The Wednesday letters page thinks Obsidian Entertainment will be forced to return to the Fallout franchise soon enough, as one reader celebrates 20 years of Ōkami.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Insufficient data
It does amaze me how little we know about GTA 6 at this point, and I wonder when we would’ve learnt more, if it had come out as planned in May. Would we have had another trailer by now? Would the website have filled out with info and maps and info or would they still keep things close to their chests?

And what’s the best guess for the next trailer now, if it’s out in November? Ignoring the fact that I think a delay is likely I don’t see one happening until the summer. Rockstar like to rain on other people’s parades, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was very close to Summer Game Fest or whatever is due this year.

I’m not convinced it’ll give much more info though; it’ll still be the bare minimum. Everyone’s imagination is working overboard on what the game will be like. that Rockstar don’t need to step in and tell them they’re wrong. Who needs marketing when you’ve got millions of desperate fans?
Gibson

To infinity and beyond
I forgot about Sony suddenly moving the goalposts about how much the PlayStation 2 sold, so now it can never really be beaten, since ‘more than 160 million’ basically means every number up to and including infinity.

As far as I’m concerned, the Switch is the best-selling console ever. Not only did it beat Sony’s original number for the PlayStation 2 but it did it under very difficult circumstances, with proper competition from PlayStation (and not so much Xbox). Not only that but it was late starting in its generation, thanks to the Wii U, and still wiped the floor with its rivals.

Not to downplay the PlayStation 2 in anyway but the reason it did so well is because it had no serious competition in its generation, just the GameCube and the original Xbox. So, for me at least, the Switch’s performance has been much more impressive.
Onibee

Unnecessary store
I won’t miss GAME. The stores were never that necessary after Amazon, etc. sold games and the staff were never very knowledgeable.

Sad to see one less physical disc seller but that has been on the wane for years now. CeX offer better service and warranty and HMV still hangs on, so there are local options if I feel like leaving the house.

I might now be in the minority but at least 95% of my console games are physical discs. I like to display them. I like the fact most of them will work sans internet. They provide a storage medium for me. I don’t have to download a dozen gigabytes of data each time I want to play the game, updates and DLC not included but most games work fine on version 1.0 anyway.
Bobwallett

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You cannot be serious
It’s interesting that the short film for Resident Evil Requiem seems to be a lot more serious than the game. But I think five minutes is about as long as you keep that kind of tone and still be true to the series. Even the bit where the S.T.A.R.S. guy is going along the street looked kind of goofy and that was only for a second.

Zombies being zombies is all well and spooky but the minute you have policemen firing bazookas at monsters with five foot long tongues it all gets very silly (in a good way, in the games at least). I can’t believe that Zach Cregger is going to make his new movie serious. It might not be a comedy but there’s another zaniness in films like Weapons that I think that short will end up being as serious as anyone every takes Resident Evil.

Not a criticism or praise, just an observation. Even something like 28 Years Later has some purposefully sill stuff in there, just because it’s got zombies in it doesn’t mean it has to be grimdark.
Pilot

TV review
I’d say it’s pretty obvious that Fallout countdown is going to be a remaster of Fallout 3. I don’t know what else it could be without being a complete letdown. Whether it’s shadow-dropped or not I don’t care but Oblivion Remastered came out in April so we’re close to the same time and I’m sure Bethesda will want to repeat that success.

If Fallout season 2 has been good then I think it might even do better, because I’d say that Fallout 3 was a better game than 4 (but not New Vegas). I haven’t seen the show though. I zoned out halfway through the first one and, to be honest, don’t really understand why it’s been such a big hit. Have any readers seen it that could say whether it’s been better or worse?
Lurgie

Calm response
I’m not going to dogpile on Nintendo again for their line-up, but I would be very surprised if anyone was totally onboard with what they’ve got planned for the next few months. They’ve messed up Mario Tennis so many times by now that even if this one is good, I don’t think many people are going to be willing to take a chance on it.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder was great, but I don’t think many people were thinking that it would be that much better if it had a ton of gimmicky multiplayer modes. Especially if you can’t play them properly online.

And the Virtual Boy? The whole thing about it is that it was terrible and those red and black screenshot are so ugly I can’t believe it existed back then, let alone that they’re going to bring it back now. I like that it’s there, for preservation and everything, but I can’t imagine playing any of the games for more than a few minutes.

Is the line-up a disaster or a betrayal of fans or any other kind of overreaction? No. It’s just not very inspiring and I’m not sure I’ll pay for any of it. That’s not much for fans to get upset about but I imagine it’s not what Nintendo wants to hear when the console is still less than a year old.
Roland

One more for the pile
Just to add to the list of anniversaries for this year but it’s Ōkami’s 20th in April. Capcom set up an anniversary website for it and while it doesn’t say anything about the sequel, it’ll probably get updated nearer the time.

There is going to be a concert in Japan but the most interesting thing I noticed on the website is that there’s no mention of Ōkamiden on the DS. I’m pretty sure I read that Hideki Kamiya doesn’t like it and/or resented not being involved, so looks like he’s trying to memory hole it. I thought it was alright myself, but I guess this means you’re never going to see a remaster.
Inky

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Return to Vegas
So what you’re telling me with that news story about all Obsidian’s role-players flopping is that they’re now on Microsoft’s list and right in the danger zone with Double Fine. Maybe worse actually, because at least Double Fine have a new game coming out. If there’s not going to be a Outer Worlds 3 what are Obsidian going to do now?

I actually really like The Outer Worlds 2, but it should’ve been obvious it wasn’t going to be a big hit. People weren’t exactly knocking the door down for a sequel and it came out at busy time of year with very little marketing or hype.

I forgot Avowed even existed and I don’t think I’m the only one. Even looking at it now, I’m not sure what the hook is, other than it looks very generic and nerdy.

This seems a familiar problem with Microsoft though, where the instant they get a whiff of success they convince themselves the game’s a culture icon and everyone’s talking about it. They’re a lot like gamers in that sense, where there can’t ever be middle ground, everything’s got to be a mega hit or a flop.

Thinking about it though, Microsoft probably won’t shut them down entirely. They’ll probably downsize them but then send them to work in the Fallout mines, making remakes and sequels to New Vegas. That doesn’t sound like such a bad idea in theory, but I don’t think people working under duress is going to result in the best games.
Focus

Inbox also-rans
I see Sonic Racing CrossWorlds underperformed for Sega. Can’t say I’m surprised, as releasing it alongside Mario Kart World always seemed silly. In fact, it probably helped Nintendo by making their game look even better by comparison.
Toxie

I think this got overlooked a bit at the end of the year but I’m really surprised that Marvel Cosmic Invasion seems to have bene a flop, as I thought it was really good. Another example of the Marvel curse, where every game not made by Insomniac is a flop, even with the licence attached?
RobertCop

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MORE: Games Inbox: Are you sad to see the end of GAME stores?

MORE: Games Inbox: What will a post-GTA 6 video games industry be like?

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Egg cartons can really come in handy this month without you even realising! So next time you finish a pack of eggs, make sure you keep the package for your garden

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Ever wondered how eggs can benefit your outdoor space? It’s no secret eggshells could work wonders for your garden during the colder seasons – but it so happens the packaging is also important too.

In fact, one gardener revealed how the cartons are crucial for this time of the year and it all starts now. One green-thumbed enthusiast shared how she gets her homegrown potatoes to a flying start ahead of spring. With a popular garden practice called chitting, you must begin by breaking the seed potato dormancy by pre-sprouting them and to do that, you’ll need an egg carton, or two.

The gardener shared her advice on TikTok under the handle @allotmentality where she said: “Here’s how I get my homegrown potatoes to a flying start.

“And it all begins before the sprouts even hit the ground. With a practice called chitting. Chitting basically means breaking the seed potato dormancy by pre-sprouting it. As a result, they emerge sooner than planting and are ready to harvest earlier.”

She begins by getting good quality, disease-free seed potatoes from a reputable source.

The gardener continued: “You can start chitting your spuds about 6 weeks before planting out and I only do it to first and second early varieties.

“I’m using egg cartons but any container with compartments will do. All you need to do is place your seed potatoes the eye side up, by eyes we mean these nobbly bits here and this is where the shoots will sprout.

“And put the potatoes somewhere cool and light, for example a windowsill in an unheated spare bedroom.”

Sharing the results, she continued: “After six weeks, the sprouted potatoes will look like this, at which point they will be ready to plant out, nicely primed for faster growth and earlier harvest.”

Best time to grow potatoes:

Before you begin the practice, it’s important to chit your potatoes from late January to February, approximately 4-6 weeks before planting from mid-March to April.

It’s important to begin your potatoes this month so they’re ready for spring. Begin by placing tubers in a light, cool, frost-free area (like a garage or windowsill) with the “rose” end (most eyes) upwards.

Then once spring comes along and the soil has warmed up, your potatoes can be planted to grow beautifully.

For the best results, start planting in late March.

People on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLAc) and Carer’s Allowance who permanently move to Scotland must now make new claims for equivalent Scottish benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) has confirmed that new regulations are now in effect for individuals living in England or Wales who receive Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ), Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLAc), and Carer’s Allowance, who permanently move to Scotland.

Prior to November 6, claimants’ cases were automatically transferred to Social Security Scotland, which then disbursed the equivalent devolved benefit. These claimants were not required to submit a new claim.

However, following the completion of case transfers to Social Security Scotland at the end of last year, individuals who permanently move from England or Wales to Scotland must now submit a new claim for the equivalent Scottish benefit.

From this spring, individuals receiving Attendance Allowance who move to Scotland will also need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.

To avoid disruptions in payments, individuals are encouraged to apply for the replacement benefits – Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, and Carer Support Payment – as soon as possible after relocating, reports the Daily Record.

Before applying to Social Security Scotland, individuals must inform the DWP or the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland about their relocation.

Older individuals on DLA will also need to notify their benefit provider and contact Social Security Scotland to request Scottish Adult DLA.

Karyn Dunning, deputy director at Social Security Scotland, said: “It’s vital disabled people and carers who move to Scotland take action to ensure they continue to get the financial support they are entitled to.

“We know applying for benefits can feel daunting, especially alongside moving to a new country, but there is an in-depth guide available on mygov.scot.

“Our staff are also here to answer questions and help people apply. We can provide help over the phone, through webchat or through a face-to-face appointment with one of our community-based advisors.

“I urge people not to put off applying. The Scottish approach to benefits is very different from that of the DWP. For example, we do not use private sector assessors to make decisions.

“Our system is built on the principles of dignity, fairness and respect, and we want disabled people and carers to get every penny they’re entitled to.”

It’s crucial to understand that the DWP and Department of Communities in Northern Ireland will keep paying PIP, DLA for children and Carer’s Allowance for 13 weeks following a move to Scotland.

The push to apply early stems from processing timescales, aiming to prevent any gaps in payments when transferring between welfare systems.

Those who successfully apply for a devolved disability benefit might qualify to have their payments backdated to the day following the end of their DWP benefit. Further details on relocating to Scotland and applying for devolved benefits can be found on MYGOV.SCOT or by contacting Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

Disney has named its parks chief Josh D’Amaro to succeed Bob Iger as the entertainment giant’s top executive.

D’Amaro will become the 9th CEO in the more than 100-year-old company’s history. He has overseen the company’s theme parks, cruises and resorts since 2020. The Experiences division has been a substantial moneymaker for Disney, with $36 billion in annual revenue in fiscal 2025 and 185,000 employees worldwide.

The 54-year-old takes over a time when Disney is flush with box-office hits like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and its streaming business is strong. At the same time, Disney has seen a decline in foreign visitors to its domestic theme parks. Tourism to the U.S. has fallen overall during an aggressive immigration crack down by the Trump administration, as well as clashes with almost all of country’s trading partners.

D’Amaro will be tasked with tapping into Disney’s vast collection of intellectual property to help create successful movies and theme park additions, while also pushing for streaming growth and continuing to build up its sports business.

The decision on the next chief executive at Disney comes almost four years after the company’s choice to replace Iger went disastrously, forcing Iger back into the job.

Only two years after stepping down as CEO, Iger returned to Disney in 2022 after a period of clashes, missteps and a weakening financial performance under his hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek.

Disney meticulously and methodically sought out its next CEO this time. The company created a succession planning committee in 2023, but the search began in earnest in 2024 when Disney enlisted James Gorman, who is currently Disney’s chairman and previously served as Morgan Stanley’s executive chairman, to lead the effort. That still gave it ample opportunity to vet candidates, as Iger agreed to a contract extension.

Disney said that Iger will continue to serve as a senior adviser and board member until his retirement from the company at the end of the year.

While external candidates were considered, it was widely expected that Disney would look internally for the next CEO. The advantage would be that Disney executives were already being mentored by Iger, and had extensive contact with the company’s 15 board members, of which Iger is a member.

Disney is unique in that its top executive must oversee a sprawling entertainment company with branches reaching in every direction, while also serving as an unusually public figure.

D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden quickly emerged as the front-runners for the top job.

D’Amaro, who has been with Disney since 1998, has been leading the charge on Disney’s multiyear $60 billion investment into its cruise ships, resorts and theme parks. He also oversees Walt Disney Imagineering, which is in charge of the design and development of the company’s theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, and immersive experiences worldwide. In addition, D’Amaro has been leading Disney’s licensing business, which includes its partnership with Epic Games.

“Throughout this search process, Josh has demonstrated a strong vision for the company’s future and a deep understanding of the creative spirit that makes Disney unique in an ever-changing marketplace,” Gorman said in prepared remarks. “He has an outstanding record of business achievement, collaborating with some of the biggest names in entertainment to bring their stories to life in our parks, showcasing the power of combining Disney storytelling with cutting-edge technology.”

In her most recent role as co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, Walden has helped oversee Disney’s streaming business, along with its entertainment media, news and content businesses. She joined Disney in 2019. Before that, Walden spent 25 years at 21st Century Fox and was CEO of Fox Television Group.

Walden will now step into the newly created role of president and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Co. She will report to D’Amaro.

“I think if you think about what is the heart of the Disney company, it’s the creativity. It’s this amazing IP that’s been produced over decades, going back to Walt, and the storytelling that comes from that creativity. And I think Dana, working with Josh and ensuring that the best creativity permeates all of our businesses, is what we wanted,” Gorman said in an interview with CNBC.

There had been speculation that Disney might go the route of naming co-CEOs, a move that has started to become more popular with companies. Oracle and Spotify are among those who named co-CEOs in 2025.

D’Amaro and Walden’s appointments are effective on March 18.

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “Through the Online Safety Act, we have taken some of the boldest steps anywhere in the world to ensure children have age-appropriate experiences online, mandating that social media companies protect children from harmful content.

Mr Ban, who is a father, noticed a group of children mucking about on the frozen lake near Luoyang City, China, and one of the youngsters plunged through the ice

A brave dad rushed to save the life of a young boy who fell through ice on a frozen lake.

Mr Ban needed rescuing himself after grabbing the boy and lifting him to safety. The father, who has recovered from his own injuries sustained in the rescue, has now been lauded as “a hero”.

The youngster plunged through the ice when he and friends were playing on the lake, ignoring their parents’ warnings against this behaviour. Mr Ban, who noticed the horror unfold as he playe nearby with his daughter, lay horizontally across the icy surface to distribute his weight to scramble the boy to safety.

But the courageous witness fell through the ice himself and, after he was freed from the water in Luoyang City, China, spent half an hour in a hot shower to revitalise himself.

READ MORE: Desperate mum dives into freezing pond in bid to save her three young childrenREAD MORE: Tragedy as toddler dies after falling through ice in freak accident playing in snow

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The boy has also recovered from his injuries following the accident, which happened on Thursday January 29. Speaking today, Mr Ban said: “My first feeling when I fell into the water was an icy chill that went straight to my bones. My legs were instantly enveloped in cold with stinging sensations. I was a little bit scared.”

The dad said he was aware how to save the child, having watched rescue videos online in his spare time. So, he leapt into action to break the ice with his hands and rescue the little boy.

But he does not believe he is worthy of the tag “hero”. Mr Ban, who is already back at work, continued: “I still can’t accept this title. To me, I just did something that most people would do. I just happened to be there at the time.” He has also received praise from strangers online, who have seen videos the rescue.

The case follows the tragedies of brothers six-year-old Howard, eight-year-old Kaleb, and EJ, nine, who plunged through ice on the pond off Recreational Road in Bonham, Texas, and were later declared dead. Cheyenne Hangaman, the boys’ mother, jumped into the water but was tragically unable to save her children last month.

The mum said: “I tried to save them while also trying to keep myself alive. As soon as I jumped in, I locked up. I couldn’t do anything.” Other have-a-go heroes and emergency service personnel also dived into the pond.

Kaleb and EJ were hauled from the water but declared dead minutes later. Police in Texas said Howard, the youngest of the brothers, “did not resurface but was later recovered after an extensive search of the pond”.

Her party will table a humble address motion, an arcane parliamentary mechanism to try to compel the Government to release documents including due diligence work carried out by the Cabinet Office, emails between the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Lord Mandelson relating to his association with Epstein, and minutes of meetings held about the appointment.

NEW YORK (AP) — A deal was reached between lawyers for victims of Jeffrey Epstein and the Justice Department to protect the identities of nearly 100 women whose lives were allegedly harmed after the government began releasing millions of documents last week, a lawyer told a federal judge on Tuesday.

Judge Richard M. Berman in Manhattan cancelled a hearing scheduled for Wednesday after he was notified by Florida attorney Brittany Henderson that “extensive and constructive discussions” with the government had resulted in an agreement.

Henderson and attorney Brad Edwards had complained to Berman in a letter Sunday that “immediate judicial intervention” was needed after there were thousands of instances when the government had failed to redact names and other personally identifying information of women sexually abused by Epstein.

Among eight women whose comments were included in the lawyers’ Sunday letter, one said the records’ release was “life threatening” while another said she’d gotten death threats and she was forced to shut down her credit cards and banking accounts after their security was jeopardized.

The lawyers had requested that the Justice Department website be temporarily shut down and that an independent monitor be appointed to ensure no further errors occurred.

Henderson did not say what government lawyers said to ensure identities would be protected going forward or what the agreement consisted of.

“We trust that the deficiencies will be corrected expeditiously and in a manner that protects victims from further harm,” she wrote to the judge.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The judge wrote in an order cancelling the Wednesday public hearing that he was “pleased but not surprised that the parties were able to resolve the privacy issues.”

On Monday, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton in Manhattan wrote in a letter filed in Manhattan federal court that errors blamed on “technical or human error” occurred on redactions during the document release.

He said the Justice Department had improved its protocols to protect victims and had taken down nearly all materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with many more that the government had found on its own.

Mistakes in the largest release of Epstein documents yet included nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.

Most of the materials that were released stemmed from sex trafficking probes of Epstein and his former girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after she was convicted in December 2021 at a New York trial.

Epstein took his life in a federal jail in New York in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

A rare cold snap across Florida has left thousands of iguanas ‘cold stunned’ and immobile, with some falling from trees. The state’s wildlife agency says they’re ripe for capturing.

Reptiles like iguanas are ectotherms, meaning their internal body temperature is affected by the weather outside. When it gets too cold – temperatures in Florida have dropped to below 50F (10C) – their internal process slow down, leading to the phenomenon known as ‘cold stunning.’

Florida’s wildlife agency has asked the public to capture these iguanas, who are an invasive species not native to the state, while they’re immobile. They report that more than 2,000 cold stunned iguanas have been handed over to authorities so far.