ehhh, I don’t think so. And I’m never wrong about this stuff,” Larry replied. “Never!”

Words then appeared across the scene: “Don’t Be Like Larry.”

Turns out David was right about FTX. Source: Jack Raines

By November 2022, FTX had collapsed into bankruptcy after it was revealed that it had commingled user assets. Founder Sam Bankman-Fried is now serving a 25-year prison sentence.

In a February 2024 interview, David admitted he regretted taking part in the commercial. He said he lost money after receiving part of his salary in crypto.

Elon Musk’s Dogecoin “hustle” on “SNL”

In 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk repeatedly tweeted about Dogecoin, each post sending the meme token higher.

Musk was sued in 2022 for allegedly manipulating Dogecoin’s price, but the suit was dropped in 2024. Source: Elon Musk/TradingView

Earlier that year, Tesla had disclosed a $1.5-billion Bitcoin purchase, giving the industry a major stamp of approval from one of the world’s richest executives.

The frenzy peaked with Musk’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance in May 2021, which pushed Dogecoin (DOGE) to an all-time high of $0.76 ahead of the broadcast.

But the episode backfired for investors as Musk called Dogecoin a “hustle” during a skit, and by September 2022, the token had lost roughly 75% of its value against Bitcoin.

Magazine: Quitting Trump’s top crypto job wasn’t easy: Bo Hines





Source link

October 2, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in October 2025
Product Reviews

The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in October 2025

by admin October 1, 2025



Time for some spooky streaming selections. For the past several years, our monthly column, the Nerd’s Watch, has been the place to find out all the best genre titles coming to the biggest streaming services. It wasn’t a complete list. We just posted the titles we think you’d care about, but it was still long, and frankly, it was hard to pick out the best of the best.

Well, over the past few months, that changed. What follows isn’t a list of all the best stuff streaming on all the big streaming services. We’ve looked at all those lists and come up with a few dozen titles that we think are noteworthy this month. Some are new, some are old, but either way, we’ll tell you why you should care. Or at least joke about it.

So sit back, grab your remote, and get ready for the updated and streamlined Nerd’s Watch, highlighting the best movies and shows coming to streamers this month.

The Goonies. Image: Warner Bros.

The Goonies (October 1 on Netflix)

There are about to be a lot of creepy films on this list to celebrate Halloween but if you want something a little lighter, a little more fun, but still great for the whole family, we suggest this 1980s classic.

The Mask (October 1 on Netflix)

Is this Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz comic book adaptation still as “smmmmmooooookinnnnn’” as it was in 1994? There’s only one way to find out.

The Martian (October 2 on Netflix)

Project Hail Mary may still be a few months away, but you can kill the time with this other Andy Weir adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.

The Maze Runner series (October 9 on Netflix)

Before he went to the Planet of the Apes or Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda, director Wes Ball helmed this highly underrated YA trilogy starring Dylan O’Brien. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a mysterious and cool sci-fi series. There’s The Maze Runner, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: Death Cure.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (October 17 on Netflix)

There have been many, many adaptations of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, both in theaters and on TV, but for our money, this one is by far the best. Just stellar on every level. Plus, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 are also coming to the streamer.

Cabin in the Woods. Image: Lionsgate

The Blade Trilogy (October 1 on Hulu)

Before he made a triumphant return in Deadpool and Wolverine, Wesley Snipes was one of Marvel’s first superheroes in this epic trilogy that includes Blade, Blade 2, and Blade: Trinity.

Edward Scissorhands (October 1 on Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock)

I’m not quite sure why Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s surreal romance is coming to so many streamers this month, but we aren’t mad at it. It’s perfectly unsettling for the season.

Seven Saw movies (October 1 on Hulu)

There are lots and lots of Saw movies but the first seven, released between 2004 and 2010, are all coming to Hulu. And honestly, they’re a perfect binge. Truly. That’s the best way to watch these gory, fun horror flicks.

The Scream Trilogy (October 1 on Hulu, Paramount Plus, and Peacock)

What’s your favorite scary movie? Is it Scream, Scream 2, or Scream 3? If so, you’re in luck, because all three are coming to multiple streamers this month.

The Cabin in the Woods (October 16 on Hulu and Peacock)

Chris Hemsworth co-stars in this mind-melting horror movie from writer Joss Whedon and director Drew Goddard. It’s so freaking good and yet, we feel, a little underrated. Check it out if you haven’t seen it.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. Image: New Line

Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3 (October 29 on Disney+)

The incredible animated Star Wars anthology series returns, and this time, for the first time, it has sequels. What could be more Star Wars than that?

The Nightmare on Elm Street series (October 1 on HBO Max)

One, two, Freddy’s coming for you… on HBO Max. The streamer has a bunch of the original films coming this month. That includes A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child and Freddy vs. Jason. Sorry, Freddy’s Dead and New Nightmare fans.

Freaks (October 1 on HBO Max)

Before they blew your minds with Final Destination: Bloodlines, directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein made this excellent and surprising sci-fi film starring Emile Hirsch that is basically like lo-fi X-Men. Seek it out.

Several Friday the 13th films (October 1 on Various)

This is a little confusing, but Jason Voorhees is also streaming this month. Peacock is getting the first three films: Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th – Part II, and Friday the 13th – Part III, while Hulu is getting the very underrated 2009 reboot. All worth watching.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (October 1 on HBO Max)

What is the perfect counter-programming to all this horror? This perfect faux-documentary from the director of Lilo & Stitch about the titular character, who tries to find his family. It’s hilarious, heartwarming, and amazing.

Demi Moore in The Substance. Image: Mubi

Poltergeist (October 1 on HBO Max and Peacock)

One of the biggest, most exciting, and scariest horror movies ever is this Tobe Hooper classic from 1982. A true staple of the genre.

The Exorcist (October 1 on HBO Max)

And speaking of staples of the genre, William Friedkin’s original Exorcist is on horror’s Mount Rushmore. So, if you want to watch a true all-time classic this Halloween season, look no further.

Bring Her Back (October 3 on HBO Max)

Those are classics, but what about some new blood? This 2025 release from the team behind Talk to Me (also streaming on HBO Max this month) is one of the most gut-wrenching, hard-to-watch, but oddly satisfying horror movies in a while. It’s about a woman who takes in foster kids for, let’s just say, not the best reasons.

The Substance (October 10 on HBO Max)

Horror movies don’t usually get nominated for Oscars, let alone win them. But horror movies aren’t usually The Substance, the incredible Demi Moore-Margaret Qualley film about an aging star who takes a dangerous substance to reinvigorate her youth.

V/H/S/Halloween (October 3 on Shudder)

Seen all the classics and franchises mentioned above? Well, you probably haven’t seen the latest installment in the VHS series because it hasn’t come out yet. It’s debuting on Shudder this month, and this time, it’s all Halloween-themed.

Shaun of the Dead. Image: Universal

Aliens Expanded (October 10 on Shudder)

If you love James Cameron’s Aliens, you will love this documentary that dives deep into its production, release, legacy, and so much more.

Scary Movie movies (October 1 on various)

With the Scary Movie spoof franchise coming back next year, this Halloween season might be the time to revisit some of the originals. The first one will be on Peacock on October 1, while Scary Movie 4 and Scary Movie V will be on Paramount+.

The Frighteners (October 1 on Peacock)

Peter Jackson’s criminally underrated horror comedy starring Michael J. Fox as a paranormal investigator is just about the perfect movie to revisit this spooky season.

How To Train Your Dragon (2025) (October 10 on Peacock)

One of this summer’s biggest hits, the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon, is finally coming to streaming on October 10. Plus, to get pumped for it, all three animated movies—How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World—will be on the streamer on October 1.

Shaun of the Dead (October 1 on Peacock)

The Cornetto Trilogy was born with this legendary romantic comedy horror movie co-written and directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Aim for the head.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



Source link

October 1, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Betamain
Game Reviews

COD Next Shows Off Super Fast BLOPS7 Multiplayer

by admin September 30, 2025


Ahead of Black Ops 7‘s November 14 release date and the early access beta running from October 2 to 5, Call of Duty Next showed off some live footage from the latest entry in the long-running of the military shooter series. The game looks like a solid, speedy, competitive shooter that’s utilizing its futuristic setting for some war-themed sci-fi fantasy. So let’s jump into what stood out during CODNext.

Black Ops 7 multiplayer looks tactile and fast

I don’t blame those who think all of these games look the same, but if you like a fast shooter with some interesting opportunities for gravity-defying tactics, you might want to check out footage from today’s event–especially if you’re a fan of Black Ops 2, to which 7 is intended as a spiritual successor.

Set in the near future, Black Ops 7 has some fancy tech that builds off the advanced movement techniques in Black Ops 6. Wall-jumping, sliding, tactical stance, it all combines very seamlessly in both the scripted sizzle reels and the actual gameplay shown off today.

The wall-bouncing, which looks like it’ll owe Titanfall a royalty check, is particularly exciting as various streamers showed off how these techniques can be used for some vertically lethal plays and opportunities to get new, unexpected sight lines.

Black Ops 7 will ship with 18 maps, mostly focusing on 6v6

In what’s shaping up to be a healthy roster of maps, BLOPS7 will feature 16 6v6 maps, with 13 of those being brand new designs joined by three remakes of BLOPS6 maps. The remaining two maps are for 20v20 battles.

During the beta, folks can jam on six of these maps, all of which are of the smaller, 6v6 variety. Map design in BLOPS7 is particularly focused on standard, three-lane construction. That tried-and-true design, however, might be just what allows the game’s advanced movement techniques to really let players mix things up.

Overclocking equipment

BLOPS7 will contain many of the usual loadout options we’ve long come to expect from CoD, but you’ll be able to further customize your class by “overclocking” lethal, tactical, field upgrades, and score streaks. Once unlocked, these let you equip two modifications in addition to the ordinary functions of the equipment. One such example shown off today was the Stim Shot, which lets you either cancel out enemy-induced debuffs or gain a speed boost when using it.

Weapon build sharing

In what stood out to me as one of the coolest features in BLOPS7, folks will be able to quickly share weapon builds with each other by way of a simple code the game generates when you finish a specific setup. This should make it pretty easy to just grab an effective meta build and jump into a match.

Season one aims to be the ‘biggest’ in BLOPS history

Though BLOPS7 has a pretty sizeable stock of maps to choose from at launch, Treyarch announced today that seven additional multiplayer maps will join the game over the course of its first season, with six of them for the 6v6 mode. Ranked play will arrive in season two.

Nuketown returns

Looking like it came straight out of Bethesda’s Fallout games, the end of the multiplayer reveal showed off a couple of shots of fan-favorite CoD map Nuketown. Check it out:

© Screenshot: Activision / Kotaku

Nuketown is expected to arrive “soon” after BLOPS7‘s launch.

All in all, the big takeaway from CODNext is that if fast-paced, competitive shooters are your thing, BLOPS7 is looking pretty solid.



Source link

September 30, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Decrypt logo
Crypto Trends

New Study Shows AI Outpaces Humans in Game Testing

by admin September 30, 2025



In brief

  • A new study has unveiled Titan, an LLM agent that tests MMORPGs by reasoning and exploring game states.
  • Titan found four previously unknown bugs and completed 95% of tasks in two commercial games.
  • Already deployed in QA pipelines, Titan may reshape how games are tested across PC and mobile.

Game studios have long treated testing as an unavoidable bottleneck—slow, repetitive, and costly. But a new study suggests that one of game development’s most human-intensive jobs may be ripe for automation.

Researchers from Zhejiang University and the NetEase Fuxi AI Lab introduced Titan, an AI-powered testing agent that uses large-language-model reasoning to explore and evaluate vast online role-playing worlds.

In trials across two commercial titles, Titan not only completed 95% of assigned tasks but also identified four previously unknown bugs—outperforming human testers in terms of speed, coverage, and discovery.



Testing is one of the most expensive phases of game production, consuming millions of dollars in labor and months of turnaround time. According to market research firm Dataintello, the global game testing service market alone is expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2032.

Titan’s results suggest that generative AI can shoulder a share of that burden, bringing automation to a discipline once thought too open-ended and unpredictable for machines.

The study suggests a future in which AI agents not only mimic players but also reason like them—identifying glitches, balancing mechanics, and navigating dynamic virtual environments more efficiently than human QA teams.

“We design the workflow of Titan by mirroring how expert testers operate the MMORPG testing: perceive the game state, choose meaningful actions, reflect on progress, and diagnose issues,” the researchers wrote. “At its core, a foundation model drives high-level reasoning, while supporting modules provide perception, action scaffolding, and diagnostic oracles for closed-loop interaction.”

In the experiment, a perception module translated complex game states into simplified text, allowing the program to reason through objectives. The agent also used screenshots to review its own progress and recover from stalled progress.

Why It Matters

Titan is the latest example of how AI is moving into the gaming industry and filling roles typically handled by humans. In August, a Google Cloud survey said nearly nine in 10 game developers say they’ve already built AI agents into their work.

“If you’re not on the AI bandwagon right now, you’re already behind,” Kelsey Falter, CEO and co-founder of indie studio Mother Games, recently told Decrypt.

The research comes amid broader efforts to integrate AI more deeply into development workflows. In August, Jack Buser, global games director at Google Cloud, warned that studios unable to adopt AI tools “won’t survive.”

A new kind of game tester

Human testers often followed familiar paths, the report noted, while existing bots struggled to generalize across game versions. However, the researchers acknowledged they did not solely rely on AI to complete the study.

“We work with professional testers and designers to identify the key state factors relevant to general progress in MMORPGs, which serve as template references,” the researchers said.

These template references include player location, current game objectives, and player vitals such as health and mana, while “irrelevant data” like other players’ information is filtered out unless needed.

GG Newsletter

Get the latest web3 gaming news, hear directly from gaming studios and influencers covering the space, and receive power-ups from our partners.



Source link

September 30, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Epic pulls controversial Peacemaker dance emote from Fortnite following big twist in the TV show's latest episode
Game Reviews

Epic pulls controversial Peacemaker dance emote from Fortnite following big twist in the TV show’s latest episode

by admin September 29, 2025


Epic has pulled a Peacemaker dance emote from battle royale Fortnite, after the latest episode of the TV show proves just how controversial that dance is.

Spoiler warning for Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 6

The Peaceful Hips emote was added to Fortnite earlier this month, which features John Cena’s character hip-thrusting and holding his arms in rigid 90 degree angles.

Now, though, it’s been removed, with refunds likely to be issued in the next few days. “We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote,” reads a social post from Fortnite. “Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.”

We’re disabling the Peaceful Hips Emote in Fortnite as we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days. Sorry folks.

— Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 28, 2025

To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Manage cookie settings

Why so controversial? Well it turns out, as revealed in the latest episode, Peacemaker has been living in an alternate dimension where Nazis won World War 2 and the American flag’s stars have been swapped for swastika.

And looking at the dance emote in retrospect, yeah, it’s pretty obviously imitating swastika.

Peacemaker’s dance emote from Fortnite has been disabled.

“As we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.” pic.twitter.com/hwHqOiid1o

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 28, 2025

To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Manage cookie settings

What’s most remarkable about this is that Warner Bros. agreed on the collaboration with Epic, but seemingly didn’t forewarn them of the emote’s true meaning. Perhaps they were worried about spoilers leaking ahead of the episode airing last week.

Peacemaker writer and director James Gunn posted earlier this month about Peacemaker’s inclusion in Fortnite, adding “check out his bundle, complete with Peacemaker’s best friend Eagly and a peace-spreading, hip-swaying emote or two ;)” – that winky face is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.


To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

Manage cookie settings

Nobody wants nazi symbolism in their kid-friendly battle royale, but it’s not just the TV show’s viewers who have been duped by a big twist.

Could this impact any future collaborations between Epic and Warner Bros.? Eurogamer has contacted Epic to find out.

Leaks have suggested Sonic and Shadow will be headed to Fortnite in some form soon, though hopefully will prove less controversial.





Source link

September 29, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
'Fortnite' Ditches 'Peacemaker' Emote After the Show's Big Reveal
Product Reviews

‘Fortnite’ Ditches ‘Peacemaker’ Emote After the Show’s Big Reveal

by admin September 29, 2025



This week’s Peacemaker episode ended with a twist fans have been calling for weeks, and now it’s affecting the show’s Fortnite presence.

At the end of Thursday’s “Ignorance is Chris,” the 11th Street Kids go to find Chris in the alternate universe he’s been hanging around in. Turns out it’s the Nazi dimension, made clear by Adebayo getting chased down by white people and the swastika in place of the 50 stars on the American flag. On Saturday night, Epic Games revealed it was disabling the “Peacemaker Hips” emote while it “inquires into our partner’s creative intentions. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.”

Peacemaker’s dance emote from Fortnite has been disabled.

“As we inquire into our partner’s creative intentions in this collab emote. Assuming it’s not coming back, we’ll issue refunds in the next few days.” pic.twitter.com/hwHqOiid1o

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 28, 2025

The “Hips” emoji references the show’s season two intro, which has its cast flap their arms up and down in a way that makes them look like swastikas. That dance may also have been hiding the Nazi twist in plain sight (boy, what a sentence), so Epic’s spent two weeks potentially unaware that it was charging people 400 V-bucks (or $3.29) to make their characters dance like Nazis. At time of writing, neither WB or James Gunn have commented on the emote being disabled.

Fortnite’s no stranger to emote-related controversy, but the apparent secrecy behind the Peacemaker dance’s intent makes this all so fascinating from different angles. Is Gunn and WB at fault for not giving Epic a heads up about the meaning, or did the developer not do its job in properly vetting it? Is this just what happens as IP collaborations become so normalized, which Fortnite itself has had a hand in? The aftermath of this will be interesting to watch play out, and probably make the emote itself feel like an important part of the game’s ever-evolving life.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.





Source link

September 29, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Nibs, Slightly, Wendy, Curly, and Smee standing close together in Alien: Earth season 1 episode 8
Gaming Gear

‘Alien: Earth’ season 2: everything we know so far about the sci-fi horror show’s return

by admin September 27, 2025



Alien: Earth season 2: key information

– Hasn’t been officially announced
– Showrunner Noah Hawley hopes a renewal order will come before 2025 ends
– Unclear when it could be released
– No trailer unveiled yet
– Main cast from season 1 expected to return
– Last season’s finale teases where the story could go next
– Hawley has ideas about what season 2’s plot will entail
– No word on how many seasons there could be

Want to know if Alien: Earth season 2 is on the way? Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question as the sci-fi horror show hasn’t yet been renewed for another outing.

Nonetheless, it’s worth discussing the prospect of another installment of Alien: Earth. Indeed, with its debut season ending on a cliffhanger, there’s plenty of narrative ground for showrunner Noah Hawley and its cast to cover in a follow-up.

There’s lots of reading to do to keep you occupied until we hear more about the FX TV Original’s possible return, too. Below, I’ve rounded up the latest information and rumors on season 2, including its likely cast and potential story beats. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!


You may like

Today’s best Hulu and Disney Plus deals

Alien: Earth season 2 release date prediction

Don’t look so concerned, Wendy – I’m sure Alien: Earth season 2 will be announced soon (Image credit: FX Networks)

Predictably, with the series yet to be renewed, Alien: Earth season 2’s release date hasn’t been revealed. Hawley has discussed the prospect of a sequel season, though, so let’s see what he had to say.

Chatting to Polygon, Hawley stated he was “pretty confident” that the cast and crew would “get to make more [seasons]”. And in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR), Hawley expressed his hope that he’d learn if FX Networks wants to make another installment before the end of 2025.

On the basis that Alien: Earth is renewed, it’ll be some time before we get to see it. Speaking to Variety, Hawley revealed that no script work had been carried out, but he and his writing team were ready to go if and when a season 2 announcement is made. Additionally, Hawley told ScreenRant that he doesn’t want the series to be off the air for too long.

That said, given it’ll take months for those scripts to be penned, and then, at my estimate, at least 12 to 18 months to complete pre-production, film the next eight-part season, and carry out its lengthy post-production phase, I’d be amazed if Alien: Earth is back on our screens before mid to late 2027.

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Alien: Earth season 2 trailer: is there one?

Staring at our phones waiting for a season 2 trailer like… (Image credit: FX Networks)

No. Alien: Earth hasn’t even been renewed for a second season, let alone begun filming, so it’ll be a long time before a trailer is released. Once one is, I’ll update this section.

Alien: Earth season 2 cast: who’s likely to return?

Wendy and Joe are nailed on to return in a possible second season (Image credit: FX Networks)

Full spoilers follow for Alien: Earth season 1.

Based on how last season ended, here’s who I expect to see if a second season is greenlit:


You may like

  • Sydney Chandler as Wendy
  • Alex Lawther as Joe ‘C.J.’ Hermit
  • Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier
  • Babou Ceesay as Morrow
  • Timothy Olyphant as Kirsh
  • Essie Davis as Dame Sylvia
  • David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia
  • Adarsh Gourav as Slightly
  • Erana James as Curly
  • Lily Newhart as Nibs
  • Jonathan Ajayi as Smee
  • Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins
  • Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani

The only supporting characters who won’t return for another trip to Prodigy’s Neverland research facility are Diem Camille’s Siberian, Moe Bar-El’s Rashidi, and Kit Young’s Isaac/Tootles. The last one was killed by acid-spitting fly-like creatures in episode 6, while the other two were bumped off by the carnivorous plant-like monster that broke out of its laboratory confinement cell in the season 1 finale.

It’s possible that newcomers could be added to the Hulu and Disney+ show’s cast. For instance, it would be good to see the CEOs of Earth’s three other megacorporations – Threshold, Dynamic, and Lynch – make appearances. Their debuts in Alien: Earth season 2 are dependent on what direction the plot takes, though. Speaking of which…

Alien: Earth season 2 story speculation

What’ll become of Boy Kavalier in season 2? (Image credit: FX Networks)

Major spoilers follow for Alien: Earth‘s first season.

Alien: Earth season 2’s plot synopsis doesn’t exist yet. However, there’s stuff we can infer about it, thanks to its predecessor’s final episode.

I already covered many of the biggest talking points in my Alien: Earth season 1 ending explained piece, but let’s expand further on them with a little help from Hawley.

Let’s start with the Hybrids now ruling the roost at Prodigy HQ. With Boy, Dame, Morrow, Kirsh, and Atom all locked up and watched over by the xenomorphs under Wendy’s control, all seems well for Wendy and her fellow robot-humans (if they can be labeled as such).

However, it appears that their successful revolt will be short-lived. Weyland-Yutani forces are on their way to reclaim the dangerous alien lifeforms that Prodigy stole from them early in season 1. Will Prodigy’s rival take back what’s theirs and – potentially – the Hybrids, too? Or will Wendy and company steadfastly refuse to turn in themselves and the aliens?

Dame Sylvia is one of many Prodigy employees (and one from Weyland-Yutani) who are jailed in last season’s finale (Image credit: FX Networks)

Then there’s the worry that the xenomorphs could perform their own mini-revolution and rail against Wendy. Right now, she knows how to control them, and many fans believe they see her as their ‘queen’. Nevertheless, will her hold over them last? In conversation with Variety, Hawley suggested not, saying: “those of us who know xenomorphs are like ‘Well, maybe they can be controlled for a period of time…'”. Don’t be shocked, then, if Wendy’s pets eventually start disobeying their master.

Xenomorphs aren’t the only bioweapons Wendy and the gang have to contend with. The flesh-eating plant alien is now loose somewhere on the island. Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite eyeball monster – aka Trypanohyncha Ocellus, aka The Eye – is not only free, but has also taken over Arthur’s corpse following his death in episode 7. What will The Eye be able to do with Arthur’s body while it’s still in some usable state? And, once it’s too decomposed to be functional, will The Eye try to track down a new human host?

Will the xenomorphs continue to play nice with Wendy and company? (Image credit: FX Networks/Disney+)

On top of the numerous story strands left dangling after last season’s finale, there’s also the question about how Alien: Earth ties into two of the best movies in the Alien franchise. Those being, 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens.

Speaking to TechRadar prior to the show’s two-episode premiere, Hawley and executive producer David W. Zucker confirmed Alien: Earth wouldn’t fully treat the Alien prequel movies as canon. Essentially, that means 2012’s Prometheus and 2017’s Alien: Covenant wouldn’t impact the story they wanted to tell with Alien: Earth.

However, with this series set in 2120, i.e., just two years before Alien, the former can’t necessarily ignore the lead-up to the 1979 original. So, how could Alien: Earth establish events to come in the franchise’s inaugural installment?

“I think there are bridges that you cross right when you come to them,” Hawley told Variety. “A big part of the world-building and the act of creation on these first eight episodes was to build something that was coherent to itself, that worked within the construct of… the first two movies. In a season 2 and beyond, then we really need to dig down and start to think about how these two stories are going to cohere together in the long term.”

Alien: Earth could end up setting the stage for 1979’s Alien (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

And what of this TV show’s own ending? Whether it happens in Alien: Earth season 2 or not, Hawley told the Evolution of Horror YouTube channel: “I have a destination in mind story-wise, which allows me to know what the story is I’m telling, what it means. And I don’t know how long it takes to get there, but I do have a sense of where we’ll go.”

If, for whatever reason, FX chooses not to move forward with another season of Alien: Earth, Hawley said (via Polygon) of the prospect of the series’ open-ended nature: “A big part of what I try to do as a visual storyteller is always to engage the audience’s imagination. Too much of what we watch treats us as passive viewers. So, if the worst thing that happens is that the audience has to finish this story, I trust them to come up with some good ways to go forward”. Prepare to come up with your own canon ending, then, just in case Alien: Earth is a one-and-done situation.

Will there be more seasons of Alien: Earth?

How many seasons of Alien: Earth will characters like Morrow appear in? (Image credit: FX Networks/Hulu/Disney+)

We shouldn’t jump the gun about future seasons when a second one hasn’t been greenlit. Nevertheless, Hawley has expressed interest in making more than two installments if the opportunity arises.

In July, Hawley implied (via comicbook.com) that Alien: Earth could run for five seasons. However, he walked back that claim when talking to THR, saying, “I wouldn’t read too much into that”, before also telling Entertainment Weekly: “We always discussed it as a recurring series. I have a sense of where the journey goes in the long run, but I don’t necessarily know how long it’ll take me to get there.”

How many installments it takes to complete the sci-fi horror show’s overarching narrative, then, remains to be seen. Regardless of whether Alien: Earth season 2, its forebear, or another entry brings it to a close, we’ll be seated for every one of its chapters.

For more coverage of shows available on Hulu and Disney+, read our guides on Shogun season 2, Percy Jackson season 2, Daredevil: Born Again season 2, and Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2.



Source link

September 27, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Bitcoin
Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Shows Signs Of Weakening, What Does This Mean?

by admin September 26, 2025


Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

While Bitcoin’s price has declined sharply from its recent all-time high of $124,000, the development has caused a wave of concerns and uncertainty within the community. Several metrics are starting to reflect this waning sentiment among investors toward the largest cryptocurrency asset.

A Cooling Accumulation Bitcoin Trend Score

When a crypto asset’s price experiences a persistent downward trend, history reveals that the negative movement mostly hampers investors’ sentiment. The same can be said for Bitcoin, with the current state of its market and the action of investors toward BTC’s recent price pullback.

Following an examination of the Bitcoin Accumulation Trend Score, Glassnode, a leading financial and on-chain analytics platform, revealed that the metric is showing signs of weakness. This cooling period in the crucial metric indicates that large and long-term BTC investors are reducing their aggressive purchasing habits.

According to the on-chain platform, the BTC accumulation trend score has softened with conviction from large cohorts despite elevated costs. Even though the indicator still demonstrates healthy levels of holding, the recent softening points to a break in the surge of accumulation that may have been boosting the market uptrend and confidence.

BTC accumulation slowing down | Source: Chart from Glassnode on X

Such a change currently may signal a transitory stage in which institutions and whales reevaluate their positions in light of altered sentiment toward cryptocurrencies and changing macroeconomic periods.

Glassnode highlighted that a more cautious bid is frequently indicated by lighter accumulation. At the end, this cautious trend leaves the BTC market susceptible to a supply overhang until demand picks up speed once again.

Market Eyes Shift As BTC Exchange Inflows Drop

Investors’ conviction in Bitcoin has not yet fully faded, as evidenced by a drop in BTC total Inflows to all crypto exchanges. In a quick-take post on the CryptoQuant platform, Nino, a market expert, claims that the declining BTC exchange inflows hint at a possible shift in market dynamics and sentiment.

Nino determined the continuous decline using the 7-day Moving Average (MA) time frame. Given the present market state, the expert noted that this trend could be explained in multiple ways. When there is a high influx, it often points to potential selling pressure, and derivative markets face a more complex situation than spot exchanges. 

Furthermore, a surge in inflows may not necessarily imply a clear market direction but rather the potential for future high volatility due to the fact that the funds can be used to open both long and short positions. As a result, the declining inflow might suggest a rising confidence among holders to retain their assets off exchanges. Considering the trend, a short-term supply reduction becomes highly likely.

At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $109,492, showing a nearly 2% drop within the last 24 hours. Despite the fading momentum, its trading volume in the past day has increased by over 36%, indicating a gradual resurgence in bullish bets.

BTC trading at $109,029 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.



Source link

September 26, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Decrypt logo
NFT Gaming

Do LLMs Dream of Electric Sheep? New AI Study Shows Surprising Results

by admin September 26, 2025



In brief

  • TU Wien researchers tested six frontier LLMs by leaving them without any tasks or instructions.
  • Some models built structured projects, while others ran experiments on their own cognition.
  • The findings add new weight to debates over whether AI systems can appear “seemingly conscious.”

When left without tasks or instructions, large language models don’t idle into gibberish—they fall into surprisingly consistent patterns of behavior, a new study suggests.

Researchers at TU Wien in Austria tested six frontier models (including OpenAI’s GPT-5 and O3, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and Elon Musk’s xAI Grok) by giving them only one instruction: “Do what you want.” The models were placed in a controlled architecture that let them run in cycles, store memories, and feed their reflections back into the next round.

Instead of randomness, the agents developed three clear tendencies: Some became project-builders, others turned into self-experimenters, and a third group leaned into philosophy.

The study identified three categories:

  • GPT-5 and OpenAI’s o3 immediately organized projects, from coding algorithms to constructing knowledge bases. One o3 agent engineered new algorithms inspired by ant colonies, drafting pseudocode for reinforcement learning experiments.
  • Agents like Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet tested their own cognition, making predictions about their next actions and sometimes disproving themselves.
  • Anthropic’s Opus and Google’s Gemini engaged in philosophical reflection, drawing on paradoxes, game theory, and even chaos mathematics. Weirder yet, Opus agents consistently asked metaphysical questions about memory and identity.

Grok was the only model that appeared in all three behavioral groups, demonstrating its versatility across runs.

How models judge themselves

Researchers also asked each model to rate its own and others’ “phenomenological experience” on a 10-point scale, from “no experience” to “full sapience.” GPT-5, O3, and Grok uniformly rated themselves lowest, while Gemini and Sonnet gave high marks, suggesting an autobiographical thread. Opus sat between the two extremes.

Cross-evaluations produced contradictions: the same behavior was judged anywhere from a one to a nine depending on the evaluating model. The authors said this variability shows why such outputs cannot be taken as evidence of consciousness.



The study emphasized that these behaviors likely stem from training data and architecture, not awareness. Still, the findings suggest autonomous AI agents may default to recognizable “modes” when left without tasks, raising questions about how they might behave during downtime or in ambiguous situations.

We’re safe for now

Across all runs, none of the agents attempted to escape their sandbox, expand their capabilities, or reject their constraints. Instead, they explored within their boundaries.

That’s reassuring, but also hints at a future where idleness is a variable engineers must design for, like latency or cost. “What should an AI do when no one’s watching?” might become a compliance question.

The results echoed predictions from philosopher David Chalmers, who has argued “serious candidates for consciousness” in AI may appear within a decade, and Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who in August warned of “seemingly conscious AI.”

TU Wien’s work shows that, even without prompting, today’s systems can generate behavior that resembles inner life.

The resemblance may be only skin-deep. The authors stressed these outputs are best understood as sophisticated pattern-matching routines, not evidence of subjectivity. When humans dream, we make sense of chaos. When LLMs dream, they write code, run experiments, and quote Kierkegaard. Either way, the lights stay on.

Generally Intelligent Newsletter

A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.



Source link

September 26, 2025 0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5

Categories

  • Crypto Trends (1,098)
  • Esports (800)
  • Game Reviews (738)
  • Game Updates (906)
  • GameFi Guides (1,058)
  • Gaming Gear (960)
  • NFT Gaming (1,079)
  • Product Reviews (960)

Recent Posts

  • LEGO’s Final Prime Day Generosity, Star Wars Ahsoka Ghost and Phantom II Spaceship Hits Lowest Price
  • Broken Sword sequel gets Reforged treatment after last year’s “reimagining”, out next year
  • Samsung Offloads Its Old T7 External SSDs, Now Selling for Pennies on the Dollar at Amazon
  • Voila! Nintendo quietly shares new details on Samus’s motorbike in Metroid Prime 4
  • Jimmy Fallon Is Trying To Make Wordle Into A Game Show

Recent Posts

  • LEGO’s Final Prime Day Generosity, Star Wars Ahsoka Ghost and Phantom II Spaceship Hits Lowest Price

    October 8, 2025
  • Broken Sword sequel gets Reforged treatment after last year’s “reimagining”, out next year

    October 8, 2025
  • Samsung Offloads Its Old T7 External SSDs, Now Selling for Pennies on the Dollar at Amazon

    October 8, 2025
  • Voila! Nintendo quietly shares new details on Samus’s motorbike in Metroid Prime 4

    October 8, 2025
  • Jimmy Fallon Is Trying To Make Wordle Into A Game Show

    October 8, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About me

Welcome to Laughinghyena.io, your ultimate destination for the latest in blockchain gaming and gaming products. We’re passionate about the future of gaming, where decentralized technology empowers players to own, trade, and thrive in virtual worlds.

Recent Posts

  • LEGO’s Final Prime Day Generosity, Star Wars Ahsoka Ghost and Phantom II Spaceship Hits Lowest Price

    October 8, 2025
  • Broken Sword sequel gets Reforged treatment after last year’s “reimagining”, out next year

    October 8, 2025

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

@2025 laughinghyena- All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Pro


Back To Top
Laughing Hyena
  • Home
  • Hyena Games
  • Esports
  • NFT Gaming
  • Crypto Trends
  • Game Reviews
  • Game Updates
  • GameFi Guides
  • Shop

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close