While we all wait for the reveal of Nintendo’s next console, the company has once again announced something very different. This time, it’s a mobile app called Nintendo Music, which lets users listen to classic gaming tunes from Nintendo games spanning the last few decades, including Splatoon, Animal Crossing, and The Legend of Zelda. It’s only available to Switch Online subscribers, and it’s launching today on both iOS and Android.

The app features curated playlists themed around games, moments, moods, or characters, though you can also build your own. It also supports streaming as well as downloading tracks for offline listening. Curiously, it includes a spoiler feature that lets you filter out tracks that, somehow, might spoil a game you haven’t played or finished yet. And if you just want some Hyrule white noise, the app also lets you “loop songs or extend select tracks to 15, 30, or 60 minutes for uninterrupted listening.”

Tony Stark may rely on AI to help build and pilot his Iron Man armor, but actor Robert Downey Jr. will go after any executive thinking to use AI to replicate him for a role. Downey made his feelings clear on a new episode of the “On With Kara Swisher” podcast, where he discussed AI, deepfake technology, and his antipathy toward any effort to recreate him with AI, even after he passes away.

Downey isn’t too concerned about future urges at Marvel Studios to insert an AI replica of him into future films without his permission. The temptation is obvious since Downey’s most famous role kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe and he is even returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film. Amusingly, both characters are well known for their use of AI and advanced technology, with Doom, in particular, sending out an endless array of robotic duplicates with AI versions of his mind and personality to carry out his bidding.​ Still, he trusts that the leadership of the studio won’t betray him.

Artificial intelligence can help accurately map and track penguin colonies in Antarctica by analysing tourist photos.

“Right now, everyone has a camera in their pocket, and so the sheer volume of data being collected around the world is incredible,” says Heather Lynch at Stony Brook University in New York.

Haoyu Wu at Stony Brook University and his colleagues, including Lynch, used an AI tool developed by Meta to highlight Adélie penguins in photographs taken by tourists or scientists on the ground. With guidance from a human expert, the AI tool was able to automatically identify and outline entire colonies in photos. This semi-automated method is much faster than doing everything manually because the AI tool takes just 5 to 10 seconds per image, compared with a person taking 1 to 2 minutes, says Wu.

The team also created a 3D digital model of the Antarctic landscape using satellite imagery and terrain elevation data. By identifying landscape details in the tourist pictures, the researchers could place the photographer, then the penguin colony, accurately within the 3D model.

This transformation of ground photos into a bird’s-eye view allows researchers to track how penguin colonies change in location and population size over time – which could prove especially helpful in remote regions of the world where aerial drone or aircraft surveys are done infrequently. Such tracking is important because Adélie penguins are considered a sentinel species, meaning shifts in their populations are an indicator of climate change. The AI-assisted technique can also harness historical imagery to track phenomena such as glacier changes that “occur very slowly and may only be evident by looking across decades of time”, says Lynch.

“Tracking of penguin colony population sizes and locations is important,” says Annie Schmidt at Point Blue Conservation Science, a nonprofit based in California. But it is just a “first step” towards a better understanding of the reasons for those population changes, she adds.

“This could be useful, especially as many penguin colonies are only rarely assessed by the research community,” says Peter Fretwell at the British Antarctic Survey. But researchers remain divided over the impacts of Antarctic tourism – the two large Adélie penguin groups evaluated by the researchers are often visited by tour ships on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

“Some scientists are worried that, by encouraging tourists to do citizen science, we are justifying their trips – which will be used by the cruise companies to sell more berths, fuelling the expansion,” says Fretwell. “Others think that there is very little on-the-ground impact from the industry, as it is well regulated.”

It’s important to keep your teeth and gum healthy, and if you’re the sort of person who has trouble keeping up with daily cleaning, or brushing your teeth in general, electric toothbrushes are an excellent option. Not only do the make brushing and cleaning your teeth easier, some of them have some very advanced features that are akin to some of the best smart home devices. To help save you a little bit extra, we’ve gone out and searched for some of the best electric toothbrush deals we could find and collected them for you below.

Oral-B 3D White Battery Toothbrush — $8, was $9

For convenience, an electric toothbrush with a rechargeable battery is useful, but if you just need a quick solution for occasional use, the Oral-B 3D White Battery Toothbrush is cheap and effective. It comes with its own AA battery with replacements easily sourced. Its brush head has rubberized bristles while there’s an action cup that helps to whiten teeth by removing surface stains. It cleans with 14,000 strokes per minute so it’s speedy while highly capable of clearing away debris and reaching between teeth.

Oral-B 3D White Battery Toothbrush — $8, was $9

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Quip 360 Electric Oscillating Toothbrush — $40, was $50

Quip 360 is the ultimate package. It comes with everything you need including a reusable handle, a replaceable brush head, a countertop stand, a charging cable, and a travel case. But also the 30-day charge doesn’t hurt. You can use it for virtually an entire month without needing to charge it. While brushing, you’re guided thanks to an LED pressure sensor and vibrations. That way you always get the perfect clean with up to 9.630 quiet oscillations per minute. A built-in two-minute timer ensures you’re brushing long enough, while the 30-second pulses give you an extra clean. An automatic shut-off turns it off and conserves energy when you’re done.

When you need to travel, toss the brush, attachments, and USB charger in the travel case and go. You should know this is a subscription-based option — though you can buy the toothbrush separately with a one-time price, if you want. The Refill plan ensures you get steady deliveries of the replaceable brush heads. That way you’re always using a clean brush. With your first subscription order, you’ll also get anticavity toothpaste for free. Normally $50, it’s available today for $40, saving you $10. That’s a great deal and we love this brush.

Quip 360 Electric Oscillating Toothbrush — $40, was $50

Colgate hum Smart Electric Toothbrush Kit — $30, was $70

Promising whiter teeth in just one week for many people, the Colgate hum Smart Electric Toothbrush Kit is ideal if you want some guidance. It has app support and Bluetooth connectivity so it can guide you to brush certain areas and better. A choice of three modes means you can choose the vibration level that suits you including normal, sensitive, and deep clean. As you brush, you earn points towards rewards giving you a sense of achievement. It also has a 2-minute timer feature, plus its battery lasts for you up to 10 days.

Colgate hum Smart Electric Toothbrush Kit — $30, was $70

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Oral-B Pro 500 Electric Toothbrush — $30, was $40

The Oral-B Pro 500 Electric Toothbrush is a great budget-priced electric toothbrush. It has a precision clean brush head that removes 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush. Gentle on teeth and the gums, its 2D cleaning action oscillates and rotates to break up and remove plaque with a choice of brush modes. There’s daily clean and sensitive depending on what you need on the day. At all times, a built-in quadrant timer breaks up the two minutes you should be brushing into four 30-second intervals so you know when to move to a different part of your mouth. With all the essentials, it’s hard to fault the Oral-B Pro 500 Electric Toothbrush at this price.

Oral-B Pro 500 Electric Toothbrush — $30, was $40

Usmile P10 Pro smart toothbrush – $37, was $49

One charge lasts for up to six months. That’s impressive. Even more so is the fact that this oscillating electric brush offers 34,000 brush strokes per minute for incredibly effective cleaning. The air-cushion brush head and bristles adapt to the shape of your teeth while absorbing excess pressure. Meanwhile, the smart ring four-zone brushing tracking helps ensure you never miss a spot while cleaning. Follow the smart ring to get the spots you missed the first go-around.

Additional features include USB-C charging, excellent on-the-go use with the long battery life, and extra brush heads — you’re golden.

Usmile P10 Pro smart toothbrush – $37, was $49

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Rechargeable Toothbrush — $80, was $100

Simple yet effective this electric and rechargeable toothbrush features multiple brushing modes. Swap effortlessly between Clean, White, and Gum Care options, with the appropriate brushing styles for each. A built-in pressure sensor helps protect your gums and teeth helping you ensure you’re not pushing or brushing too hard. Moreover, a built-in two-minute interval timer tells you exactly how long you should be brushing so there’s no guesswork involved.

It comes with a charging stand, a gum care brush head, and a travel case — perfect for when you need to take your brush on the go. It will also beep to notify you when it’s time to change your brush head for a clean, sanitary brush.

Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 Rechargeable Toothbrush — $80, was $100

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Oral-B iO Series 5 — $97, was $120

If you want a really advanced electric toothbrush for under $100, this deal on the Oral-B iO Series 5 is the way to go. Not only does it have five modes you can pick from, Daily Clean, Whiten, Super Sensitive, Sensitive, and Intense, but it also has a pressure sensor to tell you if you’re pressing too hard or too soft. There is even an AI which helps optimize your brushing style to get the cleanest and healthiest teeth possible. Just be aware that you’ll need to have a My Bust Buy Plus subscription to get the discount

Oral-B iO Series 5 — $97, was $120

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 Rechargeable Toothbrush — $340

Philips makes some of the best electric toothbrushes around so the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 Rechargeable Toothbrush is a worthwhile investment. It uses sonic technology to drive fluid between your teeth much like a water flosser, while also still brushing too via the several brush heads included. Able to brush at up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute, it’s incredibly effective at cleaning thanks to this two-pronged form of attack. A digital display gives you insight into battery life with a long-lasting lithium-ion battery useful for those who travel frequently or simply hate to plug anything in. Smartphone app support helps coach you about coverage, along with ideal pressure and scrubbing.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9700 Rechargeable Toothbrush — $340

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The XR (Extended Reality) segment is set to become a core part of Android in the future. Lately, the evolution of Google’s mobile OS has been taking leaps and bounds with AI-powered developments. The next step could be integrating immersive experiences based on glasses or headsets. Google is preparing for this future by adding an “XR headset” category to install apps from the Play Store.

Google integrates “XR headsets” platform into the Play Store

Android is available in multiple forms and platforms. You can find Android powering TVs, smartwatches, tablets, and, of course, smartphones. The Play Store is present in all versions of the OS. However, not all apps are available for all platforms. Google allows developers to make a particular app available only for smartphones, for example. This prevents the installation of apps that are not properly adapted for a particular device.

As spotted by Android Authority in the latest Play Store update, there’s a new “XR headset” device category to install apps on. The source discovered the integration of the new platform into the Play Store’s remote app installation feature. This makes it clear that Google is preparing its app store for the arrival of Android-based XR hardware products.

Preparing for the arrival of the XR headset/glasses from Google and Samsung

Google and Samsung have been working together for a while now on the development of the Android-based XR platform. The collaboration could also result in an XR headset for the consumer market. That said, recent reports suggest that the project has shifted to the development of XR glasses. Whatever the case, the only thing that is certain is that it will be powered by a version of Android tailored for this type of device.

Samsung and Google aim to avoid repeating Apple’s mistake with the Vision Pro. Both companies seem to be working on a product whose price segment will be more similar to that of the Meta Quest headsets. This decision seems to be a good one, as Meta’s VR headsets have proven that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to get high-quality immersive experiences.

Speaking of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s company has been looking for some time to integrate the Quest platform into the Play Store. For now, there is no indication that Google is doing this. However, the inclusion of the “XR headset” category in the Play Store could facilitate potential negotiations between the two companies.

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, said the French video game publisher is exploring its strategic options as it reported lackluster results for the first half of the year.

For the second fiscal quarter, Ubisoft report its net bookings were €352.3 million ($382 million), in line with revised guidance but lower than previous expectations. The company said lower-than-expected results for Star Wars: Outlaws were to blame. In the first half, net bookings were €642.3 million ($697 million), down 22% from a year ago. The net loss was $1.94 a diluted share.

During the past year, Ubisoft reduced its overall employment from 19,410 to 18,666, reducing staff by 744 positions. As for the options, Ubisoft didn’t say but it is reportedly exploring plans to take the company private. The company’s recent struggles are emblematic of the tough time the game industry has seen as demand has changed in the wake of the pandemic. Ubisoft also needs to execute on delivering great content for gamers even as it tries to rein in its costs.

In a statement, Guillemot said, “Despite recent setbacks, we are continuing to deeply transform Ubisoft in order to restore the level of creativity and innovation that built Ubisoft’s success while delivering stronger execution and predictability. Even if our first-half performance fell short of our initial expectations, the double-digit growth of our back catalog excluding partnerships reaffirms the quality, uniqueness and value embedded in our brand portfolio and the strength of our live services. This highlights our potential to deliver more recurring revenue, sustainable growth, and long-term value for our stakeholders.”

In addition to weaker Star Wars results, Guillemot said

He said that Ubisoft must redouble its focus on execution and reinforce a player-centric mindset in everything it does.

“For example, we are improving the quality of Star Wars Outlaws, including actively addressing player feedback through title updates as we get ready for the Steam launch, the first story pack, and the upcoming holiday season,” Guillemot said. “We are also taking the additional time to ensure that the upcoming very ambitious opus in our flagship franchise, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, is a highly polished, exceptional experience on day one and that it resonates strongly with players.”

Ubisoft delayed the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, pushing it out of the holiday season into the next year.

“Over the past semester, we also further advanced our cost reduction plan thanks to strict control on recruitments, targeted restructurings and lower external spend,” Guillemot said. “This is the fruit of a group-wide effort, and I would like to thank the teams as we are transforming the company into a more efficient and agile organization. Over the first semester, we have already achieved more than €200 million ($217 million) savings versus two years ago on an annualized basis. There still remains work to be done to support robust cash-flow generation in the future.”

Guillemot added that the executive committee review, aimed at improving Ubisoft’s execution focused on a player-centric and gameplay-first approach, is progressing. This notably includes actions aimed at tackling the dynamics behind the polarized comments around Ubisoft so as to protect the Group’s reputation and maximize our game’s sales potential, he said.

“We remain committed to making decisions in the best interests of all of our stakeholders. In this context, as we have already indicated, the Company is also reviewing all its strategic options,” Guillemot said.

Results for the first half ended September 30

In the first half, Ubisoft said console and PC games saw playtime increase 9% in the first half ended September 30, and session days were up 6% from a year ago.

This was driven by by Rainbow Six: Siege playtime and session days both up double-digit year-on-year. Monthly active users were 37 million, up 3% year-on-year, and included close to 3 million new accounts per month. Excluding partnerships, back-catalog net bookings were up 12% year-on-year.

In the last 12 months, Ubisoft attracted 138 million unique players across console and the PC, up 4% year-on-year. The Assassin’s Creed franchise and Rainbow Six Siege both benefited from strong audiences, with more than 30 million unique active users each.

While it is perceived as having too many people and a low market value ($1.75 billion today), Ubisoft said it has a lot going for it. Over the past decade, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has generated around €4 billion ($4.3 billion), Rainbow Six Siege has generated over €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) and Far Cry has topped around €2 billion ($2.17 billion). Including The Division, Ghost Recon and Just Dance, Ubisoft has six brands that have surpassed €1 billion ($1.09 billion) in consumer spending.

For the fiscal year, Ubisoft expects net bookings of around €1.95 billion ($2.11 billion) and around break-even non-FIRS operating income and free cash flow.

Frédérick Duguet, Chief Financial Officer, said in a statement, “Our Q2 net bookings are in line with our revised guidance. We are reaffirming our full-year objectives, with net bookings expected to reach approximately €1.95bn as well as around break-even non-IFRS EBIT and free cash flow. This outlook reflects robust free cash flow generation in the second half of the year. In addition, we continue exploring the sale of non-core assets as part of our broader strategy to focus on our two core verticals, Open World Adventures and GAAS-native experiences, as well as enhance financial flexibility.”

In a conference call with analysts, Duguet said the company continues to focus on cost reductions and said that staff has been reduced by 2,000 in the two years.

In a challenging FPS environment, Rainbow Six: Siege delivered a solid performance despite a strong comparable base, leading to playtime and session days growing double digit year-on-year over the first semester.

The Rainbow Six: Siege Year 9 Season 3 Battle Pass achieved the second-best ever conversion rate and the newly introduced operator, Skopós, was highly appreciated by the community notably thanks to its innovative gameplay, contributing to Sessions Days per Player slightly up in Q2.

Adoption for the recently introduced membership service grew solidly this quarter, and the marketplace continued to establish itself within the game’s ecosystem, engaging a significant number of players. The team continues to broaden engagement services by launching the Siege Cup beta on PC, a new competitive format.

Other Live titles across the portfolio of games demonstrated strong engagement and activity. The Crew franchise attracted over eight million active players this quarter and saw strong growth in engagement thanks to the announcements made during The Crew showcase as well as promotion initiatives for The Crew 2.

Players were introduced to the extensive content of Year 2 coming on November 6, and the addition of the new island of Maui accessible to all players for free, on top of the final season of content for Year 1 for The Crew Motorfest: Riders Republic benefitted from its inclusion in the Xbox Game Pass, generating a strong uplift to Session Days and profitability, and has now surpassed 10 million players.

For its part the Ghost Recon franchise also delivered a strong performance, growing both in terms of activity and net bookings over the first half, Ubisoft said.

New releases

This quarter saw the release of Star Wars: Outlaws, which Ubisoft admitted underperformed sales expectations.

Ubisoft said the open world action-adventure game achieved solid reviews and user scores across first party and the Epic Games Store.

Teams are fully mobilized on implementing changes to enhance game mechanics and overall polish. Since launch, the team has delivered three title updates focused on quality-of-life features and bug fixing, notably improvements in stealth mechanics, NPC AI and save features.

This has produced initial tangible results, with a meaningful community sentiment improvement. The most significant update yet will be released on November 21 with the fourth title update that will include further improvements to combat and stealth, and will launch alongside the release on Steam as well as the first story pack, Wild Card, with fan-favorite Lando Calrissian from the original trilogy.

This should engage a large audience during the holiday season and position the game as a strong long-term performer, Ubisoft said.

Cost reduction plan

Ubisoft said the cost reduction plan, that has the objective of protecting our production and creation capacity while being more selective in our investments and simplifying the organization, is well on track.

With the continued tight control on recruitments as well as targeted restructurings, the total number of employees worldwide stood at 18,666 at the end of September 2024, compared to 19,410 at the end of September 2023. This represents a decrease of more than 2,000 over 24 months.

The H1 FY2024-25 fixed cost base[1] stood at around €770 million ($836 million), down €46 million ($49.9 million) and 6% year-on-year. This represents a €106 million ($115 million) reduction versus H1 FY23 meaning that on an annualized basis, we have already achieved more than €200 million ($217 million) savings, including a favorable foreign exchange impact. There remains work ahead of us to support robust cash-flow generation.

Ubisoft said that its retention has continued to improve significantly over the period and is now close to the historical-best levels observed during the 2010-2020 decade that was the foundation for Ubisoft’s success. Additionally, hundreds of former Ubisoft employees have rejoined the company, notably at senior levels, bringing significant expertise and know-how that strengthens the triple-A core teams. This makes sense in the context of Ubisoft replacing employees who left even as it tries to reduce the overall workforce.

“We have a big pipeline of products to come over the next years,” Guillemot said. “We must redouble our focus on execution and reinforce the player-centric mindset in everything we do.”

Looking at FYQ3, Ubisoft said it expects net bookings of approximately €380 million ($412 million), which will represent the annual increase of around 39%. That includes solid expected sales from Star Wars: Outlaws. And it expects a record fourth fiscal quarter (ended March 31, 2025) by the year versus last year with net bookings of around €900 ($978 million), thanks to the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Analysts asked if Ubisoft plans to sell any of its franchises but the company declined to answer except to say it would sell assets that are not part of its overall strategy.

Ubisoft has about €930 million ($1 billion) in cash.